Emergency room visit

So I was going to write a really well thought out blog about Malaria, I even started researching, but I don't have the energy right now. I'll have time while resting this next week to tell people a bit more about Malaria. In general I want to make sure everyone knows I am fine and recovering. I’ll tell my story quickly before I forget. I had a few interesting experiences while seeking treatment at not one but two hospitals. My illness came upon me very quickly. I was ill for about two hours before I decided I needed to go the hospital under the advice of my roommate and professor. The first hospital I went to, the doctors were on strike so there was no one there to treat me and the nurses were not kind at all. I had such bad nausea and diarrhea at that point all I wanted was a bathroom but they informed me that there wasn't one. An outright lie, but their bosses were gone so what did they care...very little obviously. They were kind enough to call a taxi for me after I requested. While waiting I felt ill and went outside. I accidentally left my phone in the hallway and jumped in the taxi forgetting it completely.

The taxi driver was going to take me to another hospital but at this point I figured I was better going back to my room to compose myself and think up a new strategy. By the time I reached the dorm I realized I forgot my phone, but I was too ill to return and asked the taxi driver to kindly go get it for an extra 10 cedis and bring it to the front desk. While at the hospital I had called the professor I work with to inform him that I was ill and that at the hospital there was no doctors so I needed to go to another hospital, but since I had forgotten my phone he could not reach me. Being the wonderful person he is he went straight to the hospital found my phone, talked to the taxi driver and came and found me in my room. Just when he arrived I realized that I should call him from my roommate’s phone since I had forgotten my phone, but he arrived with his wife to take me to the emergency room in Madina. Without them I would have been helpless at the hospital, not knowing how the system works.

The emergency room was full of mostly mothers with young children that were ill. Within two hours I was being treated for Malaria. They call it blind treatment they don’t really test you for anything, but since I had a fever, chills, bone aches, they treated me for Malaria. Since I also had stomach issues they treated me for stomach protozoa. They choose this blind treatment because 90 percent of the time it is one or both of these. I was so dehydrated I had an unquenchable thirst. My prof and his wife waited till they had me settled in a hospital bed and went home to rest till the morning.  I received two liters of fluid and a few other injections for the malaria.

The nurses here were also unpleasant and I soon found out quite inattentive. When I was sleeping they must have also decided to take a nap or at least not check up on me because I woke up with the nurse grabbing my hand and a puddle of blood on the bed next to my head. The fluid bag had run out resulting in me bleeding out. It wasn’t a lot, but it was enough to startle me. Luckily the gentleman who was in the room with me had a son who was attentive enough to help me when I needed it and called the nurse. There goes donating blood ever again, but don't worry the needle was sterile and packaged. I learned to watch for that from piercing parlors. Finally I was re-hydrated and pumped full of a bunch of lovely drugs to make me feel better for a while at least. I felt amazingly better after waking up in the hospital and I was hoping it would last but that was too good to be true.

The wife of my prof made me a wonderful breakfast and dinner, even though I don’t have much of an appetite I know I have to try to eat a bit to get better. My stomach is still extremely upset and my headache and body aches come and go. I am drinking water with powder Gatorade to keep my electrolytes up and hydrated. I will recover and I will be fine, but it I don’t wish this experience on anyone. I highly recommend that if you do come down with a sickness while traveling in Ghana, and I have a feeling in many places that have endemic malaria and stomach diseases one has not been exposed to, to instantly go to the emergency room and seek treatment. One can dehydrate so quickly and find oneself in a tough position. You also may not be sure as to how the system works and getting treatment may take a bit longer than you thought it would. I figure this is just one more life experience to learn from, as unpleasant as it is. I will be fine, just give me a few days!

Pissing in public

So this blog is quite simple. Pissing in public and how here it is not considered inappropriate or illegal in fact, and the ways in the US we have made it a criminal act. If nature calls, you pull off the road or go to the side of the bush path and simply relieve yourself. Mostly men, but I have seen my fair share of women who find a hiding spot when need be. I can't say I'm super comfortable with this, but I understand that there are worse things and I have found myself in the same situation many times when a toilet is simply not available. While in the US these people could be cited for public urination or even worse indecent exposure if a cop in a bad mood finds you. In 13 states in the US a public urination ticket can warrant a listing as a sex offender on the state wide sex offender list (The Economist, Unjust and ineffective America has pioneered the harsh punishment of sex offenders. Does it work? August 6, 2009). While I do understand people who may live next to bars do not appreciate people pissing in the open or maybe even on objects making the ally way smell like a sewer, but I think we have all found ourselves in the situation where a restroom is not easily available and using a dark corner maybe the only option. Does this simple act of nature have to be made illegal, or can this be handled by people telling each other that they don’t appreciate it? If anything get a damn big light and shine it in the problem area. I bet our cultural norms will take control and you won’t find many people pissing there any longer. Just thought it was interesting a simple thing that we let our dogs do all over (does their urine smell any better than ours?) can really hurt someone’s future in the US if you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time and even worse in the wrong state. Should we not just take a bit more of a laid back stance on this and just let cultural norms rule versus the strict hand of the law?

Bush paths

path between the night market and dorm in the background

When I first got here I learned that the majority of the time there are not sidewalks, but self-made sidewalks or bush paths. Pretty much the same paths as we have when we decide to cross across the grass and eventually create sheep paths as I like to call them where grass doesn’t grow because of too much traffic. Well they have the same things here, but they call them bush paths. Since it is the rainy season the grass is taller than I am. I am waiting to see how tall the plants can get. Luckily they don’t have any lions or tigers that are going to jump out and get me…at least that I know of. 

