I'm going to write the update for Paganello (the beach Ultimate tourney in Italy) in two parts: a shorter one for those who want just a few highlights, and a longer, more detailed one.
Short version:
Highlights:
-Party the first night. Huge amount of people out on the beach, getting plate after plate of free spaghetti and eating freshly-roasted sardine-like fish as well (not to mention the endless free wine). Great atmosphere, everyone was clearly excited to be there, and I ran in to Tom Cave, a friend from Buck's Rock who lives in England!
-Being able to lay out. The sand on the beaches in Rimini is super soft and laying out, as Alejo (one of the captains put it) is "paradise." Don't think I got any lay-out D's, but I definitely had quite a few for catches and scores.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Paganello- Long Version
So, the long version is indeed going to be quite long, because right now we are leaving Paganello/ Rimini (the town where Paganello is), and this is my first chyance to post about it.
First, for those that are unaware: Paganello is a Beach Ultimate tournament. Beach Ultimate is like Ultimate Frisbee, except on a slightly smaller field and with fewer players (5 vs 5, in this case, though the tournement I've played at in Wildwood, NJ is 4 v 4). Most people (including me) play barefoot, though some wear specifically-designed "sand socks" (neoprene socks with a thin rubber sole) to make running a bit easier.
Anyway: the first night was amazing. Outdoor party with endless free spaghetti, fresh-roasted sardines, free wine, and just generally good sentiment all around; everyone was clearly excited to be there. The night was really nice, and there was even a fantastic fireworks display. I was sure, with that many Ultimate players around, that I would find someone I knew; I turned out to be correct, as I came across Tom Cave, a friend from Buck's Rock Camp (he had been a counselor there when I was a camper, as well as when I was a counselor). We later found out that we're also staying in the same hotel; he's playing for a mixed team (our team is open, which means 99% men and the occasional super-good girl), so that means I've been able to go see some of his matches, and he's been able to come see some of mine.
First, for those that are unaware: Paganello is a Beach Ultimate tournament. Beach Ultimate is like Ultimate Frisbee, except on a slightly smaller field and with fewer players (5 vs 5, in this case, though the tournement I've played at in Wildwood, NJ is 4 v 4). Most people (including me) play barefoot, though some wear specifically-designed "sand socks" (neoprene socks with a thin rubber sole) to make running a bit easier.
Anyway: the first night was amazing. Outdoor party with endless free spaghetti, fresh-roasted sardines, free wine, and just generally good sentiment all around; everyone was clearly excited to be there. The night was really nice, and there was even a fantastic fireworks display. I was sure, with that many Ultimate players around, that I would find someone I knew; I turned out to be correct, as I came across Tom Cave, a friend from Buck's Rock Camp (he had been a counselor there when I was a camper, as well as when I was a counselor). We later found out that we're also staying in the same hotel; he's playing for a mixed team (our team is open, which means 99% men and the occasional super-good girl), so that means I've been able to go see some of his matches, and he's been able to come see some of mine.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Berlin to Paris to Milan (to Rimini!)
The week in Berlin wrapped up nicely, though too quickly- I'm already planning on heading back at the end of my Europe travels (hopefully for 10 days this time). And it looks like I'll have to give up the Business Class ticket I scored for my return flight from Paris if I want to fly directly from Berlin- a sacrifice that seems to be worth it.
Spent the last 2 nights in Paris, crashing at the apartment of a friend from the team I played with when I studied there (and the team I'm playing with at Paganello). The first night, I went directly from the airport to practice; discovered that while I am dreadfully out of shape, I can indeed still play Ultimate. Also, my shoulder continues to be holding up, fortunately.
My only full day in Paris this stopover (yesterday), I was wandering around the Marais (hoping to get some fresh-baked matzo, a goal that did not succeed), when I heard my name called out from someone nearby. And who should I look up to see but Jake Reibel, my classmate from Amherst, fellow Senior Week-er, and cousin of Aaron Reibel, someone I became good friends with on my Birthright trip! He's been teaching English in Dijon, but was up in Paris on vacation with his parents. We chatted, then parted ways (they had freshly-bought falafel that I didn't want to keep them from). Then, an hour later (having at least found a sheep's-milk cheese filled matzo pastry), I ran in to them again- and they told me that about a minute after they had seen me, they had run in to Sam Schiavone (whom I stayed with in Vendôme at the beginning of my trip, and was also on our Senior Week trip)! He was also in Paris with his parents; his teaching job has just finished up. So (after some phone issues) I ended up meeting up with Sam and his parents; we went to the Musée Carnavalet in the Marais (free museum about the history of Paris!) and then got some delicious gelato. Later that evening, Sam and I met up at the apartment they were staying at (only a few metro stops from where I was staying) and walked from Père Lachaise to Hôtel de Ville (a fairly lengthy walk) and then met up with Jake again. We decided to go to Rue Mouffetard (the favorite hangout spot for the people I mostly hung out with when I was studying in Paris). Unfortunately, the bar we usually frequented had changed ownership (but not the red velvet decor), so we mostly wandered around the street, got a drink at a bar, then called it a night.
