Dizziness among other things

Two days ago I was hit with a not fun dizzy spell. It was in the evening and I just crawled into bed early. Woke up just fine. Then yesterday right before I was picked up from work, dizziness hit me again. This time accompanied with nausea. It wouldn't have been so bad only traffic in Nairobi is horrendous and everyone drives super aggressively and pretty choppily. Even though I was sitting in the front seat with the driver, every single stop and go motion made me want to puke. And I almost did. Right when we turned into the Nairobi Womens Hospital parking lot in order to pick up our interns stationed there. I stumbled out of the matatu (van) and huddled on the ground willing myself not to be sick. I gathered quite a crowd of nurses. The wave passed though and I got back into the matatu. However, the stop and go in traffic on the way home did not improve. So I was a problem solver. I felt better walking and being in control of my own motion. So I would get out of the matatu and walk. When the matatu caught up to me (yes traffic is that bad), I would get back in if there was a break in traffic. I managed to make it home this way, getting in and out of the matatu. And laughing along the way because it was just too ridiculous!

I have no other symptoms that seems to account for anything. So I have to think it is the malaria medicine. There is a huge sticker on the bottle that say "MAY CAUSE DIZZINESS." That medicine is fired. Hopefully I won't have any more dizzines, but apparently the way the medicine releases itself, makes it pretty unpredictable. For that reason, I did not accompany everyone else on the trip to Kibera, Nairobi's biggest slum. I am disappointed not to have gone, but at the same time, I doubt it would have been an epiphany moment or anything. The size and magnitude of the slum is the only real distinguishing difference.

I am borrowing my brother's camera but unfortunately he forgot to give me a memory card. Until I get that figured out, I have to rely on other friends' pictures such as below:

Had dinner at this place known for its grilled goat meat--and carwash.


This guy is dressed up as a colonialist. Why, I don't know.


Here we are waiting for the group to gather by our personal matatus. You can see them behind us. One is blue with fuschia curtains and the other one is white. I prefer the white one simply because my head doesn't hit the roof unlike the other one. Apparently most Kenyans are not that tall. Actually, the director of the program requested that some of the beds in our apartments be replaced because they were too small! He made sure the one for me was replaced and I am grateful. Even the one I have now, I can touch the headboard and footboard when completely stretched out.



And here is our director, Joel and his son Keoni. Joel is also the chair of the African Studies Dept. and so my boss as well!


I have been here a week now and I can't decide if it feels like a really long time or a really short time!