Sick Days

Still not feeling great, but surviving. Back to Tuesday evening.

On the tuk-tuk ride home from Kalighat, I asked Donald how patients end up there. Do they admit themselves? Are they referred? He said most of them are brought by people who simply noticed their dire condition on the street. The Missionaries of Charity programs are very well-known around Kolkata. I'm surprised there weren't more patients there.

Got back to Sudder street, blogged about Shishu Bhavan, and went to Jojo's for some dessert. Before I started eating, I felt a little off. Back in my room, I had a cool rinse, wrote about my day, and watched a little TV. It was almost midnight by the time I turned the lights out. I set my alarm for 6 the next morning, again planning to go in for breakfast but not mass. I wanted to do both shifts, Shishu Bhavan in the morning, Kalighat in the afternoon.

Alarm went off at 6, didn't fall back asleep this time (even though, again, it took me forever to fall asleep the night before). But very tired and when I got up I felt nauseous and had bad stomach pains and hot flashes. And was sick. I considered trying to go in anyway, but after going to the bathroom 3 times in 10 minutes, I figured it wouldn't be such a good idea. Wouldn't be of much use, and we are told not to come in if we are sick. So I got back into my PJs, and was back in bed by 6:30. Besides a few quick trips to the toilet, I didn't get up again until 2:30pm. Body was shutting down on me and telling me to slow down. I listened. Relaxed in my room a little more before heading out to get some crackers and 7up to take to internet. Answered a few e-mails, took care of a few bookings, and went back to my room to lie down some more. I started mapping out plans for the community I hope to set up when I get home, which was very exciting and made me feel a bit better. Can't wait to share my ideas and see who's on board! Still felt very hot and sticky, which made the sickness feel even worse, so I headed back out to internet since it's AC and brings me back to life a little. Spent two hours writing my Kalighat blog, then headed back to Galaxy, planning to do a little laundry, but was exhausted when I got back and still didn't feel good, and could do nothing but lie down. All I ate that day were about 6 crackers, with some 7up and a bottle of water. Turned the lights out a 9, but kept the TV on (low volume, cricket match), as that sometimes helps me fall asleep. I was desperate not to take hours to get to sleep again. Having the TV on somehow puts less pressure on falling asleep, as it feels like it's not really bed time yet. When there's less pressure, things happen more easily. It's all in my head, I know.

It worked! (Or maybe it was just because I was sick and exhausted. Either way, I was thrilled to have found sleep quickly.) I woke briefly just before 1am to turn the TV off, then again at 5:45 to go to the bathroom. Sleep again till 8:15 this morning. Stayed awake that time, feeling relatively well-rested from my early sleep, but was still a bit sick. Thursday (today) is a day off for volunteers, and on every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, the sisters organize a field trip for us. Today's was to go to a leper colony, to visit and see how they live. When the sister at registration had told me about this last Friday, I immediately signed up for the outing. It was from 7am to noon. But considering my state yesterday and last night, I didn't even set my alarm for this morning. It was disappointing, but I needed to rest, relax and sleep in. So I did. Got a bit of laundry done then went out for a bit of internet. AC was again a life-saver. Got home, hung up my soaking laundry, and got ready to head out to the Indian Museum. It was just a 5 minute walk away, right around the corner, so if I didn't feel well, I could easily come back. It was on my list of things to do in Kolkata, and time is running out. The museum was described in my guidebook as the biggest and oldest museum in India. Indeed, it was huge, and it was old. Rooms were dark, gloomy and dusty. There was the most impressive collection of fossils and dinosaur skeletons I've ever seen. There was also the lovely room with creepy stuffed animals, which, as my guidebook says, "look in dire need of a proper burial". Would be a great place for the filming of a sequel to Night at the Museum. Managed to look around for about an hour, but had very little energy (walking up the many steps to the second floor was not easy) and was easily irritated by the Indian guys who kept trying to make small-talk and "discreetly" take photos of me. Walked home grumpy and exhausted. Had a short nap and then headed back out to do something I've wanted to do back home but never have: go see a movie by myself. Figured it was a good option to pass time this afternoon, as I couldn't do much else. Got my ticket for the 3pm showing of Housefull 2, the biggest blockbuster comedy right now in India, and happily entered the AC theater. During the movie, I ate for the first time today: the other 6 crackers from the small pack I started yesterday. The movie was pretty terrible, but I was evidently the only one to think so. The whole theater was in hysterics, laughing loudly and clapping the whole time, at what was very stupid and corny comedy. Wasn't quite the right medicine for my irritated state. And to make things a little worse, the large man two seats down from me (there's was no one on either side, which was nice) kept taking off his shoes and wriggling his stinky toes over the edge of the balcony (first row of the upper balcony, good seats). Ok, so a little good, a little bad. Considered leaving at intermission (there's always a 5-10 minute intermission at movies here), but decided to tough it out. 

Quick stop at my room (for toilet, of course), before coming here to write, and I'm finally up to date. Might try having a small proper meal when I leave here. Tomorrow is supposed to be my 4rth (well, 2nd) and last day of volunteering, but not sure I'll make it. I'll see how I feel later tonight. I'll be quite sad not to see the kids and patients again if I don't make it. But every time I leave somewhere without finishing everything I wanted to do, I always remind myself that I'll be back in India many, many more times.