So that brings us to today. Made it to the Orly Airport in Paris; met up with my teammates for this tourney, and made it to Milan relatively smoothly. We had a few hours to kill when we got there, so we walked to this amazingly ornate cathedral (can't look up the name while writing this, as I don't have internet access), then waited a long time for pizza at a nearby restaurant, got some gelato, and then walked (again, quite far) to the train station. And now I am on the train to Rimini! However, there are some unfortunate things: my computer power adapter does not work with the outlets on the train; hopefully this will not also be the case at the hotel. Also, my phone refuses to connect to any of the Italian cell networks; since I don't have internet, I can't verify that Italy is one of the countries that it works in. So I am feeling relatively cut off at the moment, though I imagine that I will be able to get internet access when we are in Rimini, even if I have to pay for it.
Should be excited about the tournament, but right now a bit preoccupied with the aforementioned issues; however, once we're in and settled, I imagine the excitement will kick in and the worries will melt away (as is so often the case with me).
Addendum: So, when I bought the ticket for the train, the site informed me that all I needed was the confirmation code, which could be verified on board. Though I was a bit dubious, I figured that it wouldn't lie to me. The conductor just came by for the ticket; I showed her the code, she checked my seat number and punched something into what looks like a smartphone, then said "Grazie" (sp?) and moved on to the next person. I am impressed.
Spent the last 2 nights in Paris, crashing at the apartment of a friend from the team I played with when I studied there (and the team I'm playing with at Paganello). The first night, I went directly from the airport to practice; discovered that while I am dreadfully out of shape, I can indeed still play Ultimate. Also, my shoulder continues to be holding up, fortunately.
My only full day in Paris this stopover (yesterday), I was wandering around the Marais (hoping to get some fresh-baked matzo, a goal that did not succeed), when I heard my name called out from someone nearby. And who should I look up to see but Jake Reibel, my classmate from Amherst, fellow Senior Week-er, and cousin of Aaron Reibel, someone I became good friends with on my Birthright trip! He's been teaching English in Dijon, but was up in Paris on vacation with his parents. We chatted, then parted ways (they had freshly-bought falafel that I didn't want to keep them from). Then, an hour later (having at least found a sheep's-milk cheese filled matzo pastry), I ran in to them again- and they told me that about a minute after they had seen me, they had run in to Sam Schiavone (whom I stayed with in Vendôme at the beginning of my trip, and was also on our Senior Week trip)! He was also in Paris with his parents; his teaching job has just finished up. So (after some phone issues) I ended up meeting up with Sam and his parents; we went to the Musée Carnavalet in the Marais (free museum about the history of Paris!) and then got some delicious gelato. Later that evening, Sam and I met up at the apartment they were staying at (only a few metro stops from where I was staying) and walked from Père Lachaise to Hôtel de Ville (a fairly lengthy walk) and then met up with Jake again. We decided to go to Rue Mouffetard (the favorite hangout spot for the people I mostly hung out with when I was studying in Paris). Unfortunately, the bar we usually frequented had changed ownership (but not the red velvet decor), so we mostly wandered around the street, got a drink at a bar, then called it a night.
So that brings us to today. Made it to the Orly Airport in Paris; met up with my teammates for this tourney, and made it to Milan relatively smoothly. We had a few hours to kill when we got there, so we walked to this amazingly ornate cathedral (can't look up the name while writing this, as I don't have internet access), then waited a long time for pizza at a nearby restaurant, got some gelato, and then walked (again, quite far) to the train station. And now I am on the train to Rimini! However, there are some unfortunate things: my computer power adapter does not work with the outlets on the train; hopefully this will not also be the case at the hotel. Also, my phone refuses to connect to any of the Italian cell networks; since I don't have internet, I can't verify that Italy is one of the countries that it works in. So I am feeling relatively cut off at the moment, though I imagine that I will be able to get internet access when we are in Rimini, even if I have to pay for it.
