A Week Of Doing Nothing And Recuperating Really

Greetings to all you cyber readers, and welcome to the newest blog. I hope you like it.


This week has been an eventful week really, and then it has sort of slowed down a lot now, until next week when the pace quickens again. On Sunday we had a very chillaxed day, when we played a game of football against the local team DotCom, who we had played before and lost, so the stage was set for revenge, which was justly served as we beat them 3-1 with a goal from me, Marc and Beca, who works for Camp Kenya.

It was this night which I started to feel the oncomings of illness. It was just a cold, and a sore throat so I thought nothing of it. However, the next day after work it proceeded to get worse, to a headache and lethargy, and having missed my malaria tablet a couple of weeks ago for a day, I had the inklings of malaria, for the first time which had me worried. It then proceeded to get even worse on the Tuesday night, so that I awoke with my bed just literally completely soaked in sweat, and I found it hard to move in terms of lethargy, and so it was at this point that Rosie, our camp leader, decided to call the ambulance for me. I thought this was a bit far, as I was feverish but it was just the flu I thought, but she thought it might have been malaria, so I was rushed off to hospital, fearing run down, SAW style hospitals, similar to Tanzania, with unmotivated doctors and nurses and massive queues to be seen.

I was suprised when I pulled up to find that it was a very well looked after hospital, with great people looking after you. I was first asked to tell the nurse what was wrong with me, have my blood pressure checked and then temperature also. I then waited to be seen by the doctor for about 15 minutes, and then I saw the doctor who was very nice, although he did tell me that he wanted me to take a blood test and check for malaria. I had been worried about this since I arrived fearing that one, I might have malaria, and two for unclean needles and the fear of HIV, but I should not have been worried. It was more efficient than any English hospital I had been too, so I was quickly seen too and had a blood test and returned to the doctor who said that it wasn't malaria, but a serious case of severe tonsilitis. Having always heard that anyone who had tonsilitis had their tonsils removed I was pleased, but anxious for him to say that I didn't need them removed, which he did, and then said that I would have to stay a couple of days to be given liquid anti biotics, until I was able to swallow tablets, so off I went to a private room where I got changed into some hospital clothes, and then I was given a drip.

Having never had a drip before, and only ever having a butterfly in my hand using a cream that numbs the pain, I did not look forward to this part of my stay, but it turned out ok, just a slight sting in the hand, and then a cold feeling as they gave the drugs, but nothing as serious as I had imagined. I then got into the plus sides of staying here, such as, a room to myself (kind of with all the nurses coming in and out) , a TV, DVD's, and a bathroom. However it was very weird walking around with a drip. I felt like I should be a seriously ill, older person, staying in hospital for the long term, not myself with tonsilitis. On the up side I got served amazing meals, got to watch 300 on DVD, and then got to watch the football with the lads, (Man City v Tottenham) and saw Marc get kicked out when he celebrated the Spurs goal, as we was too loud. : )

The next day however, was quite, not boring, but inactive. I wanted to be up, having already had the feeling of feeling much better than I had the day before, and did not want to be stuck in the same room for another 24 hours, (which I was), although my day was brigtened when I learnt that Jenny was in hospital with me, having been ill the day before, (after I checked she was ok) and then I watched the film Blood Diamond, which I thought was a real African movie. T.I.A.

I was then allowed out the next day, where I went straight back into teaching English, and then crashed out in bed. Today we have just been at the beach playing football, and tomorrow, we are going snorkelling, playing in a football tournament, and then having a beach BBQ, and then next week off to see the elephants again : D

Only 3 weeks until home now. I'm not wishing the trip away, but at the point now where I'm ready to be home.

Much love to you all

Josh