Malaria Part Two

I have been out of the hospital for a few weeks now, and as I look back at that experience, it seems so surreal.  Yesterday, I pictured myself wasting away in the crisp white sheets of my hospital bed, yellow eyes and skin, attached to my quinine IV, surrounded by all of the apple juice people brought me… and laughed.  At the time, it didn’t seem so serious.  It was just what I had to do.  Now, I realize, it was pretty serious.  Dr. Tommy did say I was in serious condition.  But in my state, I couldn’t truly comprehend just how serious my condition was. 

The only times hospitals have been graced with my presence are the few visits I have made to other ailing people, or the plethora of times I took little boys to the emergency room as receptionist at Camp Ridgecrest for Boys.  I have never been for me.  And what a first trip to the hospital!

People took VERY good care of me, and for that I am forever grateful.  My headmaster took me to the hospital, did all my dealings with the doctor, and came back multiple times to bring me more movies and just to check on me.  Two KICS moms saw me in the waiting room when they were bringing their own children to the doctor and ended up bringing me EVERY meal while I was there.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 4 days!  (Because African hospitals don’t feed you.  As a matter of fact, on the first day they gave me some nausea medicine in tablet form, and Ellie asked if they had water for me to take it, and they said, “No water.”)  Ellie got me some water and came to keep me company every day.  Some KICS teachers brought me books.  My roommate, Emily, brought me a hysterical video and homemade cards from her entire 4^th grade class.  Jadot brought me more fruit than I could ever hope to consume.  Innocent and Emmanuel visited me multiple times and brought me more apple juice than you could shake a stick at.  Another KICS mom came and washed my hair in my bathroom sink and French braided it, so I didn’t look like quite as much of a disaster as before.  Another KICS mom brought me some tie-dyed socks to cheer me up.  The pastor of my church and his daughter, my student, dropped in while they were at the doctor one day.  And I’m probably forgetting even more visitors.

While I didn’t have visitors, I watched movies… and the whole first season of Modern Family.  I did Sudoku puzzles and crossword puzzles.  I slept off and on.  The second night in the hospital, I dragged my wheel-less IV stand one meter over to my private bathroom every hour, if you know what I mean.  I told my nurse of my issue, and she brought me a container for a sample to run in the lab in the morning.  Sure enough, it was a bacterial infection… from something I ate.  Probably those two bites of pizza I ate.  Seeing as that was all I had eaten in 8 days.  The plus side of said infection was that they could just shoot some cipro into my IV and eradicate it rather quickly.

I improved a little every day and was finally released after 4 days.  My liver enzymes (normally below 40) were at 299, and so Dr. Tommy put me on bed rest for a week.  At least now I could just lie around at home instead of in the hospital.  I went to stay at Ellie’s for 4 days, because she has a much more comfortable couch than I AND CNN and MNet on TV!  I watched Oprah, Ellen, The Bachelor, etc. for a few days before I went to my uncomfortable couch and my Sudoku puzzles.  After one week, I went back to the doctor, and my liver enzymes were down in the 50s.  I got to go back to work last week.  In the whole month of November, I only worked for 6 days! 

I’m STILL not at 100%.  I lost 18 pounds and ALL of my energy, so it’s a long recovery.  I am slowly by slowly gaining back weight and energy, but sometimes I still go to bed at 7:30.  I am looking forward to Bojangle’s and Moe’s and Taco Bell and McDonald’s and Chick-fil-a to help me get back to my normal size when I come home in 12 days!!

I will be in America from December 19 through January 6.  Let me know if you want to see me, and I’ll try to make it happen!

Remember, Remember, the Month of November (Part 1)

So, as you may or may not know, the month of November hasn’t been the healthiest one of my life.  I don’t mean I’ve been prematurely eating tons of junk food for the holidays or being lazy and watching movies and not exercising.  No.   I have been afflicted.

On November 1, I came down with the ol’ strep throat.  Strep throat sucks.  The last time I came down with it was senior year of high school.  I made a doctor’s appointment, then cancelled it, then realized what a mistake I had made canceling it and made it again and prolonged the symptoms.  I wandered around my parents’ house spitting in a cup so the saliva didn’t burn my tonsils.  I ate cheese grits for the last time in my life as my mom tried to force nutrients that didn’t burn my tonsils down my throat.