Should be excited about the tournament, but right now a bit preoccupied with the aforementioned issues; however, once we're in and settled, I imagine the excitement will kick in and the worries will melt away (as is so often the case with me).
Addendum: So, when I bought the ticket for the train, the site informed me that all I needed was the confirmation code, which could be verified on board. Though I was a bit dubious, I figured that it wouldn't lie to me. The conductor just came by for the ticket; I showed her the code, she checked my seat number and punched something into what looks like a smartphone, then said "Grazie" (sp?) and moved on to the next person. I am impressed.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Berlin
I like Berlin. A lot.
One of the first things that struck me about this city was how empty it seems. But empty in a good way, as in, not over-crowded, as Paris and New York (the two other major cities I am most familiar with) often feel. Apparently, this has a variety of reasons, but a large part of it has to do with the fact that it simply has a larger geographic size and smaller population than Paris. But it is still clearly full of people, culture, and food; it's uncrowded-ness (plus the general attitude of Germans) makes it feel like a really laid-back place, again, unlike Paris or NYC (a lot of the time).
I've also been pretty much hungry/ eating the entire time I've been here. I suspect this is due to spending several weeks on a farm with food that is relatively simple and relatively low in fat and sugar. Here, there are pastry shops on every street. And damn, has the food been GOOD. Again, this perception is likely in part due to the fact that on the farm, there wasn't food constantly available (at least, I felt that I couldn't constantly be eating, because it wasn't "my" food). But here, I can rarely resist the urge to buy a pastry/ cookie/ falafel when the opportunity presents itself. So far, my favorite thing has been the jelly-filled donut (these are a bit different than those in the US; they are glazed, not powdered, and the jelly is actual jelly, with real fruit, instead of that gelatinous pectin-y stuff that you get in the states). I may need to get some exercise before this beach Ultimate tourney next week...
Another difference to be remarked on in this city is the lack of open-container laws. From about 5 pm on, every 4th or 5th person you pass has a bottle of beer in hand; this proportion increases as the evening progresses (especially on weekends). Walking down the street, on the subway, on the bus, wherever. And it adds to the generally relaxed atmosphere in this city.
So far, most of my activities have consisted of food, bars, clubs, watching 'Archer' (a TV show) and of course lying in bed until (at least) noon. Planning to visit the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial tomorrow (already my last full day here!) Mwanzaa's host family is as friendly and laid-back as he had claimed; within 15 minutes of arriving, I was giving a piggy-back ride to the youngest child. Unfortunately, I haven't actually seen much of them, due to our schedule of getting up around 1 pm and then heading out after breakfast. But when I do encounter the parents, they are full of smiles and greetings (fortunately, they, like most Germans, speak very good English). Mwanzaa's friends on the program are also generally delightful; we've spent the most time with Carlie, who is from Buffalo but goes to Pomona. She, like Mwanzaa, has a particular attitude and sense of humor that consists of sarcasm/ feigned judgement of others; it's clear to me why they're friends, and also why I had no trouble befriending her as well. (She is also always ready to buy a snack or some food, which makes me feel less guilty about wanting to do so as well).
Also, the Germans are crazy about recycling. They have six- six!- different bins for recycling things, including compost and electronics! Amazing.
One of the first things that struck me about this city was how empty it seems. But empty in a good way, as in, not over-crowded, as Paris and New York (the two other major cities I am most familiar with) often feel. Apparently, this has a variety of reasons, but a large part of it has to do with the fact that it simply has a larger geographic size and smaller population than Paris. But it is still clearly full of people, culture, and food; it's uncrowded-ness (plus the general attitude of Germans) makes it feel like a really laid-back place, again, unlike Paris or NYC (a lot of the time).
I've also been pretty much hungry/ eating the entire time I've been here. I suspect this is due to spending several weeks on a farm with food that is relatively simple and relatively low in fat and sugar. Here, there are pastry shops on every street. And damn, has the food been GOOD. Again, this perception is likely in part due to the fact that on the farm, there wasn't food constantly available (at least, I felt that I couldn't constantly be eating, because it wasn't "my" food). But here, I can rarely resist the urge to buy a pastry/ cookie/ falafel when the opportunity presents itself. So far, my favorite thing has been the jelly-filled donut (these are a bit different than those in the US; they are glazed, not powdered, and the jelly is actual jelly, with real fruit, instead of that gelatinous pectin-y stuff that you get in the states). I may need to get some exercise before this beach Ultimate tourney next week...
