I am only hours away from completing my first year of university and only days away from stepping on African soil. I can't believe it, but it's happening.
The goodbyes have already started and I'm trying my best to keep sadness out of them. I am so excited to hear about all of the wonderful things my friends and family members have planned for their summers and for next fall (if you are blogging about your summer send me the link!). Wherever everyone ends up I can only hope that we stay in touch and continue to bring happiness into each other's lives.
I tore apart my room in residence and packed it all away. The walls are once again reduced to a depressing beige and the room no longer feels like home. (Hopefully Talitha will spruce it up again when she moves in on Saturday!) I'm coming back to rez in the fall, which I was not overly happy with at first. However, I get to spend another year with Yasmin (one of my awesome roommates) and the location can't be beat! It was also really liberating to discard of course outlines, course packs, and useless notes about the economy--I would strongly suggest that everyone finishing university for the summer take a moment to cleanse themselves of paperwork and just breathe.
I am BROKE. My credit card is maxed-out and I have a phone bill to pay (note that I currently do not own a phone either). I have enough money to buy some supplies, get through a couple days in Peterborough, and to get into the compound in Hohoe. That's it. I have applied for a line of credit but I still haven't heard anything back. I'm also waiting to be reimbursed for three different vaccinations that totaled over $500. The financial piece really needs to sort itself out quickly so I can focus on other things. On the upside, my father generously donated $1000 to the cost of my trip and the Loran foundation is also sponsoring me! I'm also waiting on sponsorships from a couple other sources and I have a slight surplus in my CCS account, so I suppose I really shouldn't be worried--the money is around, it just isn't in my pocket yet! Thank you again to everyone who has sponsored me so far--without you I wouldn't be pumped full of these expensive medications, have a passport, visa, or plane ticket! Your kindness prepared me, and now I promise to spread your caring into Ghanaian communities!
I leave Ottawa on Saturday afternoon to return to my real homes with my mom, my sister, my father, and my best animal buddy- Zack! I look forward to visiting with friends in the delicious and inexpensive coffee shops and restaurants (something Ottawa still struggles to provide for starving students). I look forward to taking bubble baths (tubs are unheard of in residence). I look forward to having a home-cooked meal prepared FOR me (instead of for me and BY me). I look forward to doing laundry for free (instead of paying $2.00 a load). I look forward to running around in the backyard with Zack (no backyards in residence) and sitting on the deck with a beer (no decks either). Most of all, I look forward to being able to hug my mother, sister, and father (something not so easy to do through the phone). It seems the longer I am away, the more I appreciate all the simple things home has to offer--especially the hugs.
After only 12 days in Peterborough it will be time to pack up again. My feelings about this right now are complicated. I'm sad because I will be leaving the people I love. I'm excited because I have been waiting to travel to Africa for years now. And I'm scared. I'm so scared. My dream is finally coming true, but I really have no idea of what to expect--will Ghana be anything like the place I envision in my head? Will Ghana help me answer any of the questions about life that I have floating around in my head? How much will it hurt to leave after I establish relationships there? Will my health hold out this time? Is this trip really going to happen? I think the fear is just a result of my excitement not knowing what to do with itself. I flip back and forth from being elated to panicked. I just need to get on that plane--then I will know for sure this isn't just a dream.
Two hours until I write my last exam of first year...
16 days until I'm in Africa...
Somebody pinch me already.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
A Year Later...
To be completely honest, I have been avoiding this post since September. A lot has happened in the last year and to think about documenting it all in a single blog posting has just been overwhelming. But I think tonight is the night it needs to be done, so here goes nothing...
This is a brief run-down of what I have been up to since last May:
BEATING C. DIFF
I finally beat the c-diff in June after a single round of vancomycin. I spent the summer working and training to get back in shape.
LEAVING BREALEY
I quit my job at the group home because I had to leave for school in Ottawa. I was heartbroken. Working there was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. I fell in love with the "Brealey Bunch" and made one of the best friends I could have ever asked for. I learned a lot about myself and discovered what I believe to be my purpose in this life-- I am here to advocate on behalf of those the world has pushed aside and labelled "disabled". Everybody needs to take a second look at people living with "disability" and realize how much they have to teach us about love, respect, and ABILITY.
(On a happy note, I still visit Brealey every time I am home!)
EVACUATION FROM ALGONQUIN
I travelled to Algonquin Park in August for a backpacking expedition with some of the coolest kids alive. To my dismay, my hike only lasted three days. On the second day I collapsed on trail with signs that I thought pointed to another recurrence of C. diff. My amazing team decided to camp early that night to allow me to rest up and offered to carry a lot of my supplies the next morning--they wanted me to be there with them as badly as I did. On the third day I lasted until noon, and then I was back down on the ground shivering, with a high fever, and no food in my stomach. Once again my team astounded me with kindness. My friend Tanya performed Raiki to bring my body temperature back to normal, the boys made sure I had plenty of purified water to keep hydrated, and my girls rubbed my back and hugged me while I cried and told them I needed to leave. A float plane was flown in a couple hours later and I was rescued by the MNR. Luckily I was able to rejoin my group at the retreat a few days later armed with a bag of gatorade and energy bars.
(Algonquin is absolutely stunning, and if you haven't been I would highly suggest you add it to your list of "Things To Do". I plan to go back one summer and finish the trail I started!)
Props to: Meagan, Tanya, Lindsay, Divya, Talitha, Sophie, Max, Marc-Andre, Nikki, Taras (Would not have made it so far without you all!) & the Young family (Would not have made it at all without your generosity!)
THE TRUTH
So why did I collapse in Algonquin? Why did I get c. difficile as a healthy young teenager? Why was I in pain and sick most of the time? Why did I spend most of high school battling anxiety and depression? I found the answer in a drop of blood.
