Food Coma

When I trained to teach SAT classes with Princeton Review, the instructor told us the proper medical term is “Post Prandial Shunt.” Post, as in after. Prandial, the scientific term for 'of or relating to a meal.' Shunt, as in a diversion. Your stomach needs more blood when its digesting and so other places in your body have to ration it away, and thus the “food coma.” I had a food coma this afternoon that lasted four-and-a-half hours. And it was awesome.

When school’s in session, I’m in a constant state of sleep deficit. I think my body can handle waking up at 8:00 on a regular basis, but any time I’m asked to wake up before that every day, it doesn’t compute. My body has no sleeping pattern in its repertoire that allows for getting up at 7:00 every morning. I can’t bring myself to go to bed at 11:00 p.m. I got to bed late, force myself out of bed early, and the sleep debt builds.

For whatever reason, I was exhausted when I woke up this morning. I went running in the evening yesterday. I had to wake up slightly early to meet a student who needed help with a computer issue. And Wednesday tends to be late enough in the week I’m already itching for a nap.

It was a hot day too. During my year 12 class, I peeked my head out of the computer room and was overwhelmed by the humidity.

The staff room kitchen was all a-bustle when I walked in at Interval. Since the staff chooses the student prefects, it’s traditional for the prefects to say thank you by bringing in food. Last year the prefects treated us to an entire week of elaborate lunches, but I don’t think that’s normal.

In any case, the students came around with plates piled high with food: sapasui, pork, scrambled eggs, fried chicken, sausage, a fried egg on top, and large portions of both taro and breadfruit. Then they came around with bowls of oka. I ate. And ate. And ate. And then I couldn’t eat anymore. My plate was still covered in food. A girl came around distributing palusami. I waved her off, but then someone else gave me another piece of taro. So I ate that.

Our meal took longer than Interval, so I walked into my 4th period class halfway through the period. I started to feel dazed, but I made it through. In fact, I made it through 5th period fairly easily although I could feel my eyelids getting heavy. I don’t have a 6th period class on Wednesday, but before I could walk home, one of my students caught me. “You have to come back after school because that’s when we’re serving the ice cream.”

Yes. I was already full and completely ready for a nap, but I rarely buy ice cream for myself, and we don’t get it on campus too often. So I staved off a nap and headed back to school when I heard the bell ring.

Wholesale ice cream is a force to be reckoned with. It was served in large portions, and even then there was quite a bit left. I had seconds. And 2 pieces of pizza (I’m not sure where the pizza came from, but hell, as long as I was binging…).

After it was all over, I walked back to my house, plopped down on the couch, and I napped. For 4 and a half hours.

I hope you’re well. Pictures below.

The economy size ice cream box.

Amanda serves pizza.

Teachers Suasami and Taleni show off the goods.