The Internet connection is not working too well today, so I'm going to make this a quick post.
My big story from homestay was that I came down with amoebas! Amoebic dysentery, to be specific. I had a bad case of diarrhea and nausea on Wednesday morning, and it got much worse on Wednesday afternoon, to the point where I couldn't sit in a chair without feeling like I was going to pass out. We called the Peace Corps medical officer, who sent a car to take me to the medical office in Bamako. I started taking Cipro and felt much better the next morning. When the test results came back positive for amoebas, I started taking Fasigyn. It is a powerful drug that kills the amoebas, but it also set me back a few days. My last dose was on Saturday night, and I am happy to say that I feel much better!
Amoebas caused me to miss two days of language classes, so I have been working on catching back up. In the long run, it'll be fine. As an optimist, I figure it's better I get amoebas early so hopefully it's out of my system for good! A lot of trainees have felt sick this week, so I hope I just got it and it's done.
We are headed back to our homestay villages tomorrow morning and will be there until August 10th. I find out my site assignment, the village where I will be working for the next two years, that night!
Ahh, those were the days. Have fun with the diarrhea. The good news is that by the time you COS (close of service) you'll have a gut made of titanium. You won't have diarrhea again for 20 years.
ReplyDeletewow, i'm glad you are feeling better. I went to a info session downtown (DC) and the recruiter Jason - who is a RPCV from Mali - said he got parasites several times and that was def a reality check (prob one of many) for me. I pray that you have gotten it all out ur system too and you wont have to deal w/ that again!
ReplyDeleteFeel better! That Cipro will kill anything icky.
ReplyDeleteI was a PCV in Mali at the same time as Jason...actually, we helped out at Tubaniso trainings together a few times with the new volunteers. I'm enjoying reading all these blogs, brings back good memories. :)
Enjoy your time in training and get well soon! Ala ka nogoya. I ni baara ji.
koumba doumbia, rpcv mali 03-05
Billy,
ReplyDeleteThese postings are awesome!!! Keep the info coming! Christian just showed me how to get onto this blog. You're probably proud it only took me about a month or so. I love it! Hope things are going well. Love you lots.
xoxoxoxo Dad