Sickness will Pass, Good Memories will Last Forever

The past few days, and especially the past 36 hours, have been a small rollercoaster ride of health and experiences. It started on Wednesday, when I ran out of my class quickly wanting to make it to the toilet before… you know. Diarrhea hit me like a brick after my class finished at 4:30pm and I felt increasingly poor over the next twelve hours. My head and neck were burning up, while the rest of my body was wracked with chills. I was largely unresponsive and didn’t eat dinner or breakfast the next morning. During the night, I hurried to the bathroom at least 15 times, with my head pounding and my body temperature rising each time I stood up. The good news is my fever broke in early morning, and a few days of Cipro have me back to feeling 100%. It’s a cruel irony that we tend to appreciate our times of health only in times of sickness. 

                But, it seems like it’s impossible for our whole group to be well at the same time. (Sickness has oddly hit our group right after I commented one day, “Well, at least we’re all healthy.”) Anyway, last night Paul returned from his run feeling overheated and exhausted. He showered (with warm water… yes we are spoiled at Misha Guest House) and afterwards had a hot head with chills all over his body. I was sure he just needed rest and food, but he laid down and didn’t want to come down to dinner. I brought him food, and he slowly ate a little bit over a period of two hours (Most of us know that Paul MUST be sick if he doesn’t have an appetite). His body temperature continued to fluctuate but he was feeling better after eating. All seemed well, when my dreams were interrupted in the middle of the night by a terrible vomiting sound. Paul was sitting on the side of the bed dry heaving in a trash can. Over the next hour, he threw up two more times. My first thought was that he had mistakenly mixed two medications (Paracetamol and Ibuprofen). We do not know what it is, but he is resting and still not feeling 100%. He will feel better with rest and time. 

                During Paul’s sickness, a sneaking depression crept over me while I sat in our room at Misha Guest House. The girls (Carly, Sarah, and Isabel) went to the discotech again last night and had a lot of fun. They went with our friend Fahimu who lives close by and has proven to be quite helpful. I was okay with staying in for the night, but today, Paul and I were supposed to attend the wedding of our taxi driver’s younger brother. Our driver, Ruta, is a very nice man and has been talking about his brother’s wedding over the past month. The students had decided not to go because they have a lot of studying to do, but Paul and I decided to go and received a beautiful invitation a couple days ago. This morning, Paul was not feeling up to an all-day wedding. I was really bummed and felt like I needed to get out. Of course, when one asks, God answers.

              

               We heard a sound at our door this morning after breakfast, and Paul found our friend Deodatus (De-o-dat-oos) at the door. He invited Deo in, and Deo offered his condolences to Paul. That is one of many heart-warming attributes of Tanzanian culture. When a person is sick, everyone is always asking about them, offering their sympathies, and asking whether they can help. Indeed, in a place where sickness is ubiquitous, this tendency for people to pull together and care for a person is indispensable. While talking with us, Deo mentioned that he was soon going into town to buy a few things. Paul and I thought it was a good idea for me to join, I needed to get out! So, Deo and I left Misha a few minutes later, and I was surprised to see him grab Misha’s bike on the way. I was confused, but soon discovered Deo intended to drive the bike, while I sat on the back. I laughed out loud. I’ve ridden on the local piki-pikis (small motorcycles), but never on the back of a bicycle. Of course, we see people ride on the back of bikes all the time, and I have always thought to myself “Whoa, that looks uncomfortable!” Women sit side-saddle, of course, due to their long skirts. I decide I can try it (indeed, I don’t know if I have a choice if I want to accompany Deo to town). We walk up the dirt road from Misha up to the main road, which is paved. I mount the bike side-saddle, center myself, and we’re off. What a show. Deo is about 4’10” and the bike is too big for ME. He adapts and commands the bike well with me on the back. It doesn’t hurt that Deo is surprisingly strong for such a small man. I laugh out loud almost the whole way to the market (maybe a 5 minute bike ride).

                 

               We stop in town at the stand of a ‘fundi’ (repairman) to fix Paul’s sandal, and I sit on a bench next to an older man. We begin chatting and have a nice conversation about nothing in particular in Kiswahili. I understood most of what was said around me, and felt pretty accomplished. Communication has been frustrating at times, as my vocabulary seems limited when compared to the vast array of words needed to fully express myself. My time at the fundi stand in town was uplifting.

               

                Around 3pm, Ruta called us insisting that we come to the wedding reception. Paul and I went and had a great time. There were about 300 people, tons of food, a roasted goat splayed out like a pig roast (which was cut like a wedding cake by the bride and groom), and lots of gift-giving and dancing. Paul and I drove away from the reception in the same van as the bride and groom in true African style (more passengers than seats). Paul and I took plenty of pictures and video, and will post when we return to the States.

            

              I have begun planning our mid-term retreat, and it seems like it will be right on time. We will be spending October 22^nd and 23^rd in Bukoba, the closest city to us which is approximately two hours away. We have a few things in mind for fun- renting bikes, a hike to a waterfall, and a cave tour. Paul and I have also begun to think about our flights home for Christmas. We will probably be back in the States during the second weekend in December and will return to Tanzania during the last week of January.  Until then we are enjoying our time in Karagwe.

              

               Kwa Herini!