This time I spent one sleepless night with a painful throat and then just lay in bed all day with a fever and some white spots on my throat.   I had a phone consultation with one of the dad doctors from KICS and took the amoxycilin I brought with me for potential sinus infections (of which I have had zero).  It hurt, but I caught it relatively early so it wasn’t a huge deal.  I missed two days of school and surrendered control of my PE classes to substitutes, which I don’t particularly enjoy doing.  Hopefully they learned how to shoot lay-ups correctly anyway…

Fast-forward one week.  On November 8, my roommate Emily came down with some flu-like symptoms.  She immediately thought malaria and started a course of Coartem.  However, there was a flu-like illness going around at school, so she was convinced she had fallen prey to it and stopped the malaria treatment.  She missed 2 days of school.

Then, on the last day of my medicine for the strep throat, November 11, I started burning with fever myself.  I barely slept Wednesday night because I was hot.  I checked my temperature in the morning and it was a blazing 100.3.  That might not sound high to you, but being the cold-hearted person I am, my “normal” body temperature falls around 96.8.  So, it was a legit fever.  I went to school to tell the headmaster I thought I was coming down with what Emily had and after wallowing on the couch in the office for an hour, he sent me home.  I spent the day in my bed lying in a pool of sweat from burning with fever.  I spent the night in my bed lying in a pool of sweat from burning with fever.  I consulted dad doctor who also assumed flu.  I spent the next day in my bed lying in a pool of sweat and groaning from fever.  Finally, Friday night, my fever reached a whopping 102.3, and I got in the bathtub, still mostly clothed and sprayed cold water on myself to stop the hell-like sensation.  Saturday, the doctor dad finally did a house visit and opted for a rapid malaria test, expecting negative results.  WRONG!  Positive.  For multiple strands of the parasite.

So I started a course of Coartem.  And Emily restarted a course of Coartem.  Apparently we got bit by the same mosquito (as that is how malaria is transmitted).  One hour later I vomited for the 5^th time in my life.  That night we took the next 4 pills.  In the morning we took 4 more.  Emily improved.  Kelly did not.  Sunday night I took 4 more pills.  Monday morning, doctor dad came for a visit and noticed something strange.  My eyes were yellow.  Finally, it was time to take me in. 

We called the headmaster, and I changed out of my Barrel o’ Monkeys PJ pants and my Cookie Monster shirt into something a little more suitable for public: some brown workout capris and a honey mustard colored t-shirt (not the most flattering outfit for a jaundiced person…).  The headmaster picked me from my house and took me to Kigali Adventist Medical Center.  I moped and groaned around the premises from the lab to the waiting room to the doctor’s office to the waiting room.  I got a blood test and tried (and failed) to give a urine specimen.  I finally saw Dr. Tommy who said, “It’s a good thing you brought her in.  She is serious!”  Serious, but not critical.  He said, “the Coartem is obviously not working.  Stop taking it.  We’ll give you an IV.  Stick around for 2 or 3 days.”  I sat in the waiting room miserable taking pity from the other waiters while they set up my “temporary” room, as the other ward was full. 

As this is already getting quite lengthy, you’ll have to wait until later to read about the stay at the clinic.  I know the suspense is killing you, but I’m tired of typing.  So there.

Jet-Setting to South Africa

This past weekend, I had the great pleasure of visiting two former Sonrise students at their new school in Honeydew, South Africa.  It was interesting how the trip came about, but I won’t bore you with the details.  Basically, it was falsely advertised to me that the price of airfare would be stunningly low.  But as we all know, when something seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t true… Long story short, there is a very good reason that Rwanda is currently pushing for improved customer service.  Anyway, I bit the bullet and forked out the necessary dough to fly to Johannesburg over my fall break.  And I couldn’t have made a better decision!

Now most people around here, when they found out I was going to South Africa for the weekend, had one of two reactions.  1)  “By yourself!?!?  Be careful!” or 2) “I’m so jealous!  What are you going to eat?”  I did go by myself, and I was never in harm’s way.  And I ate corn flakes.  Three times.  Now for those of you who don’t live in Rwanda, I’ll just let it be known that Kellogg’s Corn Flakes are available in this country for the low price of 12,500RWF (or nearly 25USD) per box.  Needless to say, I haven’t eaten any cereal in the past 10 months. 

(Sidenote:  I have since eaten cereal in Rwanda thanks to my good friend Hannah from whom I received a box of Quaker Oatmeal Squares, only THE best cereal in the world, today in the mail…)

(Sidenote to the sidenote:  If you want to mail me something, like my good friend Hannah did, you can send it to Kelly Simpson, BP 6558, Kigali Rwanda)

Back to South Africa.

