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October 22, 2005

I Survived the Mighty Zambezi

White water rafting is my new hobby... or it would be if I lived in Livingstone permanently or even had running water anywhere near my home here. Of course there hasn't been running water in Choma District for a good 50 years or so. Anyway, I had the pleasure to go rafting down the river with a guide from Scotland and a guide from Uganda. We flipped twice on two class 4 rapids. It was amazing. I think that I might have swallowed too much Zambezi River water (which in turn means a lot of baboon and elephant poop), so I don't expect the giardia to clear up and time soon. And I'm sure that I did something really bad to my right knee while climbing down the gorge to the launch site. Health is going haywire.
To answer Stacey's question, there are local health clinics that are ok. The best options in the netheregions of Zambia are the missions. There are quite a few GREAT mission hospitals here, Catholic and otherwise. In Choma there is a great Indian guy and his wife that practiced in Britain for a long time, Dr. Jain and Dr. Jain. Really though I get to get checked-out by my favorite doctor in the world... Dr. Shakankale... the Peace Corps Medical Officer. She is lovely, wonderful, marvelous. Georgie provides well for his volunteers "serving on the front lines of peace throughout the world."

Posted by ringo at October 22, 2005 9:43 AM

Comments

The Zambezi! My stomach flipped when I read that. Last week, I saw a tv show about a group that was attacked by hippos while boating, on a tour, down the Zambezi. Sorry you're sick - guess it had to happen sometime, but your Mom and I were hoping local bacteria would somehow not find you tasty. Don't forget my question about local music. Much love from me and Short Pants (send stamped mail from Madagascar).

Posted by: Joyce at October 27, 2005 4:52 AM

Hey! I hope all is well- I keep checking back but there haven't been updates. Have you recovered from elephant and baboon waste water exposure? I have a question- do the Zambians have a national holiday similar to Thanksgiving? Not the Native American, pilgrim and turkey part, but just a special day where they give thanks. Also- you said there hasn't been running water in Choma for 50 yrs. Is that because of a dam or other manmade reason or drought?

Posted by: Stacey at November 16, 2005 2:53 AM

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