A Quote

  Lome, Togo
Sunday, August 8, 2004

Helloo!!
Have had a very exciting week and have finally assimilated into Togolese culture, I say this because when I said "I'm going to take a week off and go travelling" I managed to procrastinate so effectively that I never left Togo!! instead I visited lot of other NGO's (Non-Governmental Organisation's / aid organisations) That was quite cool and I got to ask lots of questions and often got to sit and chat with the director" I went to see the European union to air my views on their sanctions and to do some research, I basically asked lots of awkward questions and in the end they said "maybe you should meet the head of the delegation" Oh dear I think, as I'm sitting their in my dirty shorts scruffy shorts and baseball hat, happily he is too busy too see me until next week, should be fun meeting though,
Then I decided to travel on Friday but had to delay this as when I woke up I knew I wasn't going anywhere(the gremlins in my tummy and elephants running around my head had returned), I decided I couldn't face over 5 hours in a taxi designed for 4 passengers with at least 6 or 7 in it, I wasn't too bothered really and just slept and read books whilst playing with my thermometer and occasionally seeing how hot I was, in the morning I was normal temp, then I slowly began to creep up to 38.5 (not the 108.5 I texted to my sister...she replied something like "yes you should be worried you should be dead") Its rather sad when your only entertainment is a thermometer, so the kind people at the British school gave me a TV and video and access to there massive video library so I could watch British TV (something I've been craving, I was so happy! its so cool being ill!!)
I got a bit more worried as the day went on as I read the lonely planets guide to "health", before reading it I was sure I didn't have malaria, but as the day wore on I began to get slightly concerned I had horrid back aches (it felt both hot and cold at the same time) and the mother of all head aches (if I didn't move my head I didn't feel it so I was just trying to sit their frozen) and more symptoms that you do not need to know, seriously no!!
I then asked some of the local workers at the school should I be worried that it could be malaria, after a bit of banter they concluded that it almost certainly wasn't but just in case it was I should (I expected them to helpfully point out where I could get a test)
"Eat an orange or something" WHAT!!!! they take malaria about as seriously as we take hangovers at university, just go back to bed, stop moaning and get over it, its your own fault isn't it the teachers at the school where much more sympathetic and I have to say really made me feel better, some even took me in for a night to make sure I didn't get really ill and be stuck in my house alone with my mosi net for company, They where stars especially as that evening I got worse and I decided I wanted to make sure it wasn't malaria as everyone always says you must treat it quick.
So: End of story, it wasn't malaria, we don't know what it was; I now have a telly SCORE; its horrible getting ill in a country where you don't speak the language; my surname I impossible to spell phonetically in French especially to a stroppy, impatient nurse at reception; don't know if I will get the chance to go to Benin now, oh well!!

There are no photos this week as you there aint much to show you but I've put in an old one of two of the children I know well as I have actually missed them this week!!



Yes chances are I ill bring Jerimy home, I hope my flat mates like him!!
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And the end of the quote
".....Love flees through the window" From a taxi