Just glad I’m not a Pisces

I’ve been fortunate enough to avoid any illness in my first 2 months here, so I guess I was due for this, but I just went to the doctor and found out I have salmonella. It’s not as bad as it sounds. Abdominal pain is my only symptom and the doctor gave me a painkiller and some antibiotics. I didn’t really know what to expect when I went to the doctor’s office, or how it would compare to a Western doctor’s office. I had to wait for about an hour before seeing the doctor, so that part made me feel right at home. His office was like any doctor’s office in America. I scanned the walls looking for a diploma and didn’t see one, but Nicole (from Scotland. Projects Abroad person who deals with the volunteers) said that the doctor was on the level and I needn’t worry. I went in and Nicole helped my French along explaining my symptoms and he poked around my stomach for a little while and said that it was most likely the beginning stages salmonella which wasn’t great to hear, but he seemed to be very sure. The doctor did everything I expected and I chided myself for not having confidence in the man initially. Then he asked me what my birthday was. I said May 20, 1986, and he said, “Oh you’re a Taurus. You shouldn’t be worried then. Your sign doesn’t usually have a problem with this.” That single comment, which to most Senegalese people is probably a great comfort, completely shattered all the confidence I had in the doctor. He just slipped it in at the end too, just as he gave me my prescription. Then before we left, the doctor said something really fast in French and there was a word I didn’t recognize, so I asked Nicole what it meant and she said “worms”. My face did what you would expect it to do, and I said, “Nicole, I don’t have worms. Tell me I don’t have worms” she said I didn’t, but the doctor said that I might want get checked up in another couple months to make sure. “To make sure I don’t have worms? Should I see the vet or something?”

After I got my prescription, I called my parents later that night and had them google my medications to make sure they are normally given to treat my symptoms and everything seemed to be fine. Eggs are a big part of Senegalese food, and my family makes me food with eggs in it a lot, and I remember a particularly runny egg I had at the beginning of the week that I believe to be the culprit. Not to be critical of my family, but there isn’t a great amount of care in making sure the kitchen is completely germ/bacteria free. Here is a picture of the family sheep just walking in and having a look around.

I tried to tell my host family that I had salmonella and they didn’t understand what I was saying which I thought was a language barrier issue, but later once I had the French word for it (thanks Bryan) I found out they actually didn’t know what salmonella was. This was also made clear when they made me a big plate of eggs for dinner, just after I told them I had salmonella. I couldn’t help but laugh a little when they knocked on my door and presented me with a whole plate full of what made me sick.

It shouldn’t last too long. The round of antibiotics only lasts for a week, so hopefully it will all be cleared up by then, including any possibility of (sigh) worms. It’s not a debilitating illness and I can still go out with the other volunteers. Unfortunately, my first name lends itself to alliteration with the sickness I have, so right now I am trying to avoid the nickname “Salmonella Steve” given to me by one of the other volunteers which gained some popularity when we were out last night.

I hope everyone had a great Halloween. Also, congratulations Justin and Ashley Boutwell! Sorry I couldn’t make the wedding. I hope yesterday was magical for you both and I wish you the best from across the Atlantic.

Loves,
Steve