Still a noob

So I'm back in town and am checking in. I'm still doing fine. It seems a little odd that everyone noticed my post about malaria. It was mentioned in several letters, a message post? some emails, and was one of the first things out of my my Mom's mouth when I talked to her for the first time (just last month). All from just one little post. I guess you all are actually reading my site (or at least somebody did and then told everyone else). Anyway, this Malaria thing got a little out of hand. No one seems to have noticed that I only suspected I got malaria. The doctor actually said it was either malaria or food poisoning. Anyway, since you all seem interested, I write a little more about what I know of the disease.

First, it's not what your thinking. It 's rarely fatal unless you are an infant, elderly, malnourished, or extremely unlucky and live in an area where phalciparum (cerebral malaria) is abundant (I do not). Unfortunately for millions of the world's poor they often fall into one of those categories. I've been told that for most people living in the tropics, Malaria is regarded in much the same was as Americans regard the flu. That is, it is an everpresent threat of mild to severe illness, that is usually mild and is sometimes preventable (for example by avoiding mesquito ridden areas), but almost never unavoidable (sooner or later you will get malaria if you live in the tropics). Anyway, stop worrying about me dying from malaria, It almost never kills wealthy (comparatively) foreigners, who take a malaria propholaxis and have excellent access to medical care (again relatively speaking). For those of you who are sometimes disappointed by the debunking of a commonly held myth, here's a story what I gadge to realistically be the biggest danger I face here in rural Africa.

 I woke up two nights ago hearing a familiar nose- the sound of insects eating my roof. I ignored it for a while. Then I rolled over and my heart just about exploded. I flew out of bed in a panic and immediately began trying to extinguish the fire on my cooking table- next to my gas stove. I frantically tried to pull the flaming material off the table, first with my hands, then with my gigantic utility knife (sword really). Heart pounding a very real sense of life-threating danger I pulled the flaming candle wax, tablecloth and kitchen rag away from the tube connecting my 15lb NATURAL GAS CANNISTER to the stove. I then grabbed the stove and put it on the floor while dumping some filtered water on the table.

Phew- crisis averted. I managed to put everything out, however I destroyed my tablecloth and napkin and left a huge black burn mark on my table. No big deal though I spent much of the remaining night wide awake obsessively thinking what would have happened if I hadn't woken up in time. I reasoned that another few minutes and I probably would be dead.But it's no good thinking about that. Anyway, the best I can figure is that a candle I remember blowing out, had re-ingnighted (sometimes they light back up again almost immediately after going out- trick birthday cake style) melted down to the holder (half a plastic water bottle) and lit the tablecloth on fire).

So despite the scorpions and spiders, the unpredictable political climate, Malaria and numerous other tropical diseases and parasites, the most dangerous thing facing me is still my own stupidity.

Comments

[JoLynn]

As an aside to your environmental/economic policy aspirations, you should do comedy or write on the side. Your entries are very funny despite the life-threatening content of this entry. It takes talent to make a story like that be hilarious!
Please be careful and be well.
Luv,
JoLynn

[Shawn Peabody]

Thanks for the pat on the back, but I've learned that trying to be funny makes shawn not funny. Anyway, I hear rock stars get more girls than comedians, so I'll stick with that as my fantasy job.

And I will continue to be careful, especially where fire is concerned.