awol

I really haven't disappeared off the face of the planet, just got caught up in a nasty round of food poisoning (or so it seems) combined with lack of internet. We spent Saturday hanging out, going to the local pool and trying to find someone to visit Cuc Phuong National Park with us the next day. But morning came and I realized we weren't going anywhere.

I had the most intense cramps I could have imagined. Enough to make me gasp for air, cry in pain and wish for unconsciousness. It was worse than giving birth, quite honestly, and if you've been there then you know how bad that hurts. Now take it up a notch. That was me on Sunday. No Cuc Phuong for us.

Monday morning I woke to less frequent cramps (every hour or so) and Miss Ha was nice enough to cover the 6:30-8:30am class, so I tried to do the 8:30-10:30am class. It ended up being a 8:40-9:00am class. I couldn't stand and I just felt miserable. Back to bed.

But two of the students wouldn't let me off too easily and volunteered their help in doing some shopping. They picked up some rice, veggies, banh da and boiled peanuts. Yeah, something for the kids to eat. (Stuart had made chicken noodle soup under my bed-ridden guidance on Sunday, so there were some leftovers.) And they took my blankets and pillow cases to wash so I didn't have to do it by hand. A huge thank you to Ha and Man for that.

Ha convinced me to go with her to the hospital that afternoon and begrudgingly I did. And boy am I glad.

Being a foreigner, I'm automatically a VIP so I was shuffled off to a separate building, where they poked at my belly, asked about my bathroom activities and felt my pulse. To rule out worms (ew!) they sent me over to get an ultrasound. Now, stateside they would have had me schedule an appointment for a week later, but here they just led me right into the room and after a 3-minute wait, I was on the table getting slathered with the slimy lubricant and he was looking at my guts. A bit painful, but after a couple minutes I was pronounced worm-free and headed back to the original office. There I was given rehydration salts, acidophilus powder and some pills, cotrimoxazol, but I don't know what they do. Whatever, they work.

I'd worried about the cost of seeing the doctor, but it came to a total of zeroVND for the ultrasound, the medicines, the visit. All free. Ha even had her husband help me out (he's a pharmacist there) and she did all the interpreting for me.

And now, I'm doing much better. Still not eating much beyond bread, banh da and rice. I tried eggs and potatoes this morning (I know, but they smelled sooo good) but only got down a quarter-cup before having to hand it off to Stuart.

Tomorrow is my last teaching day (how did that happen?!) and then we're off to Ha Noi, then Sa Pa before we leave the country on the 4th. I had so many things I wanted to accomplish by this point and it's just a waste. I haven't been able to do much of anything with no internet, trying to pack, and then being so sick. Oh well. There's no time to mourn.

In the afternoon, all of the students and our family will head to Sam Son for one last time. I refuse to let myself be too sad, but it will be hard in so many ways.