Another difference to be remarked on in this city is the lack of open-container laws. From about 5 pm on, every 4th or 5th person you pass has a bottle of beer in hand; this proportion increases as the evening progresses (especially on weekends). Walking down the street, on the subway, on the bus, wherever. And it adds to the generally relaxed atmosphere in this city.
So far, most of my activities have consisted of food, bars, clubs, watching 'Archer' (a TV show) and of course lying in bed until (at least) noon. Planning to visit the Brandenburg Gate and the Holocaust Memorial tomorrow (already my last full day here!) Mwanzaa's host family is as friendly and laid-back as he had claimed; within 15 minutes of arriving, I was giving a piggy-back ride to the youngest child. Unfortunately, I haven't actually seen much of them, due to our schedule of getting up around 1 pm and then heading out after breakfast. But when I do encounter the parents, they are full of smiles and greetings (fortunately, they, like most Germans, speak very good English). Mwanzaa's friends on the program are also generally delightful; we've spent the most time with Carlie, who is from Buffalo but goes to Pomona. She, like Mwanzaa, has a particular attitude and sense of humor that consists of sarcasm/ feigned judgement of others; it's clear to me why they're friends, and also why I had no trouble befriending her as well. (She is also always ready to buy a snack or some food, which makes me feel less guilty about wanting to do so as well).
Also, the Germans are crazy about recycling. They have six- six!- different bins for recycling things, including compost and electronics! Amazing.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Hostels
While we're on the topic of shared spaces, hostels are another intriguing example. You're sharing a (small) sleeping area with (in my case) 3 people you've never met before, with whom you might or might not have a language in common.
So far, I've met 2 of my 3 "roommates." The first is a super-friendly Canadian from Montreal, with whom I chatted a bit (in French) soon after I arrived. The second roommate demonstrated the effects of body language and tone; I encountered him as I was coming out of the bathroom, and though we both said "Bonjour" it was clear he was not really interested in having more of a conversation than that. So it goes (I heard him speaking on the phone when I went back to the room a moment ago; I think it was Russian, but possibly another Slavic language).
So during my time in Paris so far, I wandered to the Sacré Coeur (quite close to the hostel), bought a sandwich and watched the sun setting over Paris. Nice. Then I wandered around for another hour or so (buying a Nutella crêpe along the way, which, to be honest, was a large part of the reason I decided to spend a night in Paris. It was a little disappointing, cause I got it near the super-touristy area around Sacré Coeur, but really, it's pretty hard to have a "bad" Nutella crêpe).
Tomorrow check-out is by 11 am, but my flight isn't until 3 pm; because of the bags I'll have, I will likely just find a park and eat a sandwich and a pastry. Mmm... Paris, que tu es delicieux!
So far, I've met 2 of my 3 "roommates." The first is a super-friendly Canadian from Montreal, with whom I chatted a bit (in French) soon after I arrived. The second roommate demonstrated the effects of body language and tone; I encountered him as I was coming out of the bathroom, and though we both said "Bonjour" it was clear he was not really interested in having more of a conversation than that. So it goes (I heard him speaking on the phone when I went back to the room a moment ago; I think it was Russian, but possibly another Slavic language).
So during my time in Paris so far, I wandered to the Sacré Coeur (quite close to the hostel), bought a sandwich and watched the sun setting over Paris. Nice. Then I wandered around for another hour or so (buying a Nutella crêpe along the way, which, to be honest, was a large part of the reason I decided to spend a night in Paris. It was a little disappointing, cause I got it near the super-touristy area around Sacré Coeur, but really, it's pretty hard to have a "bad" Nutella crêpe).
Tomorrow check-out is by 11 am, but my flight isn't until 3 pm; because of the bags I'll have, I will likely just find a park and eat a sandwich and a pastry. Mmm... Paris, que tu es delicieux!
Reflections
If you think about it (which I have been doing), WWOOFing is pretty incredible. You are presented with this list of hundreds (maybe even 1-2 thousand) of descriptions of farms, most of which are just households. And based on these, you choose one or several, and eventually end up in someone's home, a part of their daily life from morning to evening. But the crazy thing is that each description represents a totally different experience from another, yet they are all just lined up on the website, one after the other, in the same font and format.
I don't really know what my point is here. But I came to this line of thought as I left La Lombarde Ouest today. I am very happy that I ended up there, and it's been an experience that will certainly affect how I look at the world as well as my future. And yet I know that if I had clicked on a different region of France to search for farms, and chosen a different one, I would have had new and different experiences there as well.
