Last night had to be the worst night of my entire life. Yes, I was hurling more than I ever thought my small body could hold. This morning I knew immediately that there was no way I could physically endure the two hour bus ride, the Saharan heat, or the smells of the market. I am completely nauseous and my body feels like it is quivering. I have sun poisoning, though I am not actually burnt, minus my nose being a slight tint of red. I have been more than diligent in applying my lotion and so I am left more saddened than I think I have ever been. It’s as if I was just told Semester at Sea would not be docking in Kenya on the Fall 2005 voyage, only this time I don’t have my closest friend in the world to deal with the news.
I have been told that my dosage of doxycycline is slightly high. Stephanie is on doxy as well for malaria prevention and she takes one hundred milligrams once a day, whereas I take two one hundred milligrams twice a day. The result is an intense reaction on my hands that has left the inner arches between the thumbs and forefingers red, which when in the sun begins to feel as if they are on fire, the most intense heat imaginable.
Today, I am lying in bed drinking as much water as possible. I took Tylenol, and then Pepto, but they have all come back up within minutes. Stephanie has been fabulous, getting me things I would require for the day and I could tell she was extremely saddened by not being able to go on this adventure to Djenne together. She warned me before closing the door to our room, “You better finish all that water before I get back,” which happens to be about three and a half liters!
I am not sure what the remainder of my day will entail, not having been able to eat anything. I am sure it is best if I just recuperate because tomorrow we have a long drive to Timbuktu. I just have to keep telling myself that missing the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Djenne is not the end of the world and there are so many other incredible experiences on this trip to be had. It is better to miss one day than to push myself too hard and miss more. This is my blog for the day, though I doubt I will get to the Cyber Café as I had hoped before leaving for Timbuktu.
After a few more sessions with the porcelain god and the return of the group from Djenne around six thirty I knew it would be a bad idea to watch the video for class when I felt too nauseous to even look at a computer screen or too weakened to walk to the bathroom. Around ten, after dinner had been served, Jerry arrived with a doctor. No official diagnosis to my knowledge, as Jerry had to translate our entire conversation. I didn’t have a fever, though I was physically sweating buckets. It seems heat exhaustion, sun poisoning, and a possible allergic reaction are the culprits. Though I’ve been told I am the first legitimately sick student on the trip it didn’t help alleviate my guilt at not being present for Djenne or attending class. The rash on my hands is either a side effect of the anti-malarial medication, especially from the over-dosage, or from something else such as the skin of a mango. While most people can eat mangoes there are people who react to the skin of the fruit. I’ve been given an anti-allergen and told that rest and water are the best cure. I couldn’t possibly have malaria because I haven’t been here for seven days, so the doctor says.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
After a decent night sleep I awoke feeling a good deal improved, just weak from lack of nutrients. So after getting dressed I headed down to breakfast for some bread, butter, and mango preserves, or what we think must be mango preserves. People have told me I look very skinny today, my stomach completely flattened from the vomiting. I certainly feel thinner; my pants barely stay up on my waist. I am not sure I packed appropriately for Timbuktu. And after packing my safari shirt dress and being hours away from my luggage, I remembered the dress has a belt which I didn’t pack in the overnight bag. There is also a pool at La Colombe, but I didn’t bring my suit. It is probably just as well. I should get as much rest as possible because we will be facing another torturous drive in two days.
I couldn’t post just one blog where I thought my state of health would have everyone concerned without continuing my adventure. While I am still pretty exhausted and weakened I was able to make the trip to Timbuktu. We departed at nine o’clock on a paved road but within two hours we headed off into the bush on a barely marked path. According to Jerry the “roads” have never been this deplorable and normally the trip takes several less hours than our ten hour drive!! That’s right, it is seven o’clock as I try to rest before dinner and we have only just arrived at our hotel.
The accommodations are nice but I question the fuzzy patterned blankets on the bed. Tomorrow will probably be exhausting going out to visit the city and I wish more than anything to be back in Sevare, even though the room and questionable electricity are not as desirable.
Stephanie’s professor from the University of Florida, Vicki Rovine, is here doing research. She is a specialist on textiles and has offered, if my grapevine is trustworthy, to take us to where the embroidery specialist is located in the city. I am hoping that maybe this will provide an opportunity for some textile purchases.
