We pulled off the historic route 66 in the tiny Oklahoma town of El Reno, to explore an old school house that had been standing since the late 1800’s. Karina wandered about the building in awe of all the authentic antiques while I took video footage, documenting the experience. The heat in the schoolhouse was oppressive so I quickly snapped my camera shut and proceeded to hop over a row of two-hundred year old desks, making my way back outside. This should have been a straight forward goal to accomplish; however, I ended up complicating things a little with my clumsy nature.
In the schoolhouse there was a sign posted which highlighted numerous rules and regulations that applied to students and teachers. One rule specified that female teachers were unable to be married and retain their job. (Very interesting!) A story for another day! El Reno, Oklahoma, USA – Karina Noriega
These hateful, wickedly archaic style desks have the chair mounted to the table with a thick metal bar. I understood, mistakenly, that the two were connected with no moving parts between them. The chair appeared to be sturdy with a seat capable of supporting my body weight.
The evil, pain-inducing desk. El Reno, Oklahoma, USA – Karina Noriega
Ultimately I learned that the desk was in fact, a trap, and I was dead wrong to take my safety for granted. When I stepped on the seat it suddenly folded up sending my foot launching toward the floor seconds after I slammed my leg hard into the backrest of the chair. My whole body let out a howl likely resembling mating calls typically sounded off by wolves and coyotes. Although, I will say that no pack animals came to my rescue.
Wow, did that ever hurt!
“Why me?” I asked myself. Is this payback for all the times I leaned my chair back on two legs in class? Is this the ghost of previous schoolteachers coming back to punish me for being such a smart ass in grade-school?
Reflecting back on the stabbing pain that took over my senses when that detestable desk viciously attacked me, I wonder how I managed to hobble out of there without crutches. I can still see the silhouette of the bruise on my leg seven months after the incident. The truth of the matter is though, that I was very lucky to come out of that situation with only a bruise. Imagine I had broken my leg and I ended up in the hospital in the USA; one of the most expensive places in the world to receive medical treatment?!!! It only took a second for me to make one wrong slip and you can plainly see the result of my clumsy actions.
The clumsy Canadian in her short-shorts, showing off her new 7 month long temporary purple tattoo. Ouch! El Reno, Oklahoma, USA – Karina Noriega
Lesson Learned: Look Before You Leap!
Karina's Extraordinary Life 
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