Julien’s Journal

Malaria?

 

Hi everyone. Mum, I know I didn’t mention this on the phone to you today as I wasn’t sure but I have been worried sick all of today that I’d contracted malaria or some other ghastly disease. I woke up and couldn’t move at all. The entire room was spinning around me and I felt like my arms and legs were strapped to the bed. I closed my eyes for about two hours and concentrated on getting my head together. At about 8 am I got up to have a shower and see if I could freshen up a bit. The world was still slowly spinning and I almost collapsed outside my front door.

By the way, if you’re wondering I have diagnosed myself with exhaustion/dehydration. Explain soon.

 

The whole day I’ve spent trying to keep my vision focused and being able to go out in the afternoon. I spent about 3 hours talking to traditional healers this arvo and was just about able to get out there and hold the discussion.

 

It is hard to maintain a regime of constant hydration when you’re not used to it. I’m going to have to drink about 4 litres of water a day now if I’m going to get my head back into order. Its about 35 degrees out here every day and 80% - 90% humidity. You are sweating bullets before you get out of bed and the only way of getting that back is to drink water. BOTTLED WATER and all. Don’t drink this local stuff without boiling it unless you’re planning to live in the area. I’ve probably concentrated too much on cold beers in the fridge rather than getting half a reservoir inside me at the end of a long day. All that must change if I don’t want to return home cross-eyed and calling everyone Susan.

 

I think the last entry I made I was a bit despairing about everyone going away. Priya has now left the country but I feel now that as long as I stay occupied there’ll be no problem. I’m aiming by Wednesday next week to have completed about a dozen interviews with farmers (those interviews last about 1.5 to 2 hours), two extension workers, one extension officer and the traditional healers. That will give me a couple of days to look over my data and then a week to get back out there and find out any more stuff I need.

Time really is flying at the moment and just for the sake of my project I have to keep up the work rate. I do intend to take a day or two off here and there though. The scenery here is bloody awesome and I’ll go and explore it one day soon. There is also a football match on the weekend where I intend to tear my way down the left wing dazzling the locals with my Harry Kewell like skills. Either that or get my arse well and truly kicked. I’ll let you know how that went in a few days.

 

Until then, I’d better be off as there’s plenty of notes to be written up. Boring or what!?!?!

 

Cheers,

          Julien