My faka 'ofa Holidays:
Peace Corp Volunteer in Tonga

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Faka ‘ofa- sorry, sad or pathetic

Well I guess I should start with Christmas. A little sad at first, but I saw some friends and went for a walk, all in all a good time. So was boxing day, all of group 73 in Tongatapu got together for a potluck. Good times.

December 30, Sunday

I went for a long bike ride. I noticed that it was very sunny and wondered if I would get burned. I forgot the sunscreen, oops. As I turned around about 18 KM from my house it clouded over, yea! Then it started to rain and rain and rain. I was soaked through by the time I got home. Still I showered and got ready for church. At least this is the tropics and I wasn’t that cold. Still it chilled me and in the evening I felt a little warm. Enough so that I took my temperature. I have these cool one time use thermometers called thermadot. There are 9 rows of 5 dots and depending on how many turn blue that is your temperature. I followed the directions and there they were my blue dots, 99.6. Well now I know I am justified in going to bed at 8pm. Good to get in some extra sleep so I am ready for new years eve!

December 31, Monday

When I woke up I still felt sick. So much for trying to ride my bike into town. Maybe if I rest I can still take the bus in later. I spent the day moving slow but still able to make food and such. No dishes or cleaning mind you, but I was still cooking. By 10 am I knew this bug was going to keep me home tonight, no dinner then bar for me. All is well at least I can see the Tongan style New Years celebration of church from 10-12 right? Well maybe not. I just kept feeling worse all day until I went to sleep at around 10. I did get a text from Enrique a little after midnight so I was aware of the New Year in my drowsy state. Then at 3:30 I woke up freezing. I arranged my two sheets over me, but that wasn’t nearly enough. So I pulled my thick blanket over me, doubled up for extra warmth, nope I am not going to get to sleep like this. So after much mental preparation I got out of bed and shuffled to the kitchen for some water. Then I got my first aid kit and brought that and the water into bed. Slowly I found the sample packet of Tylenol and tore open the package realizing how difficult this all was while alone. And I was so happy to finally be on my own, now all I wanted was someone to hand me two Tylenol in one hand and a glass of water in the other, maybe help hold my head for a moment as I swallowed. Nope I live alone and this is all up to me. I got the package open and took the meds. Thank God that is over, time to cuddle back into the covers. The fetal position is a good one when cold so I tucked in and pulled the covers up. Still cold. I had a sarong on the bed so I wrapped it around my head in a makeshift hat. There I should be warm now. But I wasn’t. What I wouldn’t give for a warm water bottle to snuggle with. After laying and shivering for another 20 minutes I started to feel my body warm up and I was ready to relax into sleep. Not so fast I wasn’t just warm I was starting to get hot. I wasn’t warming up, my fever was breaking. Fine whatever just let me sleep. I flung the blanket and sarong off and rolled over, exhausted and yes my body let go and I slept.

January 1

Last night was horrible, but my fever broke so I thought I would just reconfirm it was gone and take it easy. Oh my gosh so many blue dots! Now my temp was 102.8, this is bad. I didn’t feel like making food, even getting water and I have a high grade fever and I am alone. I wanted to take a shower, but it is cold. Nope can’t do it. I ate mostly crackers and jam as they are so easy to make. I got out my medical handbook and it seems I need to wait 24 hours for a high and 48 hours for a low fever before I call the PCMO. So tonight will be 24 hours with a high fever after 24 with a low fever, fair enough. After a day of crackers and jam and of course water and plenty of rest, I was ready to call Jacinta. I took my temp again so I had the most current data, 103.6. She prescribed water, rest and Tylenol every 6 hours. Really, not that I want to take lots of drugs, but I don’t want to have a fever anymore!! As I lay in bed in my own filth dreading a cold shower Laukau called. This is it, I need help and I am not afraid to ask. She came over which was great in a way, and in another way I had to get up and open the door when all I wanted to do was lay still. She was very helpful and helped me borrow all I needed to take a warm shower. Ecstasy, aside from the fever of course. Laukau was worried so she offered to stay the night. It is very Tongan to stay with friends especially if they are alone and after last night I will welcome a friend to help if I need it. So at about 9 PM I fell onto my pillow and passed out.

January 2 Wednesday

How do I still have a fever!! But I do 102.4. I don’t even feel like eating. Laukau made me tea even though I asked her not to. Too much sugar for me. Trying to drink as much water as I can hold down but it is a one sip at a time endeavor. Jacinta is coming to visit today, maybe she will have some good insights. In the end she brought some more drugs. Extra strength. back to the 6hour dance. I found that the first 4 or 5 hours are just uncomfortable, but the last hour I just watch the clock and try to ignore the pains until I can take the next dose. She also brought a real thermometer, but it was in Celcius. Now I just have to learn the difference between 39.4 and 38.3 (in the end they are both fevers 37.0 is normal)

Laukau stayed again most of the day and asked if I wanted another shower, I don’t think I can handle that just yet. She didn’t stay the night though, she had to go tou’a so she left rather early. That is fine I just passed out early anyway.

January 3

This morning I still felt bad so I called Jacinta again and she offered to pick me up and take me to the Medical office apartment. It was hard to pack and it took me the whole hour off and on of course. It was great to be around other folks though. Both Jason and Kasa were staying at the apartment with me and they helped a lot over the next 4 days. I didn’t leave the apartment for days but they brought food and water and helped me make warm showers. Life here was that much more tolerable. even thought I am throwing up occasionally.

January 4 Friday

This afternoon… my fever broke!!! That’s right no more fever. Still can’t walk around the apartment or make my own food but at least I am not excessively hot or cold.

January 5

Yesterday Jacinta asked me about a rash??? Well now I know why, my hands and feet itch really bad and when I took a bath I saw that my whole body is covered in a red rash. So this is phase 2 of Dengue huh? Ouch I hope I don’t discover why she asked me about a nose bleed tomorrow.

January 7, Monday

My Birthday!

But still feeling crappy. Jason left but Kasa is still here. At night she, Alexis Andrew and Enrique sang and brought me a cake. I even ate half a piece. My folks figured out how to call Tonga and I was able to talk to them. It was nice to have some recognition for my birthday even though I was still laying in bed.

January 8

I left the apartment! Well I just went downstairs and over to the computer lab but it was more than I had done in days. I am starting to feel better! Now to just get rid of this exhaustion. Jacinta offered to let me stay through the weekend. At least I don’t have a fever or rash anymore and I can get my own food, well not from town yet, but from the kitchen. We will see when I leave Peace Corps.

Now I would like to say Thank You to Jacinta, Laukau, Ana, Jason, Kasa, Sarah Kate, Soraya, Lara, Trenton, Enrique, David, Alexis, Sune, Poki, Sarah, Mikala, Alicia and everyone else who helped me behind the scenes.

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