Sun, Sour Cream, and Shift Keys

Since my work is a little more sporadic post-selection, my posts from now on might share this trait…

First of all, sun poisoning and malaria have frighteningly similar symptoms within the first 12 hours! I say this because after going snorkeling off the coast of Bawe, an island off the coast of Stone Town, I spent some time reading on the boat and assumed that I had properly applied my sunscreen (I mean, I was a lifeguard for three summers); but when I returned home and took a nap I soon noticed that I was awakened by my dire need for a blanket…and then even that was not warm enough! I was pretty much shivering like I was in the middle of a snow storm, and with fatigue and soreness the only thing that came to my mind was ‘malaria.’ Not even an hour later my entire body did a 180 and I felt like a human oven! I was doubly sure I had malaria! After bouts of restlessness, I decided to browse the FM radio stations with my ipod, and discovered the amazing treasure of CRI: China Radio International! I enjoyed hearing about a day in the life of a rickshaw driver, a movie review on “The Missing Gun” (though appalled at the horribly sexist and just downright rude man who directed all of his failed attempts at humor at his female co-host), the China news, and even some Chinese pop! Needless to say, I noticed that I felt somewhat better before I finally passed out at 8pm…and when I woke up I felt completely normal! This is when I began to posit another diagnosis; so after doing some webmd research and getting tested for malaria (for 2,000 Tsh. Yes, that’s $1.38) and also finally realizing the patches of burning pain underneath both of my shoulder blades, I was sure that I had experienced the most extreme symptoms of sun poisoning. I cannot tell you how relieved I am that I don’t have to spend my final week in Zanzibar in bed!

Second of all, it is not advisable, under any circumstances, that one eat an entire can of Pringles within fifteen minutes!! I say this because a comment from Maddy that I eat a gargantuan amount of Pringles in one bite led to a brief conversation between Yu-Jin and me: I chuckled that since I eat so many at one time that I could probably eat an entire can in ten minutes, and Yu-Jin was quick to counter that she could easily beat that time. Being twenty-somethings, what else could follow from this conversation than a challenge to prove the fastest “can-of-Pringles eater?” Monday night, an audience of Alison and Maddy watched as Yu-Jin and I dove into our pizza and sour cream and onion cans, respectively! It became clear right away that this was the most silent and boring competition ever, since our mouths were stuffed the entire time and out jaw were crunching at tedious paces. I will mention that I did win fifteen minutes later, but I am far from proud of this accomplishment after spending the next 24 hours recovering from such a ridiculous idea (in fact, the roof of my mouth is still tender)! I think it bears repeating that no one should eat an entire can of Pringles within fifteen minutes!!

Third of all, I take my computer knowledge completely for granted! I have been around computers since I was only a few years old, and so using them is merely a part of my daily life. On Monday evening, Alison and I coordinated a meeting at FAWE with Bibi Asma and the new scholars and their parents. After answering some questions and collecting signed documents, Alison and I sat with each of the girls one-on-one and helped them create their own personal email addresses which they will use to communicate with S4Si. It was then that I became aware of the degree of computer illiteracy that many children (and I’m sure adults too) have. A few of the girls did not even know how to use a mouse…and it was then that I decided I needed to take a step back in my perspective. These girls are super intelligent and incredibly caring and passionate, but that does not mean that they have had the same amount of education when it comes to computers. While helping one of the girls figure our how to type a question mark using the Shift key, I felt a rush of relief as I reminded myself (and the scholars) that S4Si funds several computer classes at the nearby institution, SUZA (State University of Zanzibar)! Without a doubt, these girls need the instruction and the practice on the machine that they will eventually have to use when they go on to university and to work.