I'm officially awesome. Awesome definitely being a relative term. Because, the way I'm awesome, most other West Africans are awesome, too.
Last Sunday, in the middle of the night, I woke up with a high fever. I started throwing up and my fever kept getting higher. When it hit 103.3 degrees, I decided it was time to go to Sogakope District Hospital. I was admitted at around 4:30AM and given an IV for fluids and a shot to stop the nausea. They took my blood and by mid morning had diagnosed me with malaria. That's why I'm awesome. Then, they gave me three shots in the butt over that day, and released me the next morning. It's a week later and I'm now pretty much fully recovered, but I still get moments where I'm really fatigued. Oh, malaria.
This weekend, thankfully I was well enough to join the group on our trip to Kokrobite, a beach town outside of Accra. There were beautiful, picturesque beaches with sun and sand and sea breezes and palm trees. It was just what I needed. We hung out on the beach for a full afternoon and ate salad and pasta dishes and it was wonderful.
Life in Tefle is still lovely. I was well enough on Friday to join a couple of the girls in teaching a Reproductive Health class at the school. The students are super astute and had lots of great questions- "Can I get gonorrhea from eating sugary things?" and "In America, where do you send the people who have AIDS?" were a couple of my favorites. This week, we will continue to teach at the school (World Cultures, Reproductive Health, Feminine Hygiene, and Community Non-violence) and start the textiles part of our work with NEWIG, the women's organization that we are working with. I've made great friends, taken great photos (that I will share as soon as I can), and seen some amazing cross cultural interactions take place. The next four weeks I plan to continue the take it all in, living in the moment and not taking anything for granted.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
Hello Lucey-just on the phone to your Mum as I am writing-she says she is very proud of you, she loves you and sends you some hugs-and of course she is really happy that you are recovering.I echo all that and send you some big hugs from me and Brian.Hope you can continue and endure and enjoy the next few weeks amongst your friends in Ghana and looking forward to hearing all about it in detail in due course.Lots and lots of Love from Margareta
Malaria?! I almost hyperventilated. I'm glad you're ok and things seem to be going well. You best be taking pictures!
Very glad to hear you are safe and well. I am sorry that we had no time to see each other before you went on this adventure. Daniel (Jan's nephew)will be going to Africa soon also. Is there any advice you can give someone who is going for the first time? after all you are an old hand at it now after getting malaria and all. I look forward to you returning safely. And I hope we get to see each other sometime soon.
Glad you are doing well and taking it all in. You are in my thoughts. All my love, love! Meagan
goodness Lucey - you just had to get the whole AFRICAN experience didn't you?! Can you take it easy! Please make sure you come home to us all! I feel like such a jerk - I haven't written you at all and you wrote me! I hope all is well right now with you and you are having more fun than ever! Write more when you can - I am dying to hear more! Can't wait to catch up with you when you get back girl I miss you! I need my Lucey!
p.s. this is tiffany!
Hey,
this is Nina - finally, Being awesome truly deserves a message - of course you deserved it all the time before you had malaria, too, 'cause you were awesome without the illness and I'd have much preferred you'd have skipped that part of the African adventure...
I do hope to see you in the desert next week (Black Rock that is), if not, I wish you a wonderful time upon your return home, basking in 'awesome' (I mean really awesome) memories. Lots of love
Post a Comment