A Low Point

I hope everyone’s week was much better than mine!
This week was really brutal. On Tuesday, I found out by e-mail that my grandfather (who lives in the U.K.) passed away. Although this wasn’t unexpected, it really took a toll on me and I wasn’t really able to function for the rest of the day. I felt really terrible- my family had gone to the U.K. to help out and I was unable to do anything. I didn’t hear anything more from my family until I skyped mum on Sunday. All in all- not so fun. The bad vibes continued for the rest of the week.
Friday was a really rough day. I was still recovering from the initial shock of my grandfather’s death. I spent the morning waiting to see someone at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) with little luck, and was told to return next week. On a side note, I am absolutely fascinated by this hospital (I’ve written about it before in my blog). There are signs everywhere telling people not to freak out on medical personnel because (due to a massive disease burden and health professional shortage) the staff are already working in overdrive. I had a bit of an adventure by getting lost in the physiotherapy department and ended up in a room with 20 people working out on pilates machines, and people swarming around a doctor for help. I also walked into the cholera control centre by accident and ran out as soon as I could! Friday got even more brutal when I was misguided by a minibus conductor and got driven out to the outskirts of Lusaka and it took me an extra 2 hours to get to work (I’ve gotten to be very cheap and refuse to pay for a taxi- they are eating up way too much of my stipend). When I actually got to the office the power was out and my computer had blown a fuse. This computer has all of my work files on it and its impossible for me to work without it. I decided to leave for the day as there was no point in sticking around until my computer gets fixed. I went for a check-up at a clinic and was informed by my doctor that I no longer have a bladder infection. Oh joy, oh rapture! Seriously, that made my day.
On a lighter note, I’ve realized that I’m missing the most random food! Well, I miss chocolate milk but that was a given from the get-go. But, I miss seafood sooooooooo much. And not just sushi- but also shrimp, scallops, calamari and salmon. What is wrong with me? Its not like I eat that much seafood at home. You can buy seafood here, but bc Zambia is a landlocked country, the prices are outrageous- about 30$ per bag of shrimp, and at least a 20$ meal at a restaurant. Mum suggested that I treat myself, but I can’t bring myself to spend so much on one meal when so many people in this city live on less than 30$ a month- its just not justifiable.
Mike and Joe (roommates) are back this week! Its nice to have them back again. Even though we all have different scheduals and basically never see eachother, its nice to see signs of life around the house again.
This weekend was a good way to recover from my very sad week. My grandfather’s death has been difficult to cope with, but also, because I am so far from home, it also doesn’t seem quite real. My few close friends here have been very supportive though and have been trying to keep me busy. Tom’s cousin was getting married this weekend, and I was invited to come along for my second wedding in Zambia (people get married all the time here, and its rare to meet someone over the age of 30 who isn’t married with kids). The wedding was a lot smaller than the last one I went to, with about 100 people (wedding crashers included). Tom, his family and me had to practically push our way in! Weddings here are a big deal, and people show up even if they aren’t invited, which is why the wedding party hires bouncers. Never, in my life, have I had to fight my way into a wedding! It was an experience and I had to try very hard to keep a straight face the whole time. After the wedding, Tom, his uncle and I headed out for a Mosi. Sunday was spent skyping, grocery shopping, reading and hanging. I am hoping to get out of the city soon….And that’s all folks!

---

---