In any case, Ingrid was happy to have me there; yesterday she invited me to come back next summer, telling me I was the first WWOOFer that she trusted to help her with clearing out an area in terms of recognizing which types of trees to cut down (and which to spare) as well as appearing to truly enjoy that work. And (to indeed toot my own horn- people should embrace doing so instead of denying it) she told me today that I was one of the best WWOOFers they had had, because, basically, I was relatively responsible and she didn't need to make sure I had closed doors, cleaned up after myself, etc. You'd think others my age would learn to do these things too... I guess it's a bit of a rarety.
At the moment, I'm on a train to Paris, where I'll spend the night, and then tomorrow I fly to Berlin to see Mwanzaa for a week! I am excited both to see Mwanzaa (as I haven't done so since mid-February(!)) and to spend time in Berlin, which I hear is a pretty awesome place.
I emailed the farm I want to WWOOF at next a couple of days ago, and got a great response from them, so I'll be in the Haute-Loire (haven't looked up exactly where this is yet) from April 27-May 13. To choose farms, I basically go through the descriptions, and the ones that seem truly excited about having a WWOOFer there, or use warm/ inviting language are the ones I choose. (I avoid vineyards, because the work there, I think, is pretty repetitive and tedious). This farm is a family, parents plus 2 young kids (not sure of their ages), apparently on the edge of a conservation area (that I should also probably look up). Looking forward to that, certainly, but more focused on Mwanzaa and Berlin at the moment.
I don't really know what my point is here. But I came to this line of thought as I left La Lombarde Ouest today. I am very happy that I ended up there, and it's been an experience that will certainly affect how I look at the world as well as my future. And yet I know that if I had clicked on a different region of France to search for farms, and chosen a different one, I would have had new and different experiences there as well.
In any case, Ingrid was happy to have me there; yesterday she invited me to come back next summer, telling me I was the first WWOOFer that she trusted to help her with clearing out an area in terms of recognizing which types of trees to cut down (and which to spare) as well as appearing to truly enjoy that work. And (to indeed toot my own horn- people should embrace doing so instead of denying it) she told me today that I was one of the best WWOOFers they had had, because, basically, I was relatively responsible and she didn't need to make sure I had closed doors, cleaned up after myself, etc. You'd think others my age would learn to do these things too... I guess it's a bit of a rarety.
At the moment, I'm on a train to Paris, where I'll spend the night, and then tomorrow I fly to Berlin to see Mwanzaa for a week! I am excited both to see Mwanzaa (as I haven't done so since mid-February(!)) and to spend time in Berlin, which I hear is a pretty awesome place.
I emailed the farm I want to WWOOF at next a couple of days ago, and got a great response from them, so I'll be in the Haute-Loire (haven't looked up exactly where this is yet) from April 27-May 13. To choose farms, I basically go through the descriptions, and the ones that seem truly excited about having a WWOOFer there, or use warm/ inviting language are the ones I choose. (I avoid vineyards, because the work there, I think, is pretty repetitive and tedious). This farm is a family, parents plus 2 young kids (not sure of their ages), apparently on the edge of a conservation area (that I should also probably look up). Looking forward to that, certainly, but more focused on Mwanzaa and Berlin at the moment.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Schedule
Hard to believe I only have one day of work left (tomorrow is Saturday, thus day off/ market day; work Sunday, then leave Monday!).
I realized I never gave a full schedule of my work here:
Non-days off (i.e., not Saturday or Wednesday):
Wake up ~8:15 am; eat some breakfast
Start work ~9 am; work until ~12.
Lunch is the main meal of the day; one person cooks (we switch off each day) and the other does the salad.
After lunch, usually have a chat with Ingrid about something, then a siesta until 3 pm.
Work 3 pm- 6 pm or so; shower, then dinner, then various evening activities (usually watch the sun set and go online).
Saturdays are fun; we go to the market about 25 minutes away; the past 2 times Ingrid or Wolfgang has treated me to a pastry from their go-to chef and then we go to a cafe.
Also, I want to note that I made risotto today, and it was damn good (under-spiced, but otherwise a good texture, which I imagine is the hard part). I am pleased with myself (clearly).
I realized I never gave a full schedule of my work here:
Non-days off (i.e., not Saturday or Wednesday):
Wake up ~8:15 am; eat some breakfast
Start work ~9 am; work until ~12.
Lunch is the main meal of the day; one person cooks (we switch off each day) and the other does the salad.
After lunch, usually have a chat with Ingrid about something, then a siesta until 3 pm.
Work 3 pm- 6 pm or so; shower, then dinner, then various evening activities (usually watch the sun set and go online).
