A Series of Unfortunate Events: Initiation into Africa

Sunday mornings usually unfold in the same manner each week; a walk through the market, spending a couple hours at the café with friends, writing emails and playing around on the internet; this past Sunday was another story. I arrived at the café and was feeling slightly spacey, definitely not myself. I turned on my computer drank some water and checked my mail. All of a sudden I felt incredibly light headed and needed to leave a noisy café, my friend noticed my skin tone turn ashen and she took me outside for air. I was expecting to faint, I was seeing stars and I felt very weak, I sat down and tried taking deep breaths. I decided I should get home so I waited outside for my friend to gather my belongings and at this point my eyes were wide open and I couldn’t see, I was too sick to feel afraid. The next thing I remember I was laying on the ground hearing voices saying; ‘she needs a doctor’, ‘she needs to get out of the sun’. It was so odd and surreal because I knew they were standing over me talking about me, but I wasn’t understanding any of it, I was so distant and didn’t realize it was I laying there on the ground, and then someone lifted me up and took me to a car, I was sweating profusely and thought I was going to melt. After 10 minutes I began to shiver and needed to be wrapped in blankets. My flatmate took me to the clinic and the doctor took my blood pressure then immediately took me to the treatment room and prepared a saline iv. I spent four hours in bed receiving the saline drip which regulated my blood pressure, the doctor was surprised I could have even walked into the clinic because my blood pressure had been dangerously low; when my iv treatment was completed I was treated for malaria. I felt devoid of life for a week, I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t leave my bed, I had a terrible head ache, and was nauseated by every smell, sound, and movement. Alas I am well now and other than the development of a slight paranoia to mosquitoes I feel healthy and kind of proud of my brush with malaria. Another page in the story of my life, they say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I think what doesn’t kill you, enlightens you and offers freedom. Human beings are marvelous creations with such depth and variation. To be able to see your own development in difficult times is a great gift and I am always surprised with life, its ups and downs. Anything else would be a terrible bore. Stay with yourself and let life be the ultimate educator proving unique lessons and pop quizzes all designed for you.