On Tuesday we completed our training course for the paramedics of the area, teaching them about diarrhea and dehydration and how to manage it. This was one of our major goals for the trip. Our trip falls at the tail end of the dry season, when diarrheal illness is rare, however we have learned that during the rainy season it becomes a widespread and potentially life threatening problem.
We inadvertently caused a minor commotion over the last 2 days. With the help of a microbiologist who is also visiting from Mt Sinai we have discovered 2 cases of malaria. We at first did not recognize the significance of our diagnoses, however malaria is considered essentially nonexistent in this area and is associated with a major stigma, so everyone was very excited. Needless to say we continue to take our malaria prophylaxis. For Tom this is less important as he has discovered a fool-proof bug repellant-- Stand next to Courtney at all times, the bugs love her.
Yesterday the crew was very excited for lunch. We were told before lunch that today would be a day of "improved diet." We wondered...what could this possibly mean, red rice instead of white, spicier curry, extra tiny boned fish??? As it turns out it meant...fried rice, peanut sauce chicken, flavored hardboiled eggs and delicious eggplant. Then, to our surprise, they brought us dessert...SODA!!! After two weeks of room temperature water, we both agreed it was the best 7-Up we had ever had.
Still full from our feast we decided to accept an invitation from the 'lab' crew to take a boat trip to a nearby char. Boat was a generous term, maybe wooden raft with motor would be more appropriate. A short trip across the river brought us to our closest neighboring char. As we climbed off the boat our US compratriot proclaimed, 'It's like Coney Island!". Sure, if coney island is a low lyling sand bar inhabited only by giant crickets and tiny frogs. We checked, there was no Nathans.
We inadvertently caused a minor commotion over the last 2 days. With the help of a microbiologist who is also visiting from Mt Sinai we have discovered 2 cases of malaria. We at first did not recognize the significance of our diagnoses, however malaria is considered essentially nonexistent in this area and is associated with a major stigma, so everyone was very excited. Needless to say we continue to take our malaria prophylaxis. For Tom this is less important as he has discovered a fool-proof bug repellant-- Stand next to Courtney at all times, the bugs love her.
Yesterday the crew was very excited for lunch. We were told before lunch that today would be a day of "improved diet." We wondered...what could this possibly mean, red rice instead of white, spicier curry, extra tiny boned fish??? As it turns out it meant...fried rice, peanut sauce chicken, flavored hardboiled eggs and delicious eggplant. Then, to our surprise, they brought us dessert...SODA!!! After two weeks of room temperature water, we both agreed it was the best 7-Up we had ever had.
Still full from our feast we decided to accept an invitation from the 'lab' crew to take a boat trip to a nearby char. Boat was a generous term, maybe wooden raft with motor would be more appropriate. A short trip across the river brought us to our closest neighboring char. As we climbed off the boat our US compratriot proclaimed, 'It's like Coney Island!". Sure, if coney island is a low lyling sand bar inhabited only by giant crickets and tiny frogs. We checked, there was no Nathans.
Make 7 Up Yours!
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