And in other news...

Hi all,


I hope you've all enjoyed the first few days of October. I know I have! Currently I am in Bamako, the capital. I came in yesterday so that I could go to a dentist appointment this morning. The trip actually started on Friday when I rode my bike into San from my site. This ride is really only about an hour long, around 20k, and I usually enjoy it (see previous post; sometimes the ride is better than others...) I made the mistake of riding in during the middle of the day, another reason why the Malians think I am crazy. I made good time, getting to the house around an hour and 7 minutes after departing. I was hot and very, very sweaty, and was drinking water like it would disappear. After a good shower and a little bit of lunch, I was able to relax, hang out with other San Kaw (people of San; Kaw sounds like how with a "K") As the evening approached, I started to feel a bit sick. I knew had been dehydrated, because I had also gone for a pretty long run that morning, so I kept plugging water. But when dinner time rolled around and I couldn't even think about food, I decided to call it a night.

Not twenty minutes later, I was sick. Really, really sick. Luckily I have good friends to take care of me. I spent most of the night either sick or about to be sick. This continued into the next morning, when, having not been sick for a while, I tried to eat something. Mistake! I was sure that I was dehydrated, and I suppose that, combined with the effects of the heat fom my mid-day bike ride just sent my tummy up on end. It was not happy!


Luckily for me, I was already headed for the medical office. The trip to Bamako from San was tough, mostly because I was SO nauseous, but we made it with only a few stops. Finally, we were at the med office. I was still feeling gross, but being sick in an air conditioned place, with a real bed and a REAL TOILET makes being sick that much less awful, I must say.


So I went to the dentist this morning, and I am cavity free! Yay! This is especially good because I was sure I wasn't. It is a relief though because I think getting a filling in a Malian dentist chair is one experience I don't really need as part of my Peace Corps service. The dentist himself is Lebanese, and very nice, but has a different idea of what it means to be gentle. After having such a great dentist at home, and then having this experience, I will never again grimace at the thought of going to the dentist.


And now the real news. The upset tummy and sick feeling that I was having earlier? Giardia! Look, ma! My first parasite! I start my Fasigyn tonight with dinner and hopefully feel ok during my long bus ride back to San tomorrow. Wish me luck!!