I am feeling much better today. I am just waiting for my energy to return to normal.
On another plus side, I have gained a few pounds! Have to love the carb diet: potatoes, rice, pasta, and posho (a local mushy carb). It's a law to have at least two of these at each meal. Rice and pasta mixed together are my favorite, with some kind of grease sauce. yummmmmm. My favorite street food is a rolex: a greasy chapati (tortilla shell) with an omelet wrapped inside (eggs, cabbage, garlic, tomatoes, and whatever else). It's a deal for 700 shillings. A chapati is only 200 shilings, but do not eat two of them back to back because it will give you a tummy ache.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Quick Reminder about Staying Humble
Yesterday after my afternoon bucket bath I was starting to feel a little better. Being clean always helps after being sick. Half an hour later I am walking to get some cups for an afternoon tea, I walked pass the same building as I did thousands of times before. This time, I caught my reflection in the window. My first thought was, wow, I look pretty, I wish Brent could see. I was wearing a light blue flowing skirt and my hair was down and curly. It is the very small things in Africa that makes a girl feel pretty, even less after being in bed for two days. For a moment all I could think was, "If Brent could see me he would tell me that I look pretty today."(He says this to me almost everyday, regardless if he has seen me. It's some of our "sweet talk") After getting cups, I tried to catch my reflection again, having a moment of being vain. Just then, I stepped in freshly laid duck poop. Not on my flip-flops but in between my toes and everywhere. It was just a mess and even more of a mess when I am trying to clean it up.
So this was my reminder on staying humble. You never know when you are going to go from pretty to poop.
So this was my reminder on staying humble. You never know when you are going to go from pretty to poop.
Monday, February 8, 2010
On the Island with Malaria
I went back to the island Thursday afternoon. Saturday morning working on practicum stuff: formally being introduced to the local government representative, the head master at the school, other teachers, and some of the older female students; as well as a meeting with Gloria, one of the SHIM staff. Working on Saturday ...
After an hour or so in the meeting, I needed a break and to lie down. After a two nap, it's lunch. I wake up not feeling right, eat quietly, and go back to bed.
The girls came to check on me. Urgh. My head was killing me, my stomach, body pains, fatigue,etc, but I did not have a fever. Keeky, who is a nurse, went ahead and gave me medication for malaria. For 3 days I take 8 yucky tasting pills after dinner. It is better to treat it early then wait and see. Even going to a clinic, if you have the symptoms they treat you. Uganda is a high risk malaria zone. Because I am taking anti-malaria pills, the malaria should be a "mild case". Leave it to me to wait until I am back on the island before symptoms of malaria appear.
Amanda, another volunteer, has malaria too and we were comparing symptoms.These past two days, my body is n complete discomfort. It's hard to fall asleep because I am so uncomfortable and just touching me I hurt, my headache fades in and out, my stomach and back is what hurts the most, I am fatigue, hot to the touch, and pale. However, I am not vomiting. I can handle anything as long as I am not vomiting.
Thankfully, the weather waited for me to get sick before it became cool. It was in the 100's this week but this weekend it was in the 70's, over casted, and rainy. What a blessing! perfect nap weather. I stayed in bed, most of the weekend and today. Today I went walking around on the villages, meeting women, then up to the school, talking with teachers. The hour outing took a lot out of me. But I had a cool bucket bath, and picked up a sprite in the village that I was going to have with dinner.
I just finished my meds tonight. So hopefully tomorrow I am back to my normal laughing curious self. If not, I might have to go to the mainland and get tested for other fun stuff I may have. Fingers crossed.
After an hour or so in the meeting, I needed a break and to lie down. After a two nap, it's lunch. I wake up not feeling right, eat quietly, and go back to bed.
The girls came to check on me. Urgh. My head was killing me, my stomach, body pains, fatigue,etc, but I did not have a fever. Keeky, who is a nurse, went ahead and gave me medication for malaria. For 3 days I take 8 yucky tasting pills after dinner. It is better to treat it early then wait and see. Even going to a clinic, if you have the symptoms they treat you. Uganda is a high risk malaria zone. Because I am taking anti-malaria pills, the malaria should be a "mild case". Leave it to me to wait until I am back on the island before symptoms of malaria appear.
Amanda, another volunteer, has malaria too and we were comparing symptoms.These past two days, my body is n complete discomfort. It's hard to fall asleep because I am so uncomfortable and just touching me I hurt, my headache fades in and out, my stomach and back is what hurts the most, I am fatigue, hot to the touch, and pale. However, I am not vomiting. I can handle anything as long as I am not vomiting.
Thankfully, the weather waited for me to get sick before it became cool. It was in the 100's this week but this weekend it was in the 70's, over casted, and rainy. What a blessing! perfect nap weather. I stayed in bed, most of the weekend and today. Today I went walking around on the villages, meeting women, then up to the school, talking with teachers. The hour outing took a lot out of me. But I had a cool bucket bath, and picked up a sprite in the village that I was going to have with dinner.
I just finished my meds tonight. So hopefully tomorrow I am back to my normal laughing curious self. If not, I might have to go to the mainland and get tested for other fun stuff I may have. Fingers crossed.
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