Transit "Mate bus stop..."

There are many ways to get around. My preferred method is walking, but when I have to travel a bit further to do my research, visit the mall or see other parts of Accra there are three prominent ways of travel. I use a bit of all of these and it is always an adventure. I must admit I have jumped on Tro-tros not really knowing where they are going, but figuring if I don’t get to the right place, I’ll know at least one more place. Since I’m never in a hurry and I can’t get all to lost I just enjoy the experience. It is like getting lost in Venice, I’m only sitting in a Tro-tro packed like sardines wondering where I may end up and how long this adventure will take to get me home.

Taxi

Taxi is the quickest, easiest and most expensive. If you are a foreigner the taxi drivers will try to rip you off. Whatever they offer you split it in at least two to start your bargaining. Then you should meet somewhere in the middle, but don’t be scared to ask a Ghanaian the taxi prices and tell the driver that you’ve been around a bit you know better. If you still feel it is too high, walk away and try to hail another taxi. You can also travel in taxis with strangers. At taxi rounds there are cars that regularly travel to different locations. The taxi will have a sign on it saying where they go. Once the taxi is full it will leave. This time no need to bargain because the price is preset. Since I’m a penny pincher, I only try to use a taxi when Tro-tros no longer run, or if it is raining.

Public bus

The busses are large and orange. The usually have a sign in the front window showing their final destination. There is always a person selling tickets on the bus. If you want the bus to stop make sure to press the stop button or tell the ticket seller. They are often crowded and traders travelling to sell their goods will set them in the aisles. Try to be respectful of people’s items. This is an affordable way to get around, but don’t expect to get anywhere quick. I think the bus only runs from six in the morning to six in the evening, but don’t quote me. I know there isn’t really a schedule, you just need to sit and wait.

Tro-tro

This is the most foreign mode of travel to westerners. Tro-tros are large vans that have been gutted and refitted with as many possible bench seats as possible. They are licensed by the government, so it is a legal operation. They run on specific routes. There is the driver and the tro-tro mate who collects the money, opens and closes the large sliding door, stops the tro-tro when you ask and calls and signals out the window the final destination. If you are not sure where they stop on the way from one place to the next, ask if they stop at your destination, they are in a hurry so be quick. The price is usually the same maybe give or take ten pesewas depending on the Tro-tro. Tell the mate your destination and they will give you your change before you exit, it may not be right away so be patient. There are specific destinations and transfer points. You will learn these through experience. If you do not like your fellow human beings, tro-tro is not for you. It is crowded and often very warm. The ride can also be quite bumpy due to the conditions of the roads. Most tro-tro drivers attempt to avoid the pot holes, but this isn’t always possible, some pot holes are the size of small cars, or come in groups that cover the road. But if you want to save quite a bit of money and get somewhere it is an excellent option.

Hissing and Kissing

The first few days I was here I was very annoyed because most of the taxi drivers would hiss and kiss at me. I thought it was harassment, but I soon realized that hissing and kissing at someone is the normal way to get someone’s attention. The taxi drivers were only trying to get my attention thinking that I was a naïve and lazy ‘Obruni‘ (white person) who would prefer taking a taxi than walking or going by Tro-tro. So after an ego check, I recommend you don’t take it the wrong way they aren’t cat calling, just trying to get your money.

Dresses, a little input please!

I'm looking to get a few dresses, tops and skirts sown while I am here. It is often that people get outfits sown here. It is extremely affordable in my eyes. Costing between 15 and 25 cedis for a dress, and 6 to 11 cedis for a yard of material. A short dress usually takes 3 yards of fabric. The fabric is bright and beautiful. I have a few pictures of outfits I like. I still have to pick out the fabric but these are some styles I like. What do you think, put a little vote up for the dresses/outfits you like most.

High waist skirt

t shirt sleeve with a bit of ruffle in the front

I like the sleeves on the top, the skirt would be different

flare dress

Jacket and skirt

business dress

oops sideways, but cute

simple skirt and sleeveless top

long flashy dress

more flowy knee length dress

I like this skirt

loose and relaxed dress

a bit more flair

elbow length sleeves square neck

Dorm living

I was very upset about this when it happened, because coming from the United States where I believe that discrimination on most aspects (not enough personally) has been made illegal. I am experiencing it full blown here. So I have been in a battle with the university hall where I am staying. While my roommate is Ghanaian she is paying 100 us dollars for a month, and I am required to pay 13 dollars a day, equivalent to 400 dollars a month for obviously the exact same situation. They see nothing wrong with this. I was so upset, I went into the office and explained to them how unfair this was, but the fact that I had no problem paying twice as much, but four times as much, really???? So now I’m the angry white girl.

On top of all of this, they wanted us to move to a different hall. I spent a ridiculous amount of time several days to find a new room that was clean. I explained to them that we were perfectly happy where we were.  Why should we have to move? Most of the students were gone anyway. In the end they gave us one night to move. The room they were supposed to prepare for us was filthy, broken toilet seat and all. My roommate searched for almost two hours to find a room that was better, but still not very clean and in addition a wonderful infestation of ants that live in my bunk bed posts. I haven’t decided what I’m going to do about my unwanted roommates but I’m not going to ask the office because I know they are not helpful at this point.

I’m hoping this next month to bargain them down to maybe 300 dollars, but if not I don’t have many other options. I do have security, water, and electricity the majority of the time. There are certain battles to be fought and I have a feeling this is a losing one.