Saturdays are fun; we go to the market about 25 minutes away; the past 2 times Ingrid or Wolfgang has treated me to a pastry from their go-to chef and then we go to a cafe.
Also, I want to note that I made risotto today, and it was damn good (under-spiced, but otherwise a good texture, which I imagine is the hard part). I am pleased with myself (clearly).
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Energy Discussions
Haven't updated because it would just mostly be a list of what I've been doing: painting a wall, cutting down saplings, more weeding. Today was my day off; I opted to sort of lounge about the house/ property rather than explore further afield (though I like traveling to far-off places, I also like to just sort of be a homebody once in a while too).
I've had some interesting discussions (some of them in French!) while I've been here, of course about environmental issues. I've noticed a few things: one, people mostly fixate on nuclear as the significant problem when it comes to environmental energy issues. This is likely due in part to the disaster in Japan, but it seems like it's generally what people turn to. There has, in fact, been very little mention of global climate change, which is what dominates similar conversations in the US.
I've been told by both Ingrid and Wolfgang that I should watch Food, Inc., which I have been meaning to; I recently watched King Corn, which I believe covers a few of the same topics. Neither Ingrid nor Wolfgang had heard of Omnivore's Dilemma; while it is clearly based on the US food industry, I think it's still worth reading for non-US folks as well.
I've had some interesting discussions (some of them in French!) while I've been here, of course about environmental issues. I've noticed a few things: one, people mostly fixate on nuclear as the significant problem when it comes to environmental energy issues. This is likely due in part to the disaster in Japan, but it seems like it's generally what people turn to. There has, in fact, been very little mention of global climate change, which is what dominates similar conversations in the US.
I've been told by both Ingrid and Wolfgang that I should watch Food, Inc., which I have been meaning to; I recently watched King Corn, which I believe covers a few of the same topics. Neither Ingrid nor Wolfgang had heard of Omnivore's Dilemma; while it is clearly based on the US food industry, I think it's still worth reading for non-US folks as well.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Changeover
Weeded (around) lettuce in the greenhouse today. This is more difficult than it sounds: lettuce leaves are very fragile.
Wolfgang left this morning, so now I am alone with Ingrid (who got back from her meditation retreat yesterday). She is much more talkative than Wolfgang; also, we have been speaking almost entirely in French (Wolfgang and I mostly ended up speaking in English, which was good in that otherwise I don't think we would have formed much of a rapport). Cogs are turning again; if I keep it up with the speaking of French (which I will not be doing when visiting Mwanzaa or seeing my parents... oh well), I may well improve to where I was 2 years ago! We'll see.
Wolfgang left this morning, so now I am alone with Ingrid (who got back from her meditation retreat yesterday). She is much more talkative than Wolfgang; also, we have been speaking almost entirely in French (Wolfgang and I mostly ended up speaking in English, which was good in that otherwise I don't think we would have formed much of a rapport). Cogs are turning again; if I keep it up with the speaking of French (which I will not be doing when visiting Mwanzaa or seeing my parents... oh well), I may well improve to where I was 2 years ago! We'll see.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Health
This trip was supposed to be super healthy. I was going to stick to my physical therapy regiment and eat lots of organic food.
Instead, I hurt my shoulder the first week, and now I've been sick for the past 3 days. High fevers at night, and feeling drained and exhausted during the day. Hope it's not malaria! Went to the medical lab today to get some blood tests done, mostly to rule out malaria. I wasn't quite certain of what the doctor there said about the blood tests, but he seemed to indicate that other than seeing if it was malaria, the blood tests would say whether it was a bacterial or viral infection, but not which bacteria or virus. We'll see what they say when I go back this evening.
Edit: Not malaria yay! And most likely just a virus. Hopefully I will be over it soon; optimistic because at this point yesterday and the day before my fever was already going back up, which it is not doing now.
Instead, I hurt my shoulder the first week, and now I've been sick for the past 3 days. High fevers at night, and feeling drained and exhausted during the day. Hope it's not malaria! Went to the medical lab today to get some blood tests done, mostly to rule out malaria. I wasn't quite certain of what the doctor there said about the blood tests, but he seemed to indicate that other than seeing if it was malaria, the blood tests would say whether it was a bacterial or viral infection, but not which bacteria or virus. We'll see what they say when I go back this evening.
Edit: Not malaria yay! And most likely just a virus. Hopefully I will be over it soon; optimistic because at this point yesterday and the day before my fever was already going back up, which it is not doing now.
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