African Leadership Academy is an incredibly cool school.  It is comprised of 185 of Africa’s top young leaders.  Last year 2500 students applied and only 100 were accepted into the rigorous program.  I am proud to say that 2 of the first 3 Rwandans ever admitted were my boys Emmanuel and Dieudonne.  ALA is much more like a freshman year of college than any high school I have ever seen.  It reminded me of watching all of my engineer friends pulling all-nighters and struggling through their freshman years at Clemson.  It’s a really hard transition to make from a typical African school to such a rigorous curriculum, but most of the students there are grateful for the amazing preparation they are receiving for American universities and life in general.  I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the many incredible kids I met this weekend. 

I had an absolute BLAST visiting with my boys all weekend.  I attended their classes, ate with them in the dining hall, watched them make their country proud with an intore dance during a cultural exchange event, walked around campus, met their friends and teachers, and sat down for a few chats in between.  Dieudonne’s overflowing joy and zeal for life and Emmanuel’s incredible wisdom and poise were just what I needed to refresh me for the rest of my year here in Africa. 

Every person I met at ALA was astounded A) that I live in Rwanda and B) that I would fly to South Africa just for a weekend with the sole purpose of visiting my former students.  One faculty member came to tell me that Emmanuel looked so much happier all weekend because I came to visit.  As I left campus on Monday morning, I could hardly hold back the tears as Emmanuel told me how proud he was to have had a visitor and how loved he felt that I would pay all that money to fly there just to see him.  I assure you, it was worth EVERY penny to me, too.

And now for a challenge:  Is there someone you love who lives far away from you?  Don’t just sit around and contemplate seeing him or her some day; fork out the dough and go see him or her, pronto!  I guarantee the time you share and the memories you create will be well worth the money spent.  After all, to paraphrase my friend Kelly, I would rather die broke than live lame.  And to paraphrase Emmanuel, life is about more than accumulating assets; it is about sharing life.  

A Typical Tuesday

Every morning I wake up before 6:00 and turn off my alarm (which is set for 7:00), and roll out of my (king sized) bed and get dressed. 

Then I mosey on out the bedroom door (through the streamers, which my roommates taped up at 2am on my birthday, which yes, was over a month ago)…

Down to the kitchen where I eat some breakfast.  Today it was a fried egg and a banana.  (Sorry I ate it before I remembered I was documenting my every move and had to pose a different egg with the bunch of bananas.)

I then walk out of my house…

Into the streets of my neighborhood…

With my roommate Kerry...

To school! (This is my “classroom.”)

And this is my classroom.

I start most days in the office hanging out with my best friend Clementine, our amazing receptionist.  Unfortunately, I’m only her 4^th best friend (after God, her husband, and her son), but I’m getting over it.

On Tuesdays we have staff devotions before school.  This morning was my roommate Kerry’s time to lead devotions.  She made me take this photo before she started so I wouldn’t make her nervous as she was speaking.

Now that I’m finished teaching Comparative Governments, I have a new first period class (or task):  Reorganizing the teacher resource room.  It’s quite the chore, but I kind of like organizing, so it’s a good task for me.

I apologize for not capturing me in action teaching PE.  I’m wary of posting photos of students on the Internet, so I’ll just have to let you imagine me playing soccer with the 10^th graders then Chuck Chicken and Hear No Evil, See No Evil with the 6^th graders.  After those two classes, it’s time for lunch!

Yummy cheeseburger.

After lunch I played soccer with the 9^th graders.  I’m really awful at soccer, as I’ve never played it before in my life, but I must say that my foot-eye coordination has improved drastically over the past two weeks!

After school on Tuesdays, I take Kinyarwanda lessons with a few other teachers.

Joyce, our fearless teacher, is wonderful.  Today we learned verb tenses.  Eek!  Simple present tense, present continuous, near future, far future, near past, and far past.  As of now, the only verb I can tell you in all those tenses is to cook, but I’m learning!

After Kinyarwanda, I head out the gate and say “Murabeho!” to William, the friendly guard.

Then I walk through what I’ve nicknamed “Beverly Hills Rwanda”…

Down the Nyarutarama Tennis Club Road…

Until I get to my turn-off which leads to another, much different road…

Past the golf course…

And the cow?!?...

Where I am stalked by this creepy truck (AKA Mark and Griffin) that gives me a ride up to the next main road…

Which I cross to get to the path…

To the road to my boys’ house.

My favorite part of my week and my favorite thing I do in Rwanda is to teach these boys English.  You can’t help but fall in love with those big smiles!

Most English lessons turn into impromptu Bible studies which is also cool.

