June

So, the most dreadful aspect of living, alone, in the resource-poor Mato of Africa is....the days in which you are ill. It is just awful. It is draining on your body and state of mentality. I had horrible chills, a fever, diarrhea and a horrendous headache for a little over 24 hours. In the end, I did not eat a solid meal for 3 days, visibly lost weight and laid in my bed wondering how I came to the conclusion to leave the comforts and care of the States to live in a environment which requires the exertion of an enormous amount of energy to proceed with the daily activities of life.

I have not been sick very much, only a handful of times since I arrived here last September. I make sure to wash my hands numerous times throughout the day; building a soap holder outside and buying two buckets with the sole intention of holding water and rinsing my heads. I wash my floors once a week (usually), treat my water, and clean my food. The impending disaster of bacteria entering our bodies is something we all think about everyday.

Especially in the Mato (bush of Africa), there is the potential to pass an enormous amount of bacteria and harmful microbes between people. My estimation is that about 10% (a generous estimate) of the population of Mugulama has a hole dug in the ground for their latrine. Meaning, 90% of the population does not have an area, underneath the base of the ground, to place their excrements. And though this is an opinion lacking any educational background, I am guessing when you have a lot more diarrhea than hard stools, it may be easier for the feces to spread further distances on the ground (I am sure only a few inches at first, but with rain, wind and deep slopes much more). The dirt and mud which we walk on, enriched with bodily fluids, probably makes our job of staying healthier a lot harder.

On the same level, taking care of yourself during your illness is equally grueling. An important aspect of recovering from an illness is keeping your body clean. When I was sick and laying in bed, I decided to myself that I was going to get up and take a bath. Laying there, shivering uncontrollably, I realized a few things. One, I live in Africa. I have no water, meaning I would have to retrieve it from the pump. First pumping it and then carrying it back. Next, it is winter in Africa, which actually becomes rather cold, comparably. This would require me to, first, start a fire, and then wait while the charcoal and water were heated to a desired temperature. This process lasts around 30 minutes. On a normal day it is easy, but laying in bed sick that day, I became rather disheartened and I remained in bed until the next day.

All of this with the resources that I have at my disposal: a medical kit provided by Peace Corps; Coal, matches and candles to light a fire; soap; a bucket to use for a bath and other amenities. Everyday it seems my empathy and respect grows for my fellow community members, who have so little, while the world has so much.

Life has been slow the last few weeks. Waiting to hear back from the PEPFAR people regarding my project and the funds we requested. The project could turn out to be a great thing, reaching many people and sparking a community movement for more information and resources on the devastating sicknesses in Africa; or it could turn out to be a logistical nightmare, with too much responsibility on volunteer's who've acquired a 9th or 10th grade education, to put together an organizational structure of a program set out over a 3 month period. Ya, it's heading for the latter I am afraid. But they know they have to be the source of information for this project, I am only the facilitator. But I have an emergency plan which I will use if necessary. If, by the middle of July, I do not have in the hand the required information which I would have needed by then, I will take the Vanderbilt car and visit the schools and leaders myself. It will be an enormous task, visiting the distant zones by car and closer zones by bike. But our 3 month program (I use program/project interchangeably, though this is a no-no in the International Development Field, with apologies to my Professors) is very important to the community, I feel, and may require my last plan of action.

Good job Red Wings, wish I could have seen it. I know someone out there videotaped all 6 games for me, thank you. Pistons, unfortunate, good luck with micheal curry and his tenacious defensive skills. Tigers, still horrible and I am glad not to be at home spending $8.50 for a large beer at CoPa.

Though I would like to read and hear more about the election, it must be so annoying. Just think, after this one is done, 2010 starts right away! The media may create a massive revolution against elections. Or against annoying, 24 hour media talking heads. Hillary fans, stop your whining and unconscionable talk. Let me get this straight, you will now either not vote or vote for McCain. I am wondering something else. You do not want to support our nominee who was against this disillusioned policy of creating heaven on earth by tanks, bombs and leaflets from the beginning, but you first supported Hillary, who was either too blinded to see past the ignorance of our President or too cowardice to stand up for what she believed in because she had to look "tough" and now, you would support the man (though a great American, probably the most honorable one which I can think of) who believes wholeheartedly in the mentality of military victory to ensure some future democratic peace in a region swamped by undemocratic forces, receiving money and weapons from America, and the continued presence of American/Christian soldiers in the heart of the Muslim world? (Though I believe he supports this mission more for the honor of the military and its future prospects, more so then, well, whatever they are thinking, at whatever time in Crawford) Sounds like you are not even Democrats, so, You can go stand in line at the buffet table behind Liebermann.