An alcoholic pastor, a tropical beach and Malaria

Friday morning we left for Kribi to learn about pygmees and relax at the beach. When we arrived at the hotel we threw our bags in our rooms, put on our bathingsuits and ran into the ocean. It was absolutely beautiful. I couldn't believe that it was real. I felt as if I was dreaming. A few of the girls and I ran down the beach and climbed on all these huge rocks until we reached the rocks right on the water. We held on as the waves crashed on our feet. There were little snails attached to the rocks and little fish swimming in puddles of water in between rocks. There was a waterfall that ran right into the ocean, which we could only see from a distance because you have to visit it by canoe.

That evening we had a lecture about pygmees which was irritating because the lecturer was for the "civilization" of the pygmees. After the lecture I started feeling ill and went to bed very early. Throughout the night I was very sick with a fever and vomiting (cameroon has made me have no shame about sharing bodily functions) and by the morning I was in tears. I went to the hospital which was a Spanish NGO and got tested for Malaria, it was negative, but I did have a bacterial digestive infection. I went back to the hotel and rested and then my fever reached about 102 or 103 and I had to go back. I couldn't even keep down my medicine. At this point I was diagnosed with Malaria and it didn't show up on the test because of my anti-malaria daily meds. I was treated and by this morning back to feeling like a normal human being. I have a new found appreciation for health. And I have to take a total of 13 pills a day for two weeks because I have a parasite like thing in my stomach and Malaria. Sweet, huh?

Unfortunately I missed out on the pygmee visit because I was at the hospital, but the other girls said I didn't miss much. They met with two tribes of pygmees that are trying to assimilate into mainstream Cameroonian culture, the traditional pygmees are inaccessible because they live deep in the forest. The tribes thought that we had come to visit to deliver them from poverty. They were not happy with our gifts. It was apparently an awkward situation. But here's one of Miju's pictures of the pygmee visit.

Miju, is going home tomorrow. She had a really bad experience with Malaria and decided for several reasons to cut her stay in Cameroon short. She will be missed greatly, but especially after having been very ill myself, I respect her decision.

Random sidenote, before leaving for Kribi my Yaoundé family was hosting an odd relative from Olodorf, aparently my father's brother. He is an alcoholic pastor who happens to be an ex-cop. So imagine a juice box, now imagine the box as a bag, kinda like a ziplock bag but with no opening, now imagine it with whiskey instead of juice. My uncle drinks an absurd amount of these every night. I was amused to overhear a conversation between him and my mom where she yelled at him for drinking too much and he blamed it on the dog. BAhahahaha.

written by

peep on October 19, 2008 from Kribi, Cameroon

from the travel blog: Cameroon

Send a Compliment

Oh my, Renee, Malaria? I can't imagine what that must be like. Cynthia and I were sitting here looking it up trying to figure out if you'd be okay... you're a tough cookie, that's for sure. I feel so cheesy saying "tough cookie", but I can't think of another way to put it. I'm sorry you got so sick and I hope you're feeling better and everything's okay.

We miss you over here! But we also know you are bringing your awesomeness to a whole new continent, and you are experiencing awesome things in exchange. Well, minus the malaria, that's not awesome. But you know what I mean. Hopefully. Hehe.

<333

written by Amy Szulecki on October 20, 2008

They make you buy expensive Malaria-prevention meds, AND THEN THEY DON'T WORK?! WTF, how lame is that? The friggin' doctor who sold them to you back home better refund them.

I'm very glad you've pulled through it, though. Sounds like quite a nasty few days. Ugh. Poor roommate. I guess that's the price to be paid for Perfect! Tropical! Paradise! though.

written by Erin Renehan on November 5, 2008

comment on this...