Updates on the Health Front

For some reason at this point in the semester we all seem to be dropping like flies.
Esty, Luke, and Brandi have all been suffering from some pretty severe intestinal distress, relatively consistently, for quite a long time. The three of them all made visits to the alopathic doctor today (as opposed to the homeopathic doctor to whom we usually get sent, where we are prescribed an assortment of powders and globules) because their "Cipro Bombs" (the antibiotics we came to India equipped with) have failed to do the trick. If you have the time, please include their comfort and recovery in your thoughts and prayers...

After our lecture today on the history of Ayurvedic medicine, I ironically fell ill as well. I speculate that my migraine attack was brought about by the strong cup of coffee I drank this morning, but my professor is convinced it is because of the change of seasons and weather....Either way, I could feel it coming on for about half an hour beforehand: I was uncomfortable and nauseous, and my extremities felt jittery, as if wild amounts of energy were stored in my arms and finger tips, and by the end of the lecture I had difficulty taking notes- the letters came out so slowly and were all out of order and sloppy. We returned home and I was suddenly incapacitated by vomiting. No need to worry about me though, Choto-da was there to take care of me. He comforted me by dabbing my tears and calling me his sister, then he made me drink a cup of salty, warm Electrol.

I'm pretty recovered now, after a nap in my cold dark room. Esty and I both took the afternoon off from class, and spent the time lying together under her mosquito net telling stories. We had a pleasant lunch, surprisingly. Choto-da's cooking was delicious! All home-made and fresh: chili dal, green mango chutney, little potato fritters, heaven...and we have begun eating our food with our hands, like Bengalis. Choto-da helps us by critiquing our "form." Who knew what an art it was!

This morning at breakfast the professor commented on the noticeable amount of weight that Zack has lost over the past 2 months. Even I have lost a small handful of pounds, it must have something to do with the food and the heat and the amount of energy we spend at service. Another comical health issue, which might potentially be serious, is my permanent congestion. My nose has been stuffy and snotty since our first week in India, thanks to the pollution- I don't even remember what my voice usually sounds like anymore! The worst part of the situation is that my nasal blockage seems to have moved to my ears, and I have become slightly hard of hearing, which everyone makes a lot of fun about. At least it makes it easier to fall asleep at night, amidst the throbbing city sounds of car horns and chatter. Maybe I will get that checked out when I get home...