After eating couscous and a small portion of lamb, drinking a Coke, and showering I am ready for sleep – now if I could just remove that fuzzy blanket.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I am a little disappointed that I have yet to find a place to make an international phone call, though I most likely shouldn’t be surprised. There aren’t even phones in the hotel rooms, so I’m sure the only means is via a cellular phone with the appropriate devices.
Today we went out for a tour of the city, on foot, in the dry sand and Sahelian heat. For nearly four hours we viewed the mosque, manuscript libraries, and historic points of interest before pausing for a Coke and an artisan market. I have thus far not been able to find any textiles on my trip, but I know that in the next few days there should hopefully be a visit with dyers. Perhaps I missed my chance at the Djenne market. One rather friendly vendor wanted to sell me a t-shirt and I believe he is now on a mission to find the right size and will end up outside the hotel waiting for me at the next opportunity. I don’t honestly believe they will have the size I am looking for, although I would love to have the opportunity to find some musical instruments instead.
At the market there were plenty of people begging you to come into their shops so I did happen to make a few purchases. I am not sure what other opportunities I will have later so I didn’t want to miss the chance. I’ve also gotten my passport stamped in Timbuktu, which is pretty cool!
For the next three hours I am planning on resting and hope that the gurgling in my stomach isn’t a sign of things to come, which it was. I took some medicine and it seems to be starting to alleviate the problem. I guess it is better now than tomorrow when we are on the road for another ten hours!
I can’t wait to get to the Cyber Café tonight and hope there aren’t any complications in my plan. It seems that is the only way to communicate with home and so I am more eager than ever to hear from everyone.
2 comments:
Oh Meggie...I am so sorry that you were sick. Glad to hear you are doing better. Well, you know you always have to leave something for your next trip, so I guess that will be Djenne...we will go together for the first time. I had waaj with dinner tonight and a chelada, I'll make them for you on your first night back. Have all of your hotels had air conditioning? You have made me very curious about the fuzzy blanket, so I hope you took a picture. Keep drinking plenty of water. What are you thinking about in terms of your first day back to work? I want to take a few days so we can have some fun together for the first time in eleven weeks. Twelve days left! I'm counting down the days...wait, I still have laundry to finish before you get back j/k :) We got a bunch of new stuff at Banana and it is awful! I hope that we get something nice though cause otherwise the style for fall is just not something I'm going to follow. Though pointy shoes are back! More later. Double, no, make it triple mwah!
I am not too reassureed by your blog that you are feeling better completely but I guess it will take several days to feel normal again after being so sick. I am sorry this happened. Maybe when you return to Mopti and have some free time it could be arranged for you to get to the Mosque since it is only a two hour ride away. If not like you said you have already seen so many amazing things with many more still to come. Drink alot of water. Have you been wearing your hat when you are out in the sun. I hope so. It would certainly help to block the sun. I also saw alot of people in Mexico in the extreme heat of the sun carrying umbrellas and using them to block the sun. At first I thought it was dumb, but later changed my mind. Even standing in the shade of a tree did help a tiny bit to reduce the intensity of the sun and I decided that carrying a fashionable umbrella or an ugly one could provide comfort. And from what I have seen of your pictures there don't seem to be many trees at all. It is funny, looking back while in Mexico we waited in front of one of the ruin buildings at Chichen for a lady with a beautiful red parasol to move far enough away so she would not be in the picture. I did not mind the fact she might be in a picture but her umbrella was so bright it contrasted so extremely with the ancient ruin. Finally our wonderful tour guide that day politely walked up to her and asked her if she would mind moving. I was really surprised he did that but he was very attuned to our needs. The woman was very sweet and at first thought we wanted a picture of her but finally understood we wanted to take a picture without her in it. We all laughed and she gladly moved away. When I looked back at my pictures I was surprised to find one of the lady and her lovely umbrella. I was going to delete the picture but we decided it offered such a contrast in size and color, this huge dark majestic ruin and in front this tiny human and a bright bright splotch of red, her umbrella.I wish I could be reassured that you are ok but I guess I will have to wait for future blogs. Don't worry about finding a telephone so much unless of course you are dying to talk to me and can't go on without hearing our voices. We are fine and know they are few and far between. Semester at Sea was great training in learning to deal without hearing your voice. Be well. We love you. Mom and Dad
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