MONKEY TALES #8
(9/14/03)
MONKEY TALES #25
(3/13/04)
MONKEY TALES #24
(3/8/04)
MONKEY TALES #23
(2/12/04)
MONKEY TALES #22
(2/5/04)
MONKEY TALES #21
(1/31/04)
MONKEY TALES #20
(12/22/03)
MONKEY TALES #19
(12/13/03)
MONKEY TALES #18
(12/6/03)
MONKEY TALES #17
(12/1/03)
MONKEY TALES #16
(11/22/03)
MONKEY TALES #15
(11/13/03)
MONKEY TALES #14
(10/24/03)
MONKEY TALES #13
(10/16/03)
MONKEY TALES #12
(10/11/03)
MONKEY TALES #11
(10/4/03)
MONKEY TALES #10
(9/27/03)
MONKEY TALES #9
(9/19/03)
MONKEY TALES #8.5
(9/13/03)
MONKEY TALES #7
(8/21/03)
MONKEY TALES #6
(8/14/03)
MONKEY TALES #5
(8/8/03)
MONKEY TALES #4
(7/29/03)
MONKEY TALES #3
(7/24/03)
MONKEY TALES #2
(6/29/03)
MONKEY TALES #1
(7/17/03)
"YO!"
(6/27/03)
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No, contrary to popoular belief,
neither jungle monkeys nor vampires carted me off...it's just been a very
busy and slightly nutty last couple of weeks and I have TONS of stories,
so sorry for the length this time...
1. Let's talk about health, shall we? Everyone knows that I've been wishing
for worms since my Semester at Sea experience 2 years ago. Well, still
haven't achieved that goal, but I hit a close second a week ago...amoebas!
I won't go into graphic detail as to how exactly one knows s/he has acquired
the little suckers, but's let's just say that there were certain substances
exiting my body that should not have been, coupled with the runs and cramps...no
vomiting or fever, so that was cool. PC drove me to the hospital and I
explained my probs to the doc there (in French nontheless...so proud!),
afterwhich he explained he didn't even need a stool sample to confirm
amoebas. He wrote out a prescription for 6 days and sent me on my way,
so I left content in the knowledge that a colony of microscopic critters
had shacked up in my guts. Only later did I find out that if they aren't
detected, the buggers build up over time and eventually explode out of
their little ball, usually killing the person (this happens after several
years). Fun.
2. Continuing along the same lines, a had a minor problem this week as
well...while walking to one of the last days of class, I scraped my foot...not
a puncture wound or particularly painful, but I wasn't able to clean it
right away. Once I did, I thought I would be fine, but little did I know
how much Africa likes to play. By the next day (graduation!) my right
foot throbbed and looked a little red, but I sucked it up and went to
the ceremony, tho by the end I could barely walk it was that painful.
Long story short, I talked with our doctor and he hooked me up with antibiotics,
but by then it was almost pointless. My entire foot looked like an angry
red balloon with 5 little toes poking out...my ankles had long since disappeared
beneath the swelling and I seriously looked like a case study from a medical
book on elephantitis. I broke down and cried for only the second time
since arriving here, it was that painful...no elevation, compresses, or
drugs assuaged my agony. Thus, right before we left Koula Moutou for Franceville,
they took me to the hospital and lanced my foot to let it drain (won't
go into the horoor of watching that), after which they decorated my ankle
with a few stitches. Feels much better and I'm very relieved, albeit highly
paranoid about the smallest scrape. To top it off, since things come in
three's, I also have a fungus problem behind my right ear. More annoying
than anything else, but I think I'm gonna stop asking for African diseases
for a while.
3. We ended up having to go to Libreville the last week of class to have
our identity cards completed, so it was mad chaos (due to the lack of
planning on PC's part). A 12-hour train ride and a full day later at the
Gabo-equivalent of the DMV, we were free to play for a bit. I know I didn't
like Libreville the first time around, but it was beyond compare since
we went to Mont Bouet---an aural and visual array of African nuttiness.
My friend Tony and I strolled thru the butcher section, where the floors
were slick with blood, water, and other body fluids draining off the tables
from the freshly slaughtered animals. There were mounds of fresh peanut
butter, spices I had never smelled, and plants that came in colors I never
knew existed. We were the only whities there and we delighted in merging
with the sweaty, stinking masses of other shoppers. Glorious, and just
the way Africa should be. Also, managed to eat a double cheeseburger that
I'm still dreaming about, and recieved mail! PC just hadn't been to the
post office since the beginning of June, so there were 50 packages waiting
for us. In case you're curious, I recieved Justin's and Terri and Tommy's,
but no other ones. If you sent one and I haven't received it, don't worry...just
the mail system and PC's fault. Patience.
4. Perfect lead into this next chunk. I now have a new address in Francevilleµ.
If you are sending boxes of any size, continue shipping those puppies
to the Libreville address. However, for letters and anything in bubble-mailers,
use my new contact info:
BP 472
Franceville, Gabon (the first two lines are the same)
I need to change my phone number as well, so effective today I won't be
able to use the old number...I'll be in touch with my new info when I
get it, which could be weeks, so again, just hang in there.
5. So...I GRADUATED and now I'm a volunteer! All of us purchased the same
fabric and had clothes made for the ceremony, tho you won't be seeing
those pics till the end of October. It was great fun and all our teachers
and fams were there. However, the next day everyone but the 8 other people
in my province left for their sites, so I had to say goodbye to 3 of my
closest friends who are now on the other side of the country. 2 graduations
in 4 months and too many goodbyes really took a toll on my emotional sanity,
and of course there were all the health issues too...I really miss everyone,
but saying goodbye to the fam was pretty painless and I know I'll be in
touch with the people who matter. Now we're all in Franceville buying
items for our houses, whiwh for me is mostly food since Ngouoni doesn't
have a market. Thus, I've been running around buying sacks of beans and
20 dollars worth of powdered milk...I'm quite thrilled. Speaking of, if
you can all just stick a teabag (any flavor, any brand) in every letter
you send me, I'll be soooo happy...it's beyond expensive here and one
vice I'd like to maintain.
Okay, I've got 5 minutes left...there's so much more I have to say, but
this will do for now. I'll try and check mail again tomorrow, but for
now I'm gonna hobble back to the house and start whiping up dinner with
the girls. You're always in my thoughts...your support never ceases to
amaze.
The amoebas say hi...
Leah
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