It was bound to happenn

So it finally happened. I got sick:( I've spent the past couple of days in bed and even had a trip to the doctor. After Saturdays "girl day" I came home and rested because I wasn't feeling well and was really weak. On Sunday I went out for a couple hours and then remained horizontal for the rest of the day. I was so weak I couldn't even sit up. At around 1 am on Sunday I woke up in pain. I was sweating bullets, my stomach was upset and I had a full blown migraine. I went and slept on the mattress on the living room floor so I wouldn't disturb anyone. Because I hadn't eaten much when I was throwing up, nothing would come out. I was dry heaving for a few hours and would sometimes get some stomach bile to come up. (I know, too much info) We didn't have any power so it was dark and I couldn't see, and at some point I saw my vomit change color. I thought I was throwing up blood so I freaked out. I arranged for a special hire to pick me up in the morning to take me to the clinic. (A special hire is a private taxi that costs 30 times then a regular taxi) I felt bad for the driver because I couldn't sit up. I just laid in the backseat until we reached Kampala. At the clinic all the people were rude and not very thorough. They took my blood so that they could test me for Malaria or any other infections. They said that my blood count was showing no infection so they "thought" they would treat me for a sinus infection. I took the medication and went home to sleep.

Now I have had migraine headaches for most of my life, but this was a whole new experience. I really thought I was going to die, and at some point wished I would. At least back at home if you are sick you have some kind of energy from the food that you have eaten, but here it's not like that. Because I hadn't been eating I was so weak I couldn't do anything but lay there. The only thing that helped was having a mini fan blowing cold air in my face (thanks mom) After 5 hours of laying there and had to pee so bad I finally managed to get up and go to the toilet. Yet another fun experience. I swear those stairs are going to be the death of me:) Finally in the evening my pills started to kick in and I could move around and eat a little. Today and I feeling a bit better but definitely not 100%. I think it will be awhile before I feel great.

Outside of out that sickness I have recently learned that most of us volunteers get worms while here. I have been advised before I leave to get dewormed. I also found out that most of our beds and our couches have fleas. In fact we spend most of our nights just sitting around talking about what diseases and fungus people have. (What do you expect, we don't have a tv or radio) It seems as though someone has something new each day. You do put up with soooooooo much more here than you ever would at home. We often have a big laugh at things that are so normal here that we would freak out about at home. I should make a list.

My girls day on Saturday was good. I bought each one of them a new outfit. They were so happy. I know that that one outfit will be worn for many years. They total cost for 4 new outfits, $90. And they were nice too. After shopping I took them to an American food joint. I thought they would be excited to be treated to something other than posho and beans. Plus this place is really expensive by Ugandan standards. When we got there they didn't even know what to order. I think it may be because they didn't know what most of it was. They settled on chicken and fries. I, of course, ordered pasta. While eating I could tell they didn't really know what to make of the food. They liked the french fries but weren't sold on the chicken because it was deep fried. I let them try my pasta and they loved it! When I told them it was made with cheese they couldn't believe it! (P.S. There is no cheese here:( ) At the end of the meal I ordered a huge piece of chocolate cake for all of us. They really liked that. So that meal was pretty much my only big meal in a few days.

After lunch we went back to Mukono to see about buying the sewing machine for one of the teachers. She had negotiated a good price but the owner wasn't there for her to pick it up. I think she got it yesterday but because I haven't been at school the last 2 days I'm not sure if she has it. The other teacher took me to her house (more like tiny room) that she is building to rent out for extra income. The shell of it is built out of bricks but there are holes in it everywhere. She told me that it has been sitting like this for 3 years because she doesn't have the money to plaster it. I haven't told her yet, but I am going to give her the money to do that. I know she will be so happy.

The other 2 teachers wanted to start raising chickens. I was told that they only cost 60 cents per chicken so I thought, great lets do this. Stupid me did not think of all the extra things you need to raise chickens. I assumed we would buy some chickens and some feed and be on our way. (in my defense there are a lot of chickens wondering free here) I came to find out that you also need to get them vaccinated, you need to buy bedding, you need to have them debeaked (don't ask) and so on and so on. In the end we realized that it was going to be too expensive to do the chicken idea. I told them how much money I was willing to give them and that they would have to come up with another idea. One of them suggested getting a calf because you just set them free in the bush and there is no other expense for you. Every once and awhile they come back pregnant and now you have a calf to sell. It seemed pretty good, so we might do that one.

Outside side of that, nothing much going on. I only have 2 days left of school and I have a lot to do with the kids, so I hope I am feeling up to it tomorrow.

I'll try to write once more before I leave on Fri.