Parasites, Bling and My Site

Alot has happened since I last updated and I'm going to try to relate as much as I can in this update. I will update my blog more often than this but this has been a really busy month.

It started out as a typical month with Spanish classes and technical training. We had just returned from visiting other volunteers and we were all excited about where people had been and what volunteer life was like. I think everyone had an eye opening experience and we realized that volunteer life will be drastically different than our training....which is a good thing. As soon as we returned we had a debriefing about our site visits and then we had to think realistically about where we could be placed for the next 2 years. It struck more thank a little panic into a few of us...myself included. We had a site fair where volunteers from the available departments came and briefly presented a few things about each site. We had to fill out our top three choices and that was followed up with an interview by the PC staff. The big day came after a long week of HIV training where we were all away from home and tired and worn out. We each were given our sites and for the most part people were happy. There were a few people who were not too happy. Overall the PC did a great job of placing us where they thought we could get the most positive work experience and give our available talents to the communities. I was really excited about my site placement as it was my number one choice. We had about a week to prepare to go visit our site and the families we will be living with, after we swear in on the 28th of March, for the next 6 weeks. I was excited and anxiously waiting our site visit but it was back to my training town for my Spanish and tech. training. Everything was going fine and then one Sat. I didn't feel quite right.

It wasn't a big deal. I felt a little feverish and tired but just chalked it up to a lot of traveling, classes, stress, tired....etc.,etc., etc., I felt like that for a few days and then Tuesday afternoon, after out class ended at 3, I told my teacher I was going to lay down, in my room as the class is being held at my house, and I would see her tomorrow. I felt terrible the rest of the day. I left my room only to hurry to the bathroom and I told my Mom I wouldn't be eating dinner. The next morning I felt even worse. My stomach felt like one big cramp, my head hurt and I couldn't stand without feeling like I was going to throw up. I walked out into the living to let my class know I would be quickly returning back to bed to find only my Mom and teacher. Apparently at about 3 in the morning, one of the girls in our class had to be taken to the hospital, the other girl rode with her and was going to be sleeping in and the guy in our class was on his way to Managua to visit her as he had been told the girl was about to die. It turned out she wasn't about to die but she had a sever parasite and bacterial infection and was in really bad shape. The PC had her in the best hospital in Managua and she would be fine in just a few days. Meanwhile, I had to travel to the next town to go give blood and a stool sample so they could figure out what I had. Now, at my present condition I could barely stand and there was no way I could walk out in the heat, hail a cab and travel to the next town. The doctor advised my to take a Dramamine, which we have in our PC medical kit, and lay down and go as soon as I could. I did and I finally left the house around 12 o'clock. I had my mom find a cab that would pick me up right at the front door and deliver me directly to the lab. I gave blood and the other sample, as much as I could at the time but I was really drained and the sample was very small. I returned home and climbed back into bed not to leave again until the next day around noon. Now being sick is miserable enough. But being sick in a windowless room with a tin roof that bakes under the Nicaraguan sun, with roosters crowing, smoke wafting in from God knows where and none of those unique comforts from home that we all crave when we are sick is really miserable. By Wednesday, with the help of Dramamine, I was able to leave my room and eat a little. I received a call from the PC Med officer that my blood work was normal and the other sample revealed nothing. Maybe it was just a virus. Okay. Friday we were leaving for our site visits and we would be in Managua meeting our work counterparts for the first time. I made up my mind that I would be there looking as well as I could. The morning went okay but around 11 o clock my stomach cramped, I starting feeling cold and feverish and knew all was not well. I didn't want to get on a 3 hour bus feeling like this and be away from doctors for 5 days. I told our trainers I was feeling poorly and I left the meeting early to go visit the doc and leave another sample for the lab. The PC put me up in a nice hotel in Managua Friday night and Sat. morning I was able to give the lab the sample they were looking for. I popped my Dramamine and left for a 3 hour bus ride to my site.

First, let me say that I love my site. The climate is great. Cool in the mornings and nights but it warms up during the day. I'm going to need a sweater for the nights though. I love it. I actually need blankets to sleep at night! Its located in the mountains and is green and pretty. My host family is nice and the father actually use to live in Gainsville, Georgia. He and his wife are very sweet and he speaks English. He is a real character and has taught me some good slang. And the dog, Bling, and I get along very well. Sat. afternoon I called the PC Med. officer for my results and it turns out I had a parasite. She told me what medicine I needed and I simply walked 2 blocks to the nearest pharmacy, bought the meds., for about one dollar, and was feeling much better in about a week. I am almost back to normal just still tired.

We are back in our training towns and have a little over a week left in our towns before heading to Managua. We will have a few days of training in Managua and then leave for our sites. We are all very excited and it feels like we are done and ready to go be volunteers. The picture of the spider is what I found just above my bed when I returned home. Luckily, it was on the outside of the mosquito net and I was able to take care of it easily. I have seen those spiders before. The last time was when I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth and looked up at the mirror for a few second before realizing I was looking right into the face of one of those things. They are big. I didn't know what do to...there was no way I could wash my face with that spider just above my down turned head....so, I called for my Mom. She came into the bathroom and I showed her the spider...assuming she would be a little taken back as I was....only to hear her laugh at my and grab a hand towel and shoe the spider away. It really only went about 2 feet but she seamed satisfied with this result and left me to finish up in the bathroom. I finished brushing my teeth and washed my face very quickly all while keeping one eye on that spider.

I want to say thanks to Mike and Scott for the harassing e mails to update this blog and also to Joyce for the continued support. I miss all of you guys and I hope everything is well. Dad, happy birthday again and Erin give me a call when you can so we can figure out what happened to that package. And Jackie, I tried to send you an email but it was returned. I'll try again but let me know if it has changed.

Love y'all. Shaun.

Oh, the other picture is our group on a field trip to one of the many Volcanoes here in the land of Lakes and Volcanoes.