The Antidote

09/26/05

On the way back, a bug flew into my eye and it really hurt. I tried to tough it out, get my eyes to water and flush it, but it wasn't working, so I stopped and told Robert. He looked and said, "Yes, I see it. And we have something for that." And then grabbed a piece of grass, made a loop, and painlessly fished it out. Then he laughed and said, "Our first aid kits are all around." It reminded me of the Indian in the rainforest who told me that the antidote for every poison in the forest was only a few steps away from its source.

I was in Kisii on a computer, just finishing up business, when I get an SMS from Robert, "IS IT POSSIBLE TO SEE A CLIENT TODAY AT 4PM?" I replied "Yes", finished up, hurried up to Akamba to book my tickets for Tanzania (which will take me like 48 hours to reach), ran to Kisii Matt for water, and jumped a matatu home. I got back around 3:30pm, wolfed a Clif bar, and started cleaning my DVX (it was filthy from this weekend.) Robert was here at 3:45pm and we were off.

Back through the foot trails that I know pretty well now, and then onto some paths that aren't even really paths, snaking through people's homesteads. Past a half completed long drop (it was just the hole in the ground, and let me say, it is indeed a long drop.) We got to her house, Rebecca. The interview was in Luo, so I'm not exactly sure what was said, but when she had finished with her testament, Robert and I asked all the pertinent questions. Then she was really done, so I took some stills (I haven't reviewed them, but the light was nice.) She invited us to come back, and we may, she is only two months in on her ART and she may be greatly improved by December, in both body and spirit. Her husband is HIV+ too, and Robert began pressing to see if he would speak. Rebecca wasn't sure, so he is going to go back to try and negotiate it with the man directly. (The men seem much more reluctant to speak about their HIV status, and actually many of them are already dead. I often wonder why the husbands seem to die first, my thoughts are that its either because they usually get it first and then pass it to their wives, they are more reluctant to seek treatment, or women simply take longer to succumb to the virus.) We said our goodbyes.

On the way back, a bug flew into my eye and it really hurt. I tried to tough it out, get my eyes to water and flush it, but it wasn't working, so I stopped and told Robert. He looked and said, "Yes, I see it. And we have something for that." And then grabbed a piece of grass, made a loop, and painlessly fished it out. Then he laughed and said, "Our first aid kits are all around." It reminded me of the Indian in the rainforest who told me that the antidote for every poison in the forest was only a few steps away from its source.

That was really funny. I had bought some Weetabix in Kisii because it's a simple and easy and healthy breakfast, and I figured Mama would appreciate having one less thing to do during the day. As I said goodnight I told her, and said that all I would need in the morning was the warm milk and fruit (saving her the trouble of the elaborate affairs she usually prepares.) She was silent for a minute and I was confused. I started to repeat myself, and she cut me off, saying, "I will give you what I want." I laughed and then so did she and the kids, and I said "Lala Salama." I realize now that she may have been offended, thinking I don't like her mashed bananas and mandazis. On the contrary, I love the stuff; I just was trying to save her some trouble. I'll have to explain it to her tomorrow.

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