It’s dark by the time I leave the boys’ house and they accompany me down their road (with an incredible view of the city)…

On my way home (sorry I don’t have a picture of me on the moto...), I stopped by the Stop and Shop Market just down the hill from my house to buy some yogurt, chocolate, and biscuits.  When I went to check out, they hadn’t any change for me, so I had to purchase another yogurt and a piece of gum, instead.  Such is life here in Africa.  When I got to my house, the moto didn’t have change either, so I had to go inside and search the house over for 500RWF which was nowhere to be found.  So I had to think creatively for the moto driver and give him a 5000 and take a 500 and two 2000s from him.  So really he had change, but he didn’t think about using different combinations of bills to make the change…  Sorry for the diatribe on change-making; only my fellow Westerners in Rwanda will truly understand.

I got home and ate this for dinner:

Then I took off my shoes and got a nice glimpse of my ankles/feet.  While I do have a sweet farmer’s tan, that, my friends, is dirt.  Straight up dirt.

 I decided maybe it was time for a shower.  And I wanted to share with you my favorite part of my shower.  My soap holder from T-2000, the Chinese store.

In case you can’t read it clearly, that says: “Blessedness Squirrel: 

With incredible magic of the pretty squirrel,

you too will be the best friend

like a lot of many people all over the world.”

After the shower, I ate my Stop and Shop snack and wrote this blog post.  Now, tomorrow I will spend literally all day loading the photos so you can see a typical Tuesday in my life.  I hope you enjoy it (AKA you better appreciate it)!

Saturday

5:40- Wake up to the sound of birds screeching outside my window.

5:50- Try my hardest to go back to sleep.

6:00- Keep on trying…

6:15- FINALLY succeed!

8:30- Wake up and grade papers with Kerry.

12:00- Go to town to run some errands.

2:00- Go visit Gisimba orphanage to hang out with some kids.

4:00- Go home.

6:00- Go home and shower.  Check kigalilife for the evening’s options.

7:00-  Decide I’m too tired to do anything and read a book in bed.

8:00-  Fall asleep with my book in my hand…..

Friday

5:40- Wake up to the sound of birds screeching outside my window.

5:50- Try my hardest to go back to sleep.

6:00- Fail miserably.

6:10- Get up to prepare for the day.

6:40- Eat some breakfast.

7:00- Walk to school with Kerry.

7:05- Catch up with the world’s goings-on on the Internet and prepare for my day’s classes.

8:00- Comparative Governments class. 

9:05- Teach nine 10^th graders PE.

10:00- Break time!  Watch all the kids play basketball and soccer and four square and jump rope.

10:20- Teach 5^th grade PE.

11:00- Clean up the messes the kids make.

11:15- Lunch time!

2:00- Teach 9^th grade PE.

3:00- Bell rings and the kids disappear.  Now I spend the whole afternoon writing lesson plans for Mondays classes which I will give to a substitute, since I have to go to Ruhengeri.

6:00- Go home and shower.  Check kigalilife for the evening’s options.

7:30-  Meet friends at a restaurant to eat dinner.

10:00-  Go to Mama Africa for some karaoke.

12:00-  Venture back home to sleep.

Thursday

5:40- Wake up to the sound of birds screeching outside my window.

5:50- Try my hardest to go back to sleep.

6:00- Fail miserably.

6:10- Get up to prepare for the day.

6:40- Eat some breakfast.

7:00- Walk to school with Kerry.

7:05- Catch up with the world’s goings-on on the Internet and prepare for my day’s classes.

8:00- Comparative Governments class.  I’m teaching 10 seniors about British government until the end of September when Ms. Janeczko comes to take over the social studies department.

9:05- Teach nine 10^th graders PE.

10:00- Break time!  Watch all the kids play basketball and soccer and four square and jump rope.

10:20- Teach 6^th grade PE.

11:00- Sneak into my classroom to observe the last 15 minutes of geometry class before lunch.

11:15- Hit up the staff lounge for lunch.  Since I am free 4^th period, I get to have a long lunch.  I end up eating lunch with almost the entire KICS staff as they rotate through the lunch schedule.

1:05- Teach 4^th grade PE.

2:00- Teach 9^th grade PE.

3:00- Bell rings and the kids disappear.  SAT prep!

4:30- Go for a run, usually to a friend’s house… hang out.  Contemplate running home.  Get caught up in conversation.  Oh no!  It’s dark.  Gotta moto home…

7:00-  Get home and eat some food. 

7:30-  Go to school to load the necessary YouTube videos for class tomorrow and plan some lessons and catch up with some folks from home, etc.

10:30- Go to sleep to prepare for my body’s 5:40 wake-up call.