I made an appointment with a naturopath as soon as I arrived back in Peterborough from Algonquin. The traditional medical system had seemingly failed me, so my parents were willing to let me give alternative medicine a try. My first appointment lasted an hour and a half (astonishing after experiencing the 15-minute in-and-out appointments at my doctor's office). I had been concerned about the possibility that I might have celiac disease, and my naturopath agreed it would make perfect sense with all the symptoms I described (unlike my doctor she did not have to pull out a medical dictionary to look up what "celiac disease" was). She performed a finger-prick blood test, gave me a bunch of supplements to help rebuild my digestive system and keep me healthy as a vegetarian, and told me to come back in three weeks.
Three weeks later this is what I discovered: I have food allergies--a lot of food allergies. Although it's not celiac disease thank goodness! I am allergic to the following:
- Animal products (this includes all dairy and meat- eggs are a slight exception)
- Red grapes, bananas, melons, oranges, papaya
- Corn, asparagus, chili peppers, carrots, squash, radish
- Baker's Yeast
-Cane sugar
-Preservatives
I consumed most of these things on a daily basis and as a result suffered from gastrointestinal anaphylaxis, which is just a fancy way to say that my organs swelled up, the lining of my digestive tract deteriorated, and my food starting leaking into my blood stream or would just go sailing on through me leaving me with essentially no nutrients. My naturopath refers to it as "leaky gut syndrome".
In Algonquin, on our first night on trail we had eaten macaroni and cheese, with powdered milk and four different kinds of cheese, which explains why I had so much trouble the next day. I likely contracted c. difficile because all of the good bacteria and immune cells in my digestive system were busy fighting food instead of bad bacteria. I took forever to recover from c. difficile because I was told to take my antibiotics with good bacteria supplements and mass amounts of yoghurt, one of my major allergens, which prevented the good bacteria from being able to survive. My confused immune system also explains why I was sick so often with unexplainable illnesses. The pain I experienced after eating was caused by the swelling of my organs and the lack of protective lining. The sudden onset of depression and anxiety along with all this illness was likely due to the fact that my body was unable to absorb nutrients for almost five years, leaving my body few resources to create things like serotonin and dopamine with.
I know what you're thinking, but it actually doesn't suck. Yes, admittedly I miss cheese, but after cutting these foods out of my life I finally feel alive again. And I can still eat things like oranges, carrots, sugar, and baked goods on a fairly regular basis as long as I keep the portions small and make sure I'm not eating "major allergen" foods like animal protein and dairy. Plus, I am forced to be a healthy eater, which helps keep off the feared "freshman fifteen". I wake up with energy, I eat food without pain, I am healthier than ever before, and I am no longer on any medication for depression or anxiety- I AM SO HAPPY!
Props to: My mom & Susan Joyce
A YEAR IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL
I am just completing my first year of post-secondary at the University of Ottawa as an International Development and Globalization student. While I have been less than impressed with the university and my program, and while I am questioning whether or not I even support traditional development work anymore, I love Ottawa. The city is beautiful and I have made some wonderful friends. I have also been able to "peacefully assemble" on Parliament Hill and join some really amazing volunteer initiatives such as Best Buddies. I have heard the first two years of university are usually less than satisfactory, so I am going to grit my teeth and bear it at this point.
Props to: My Loran family, the M-kids, my amazing roommates, AI members, Best Buddies & all my new friends!
WHAT ABOUT GHANA?
So this is the section most of you are probably interested in, and I have some excellent news! I leave for Ghana on May 14th and will return to Canada on August 3. I have my passport, my visa, my vaccinations, and this time I have my health! I re-booked with Cross-Cultural Solutions so I will still be doing an internship in Hohoe (more details coming soon!). A little bonus I have added on is a 10 day extension for a trip to Tamale to visit my sponsored child and check out the Christian Children's Fund projects running in his community.
Stay tuned...
This is a brief run-down of what I have been up to since last May:
BEATING C. DIFF
I finally beat the c-diff in June after a single round of vancomycin. I spent the summer working and training to get back in shape.
LEAVING BREALEY
I quit my job at the group home because I had to leave for school in Ottawa. I was heartbroken. Working there was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. I fell in love with the "Brealey Bunch" and made one of the best friends I could have ever asked for. I learned a lot about myself and discovered what I believe to be my purpose in this life-- I am here to advocate on behalf of those the world has pushed aside and labelled "disabled". Everybody needs to take a second look at people living with "disability" and realize how much they have to teach us about love, respect, and ABILITY.
(On a happy note, I still visit Brealey every time I am home!)
EVACUATION FROM ALGONQUIN
I travelled to Algonquin Park in August for a backpacking expedition with some of the coolest kids alive. To my dismay, my hike only lasted three days. On the second day I collapsed on trail with signs that I thought pointed to another recurrence of C. diff. My amazing team decided to camp early that night to allow me to rest up and offered to carry a lot of my supplies the next morning--they wanted me to be there with them as badly as I did. On the third day I lasted until noon, and then I was back down on the ground shivering, with a high fever, and no food in my stomach. Once again my team astounded me with kindness. My friend Tanya performed Raiki to bring my body temperature back to normal, the boys made sure I had plenty of purified water to keep hydrated, and my girls rubbed my back and hugged me while I cried and told them I needed to leave. A float plane was flown in a couple hours later and I was rescued by the MNR. Luckily I was able to rejoin my group at the retreat a few days later armed with a bag of gatorade and energy bars.
(Algonquin is absolutely stunning, and if you haven't been I would highly suggest you add it to your list of "Things To Do". I plan to go back one summer and finish the trail I started!)
Props to: Meagan, Tanya, Lindsay, Divya, Talitha, Sophie, Max, Marc-Andre, Nikki, Taras (Would not have made it so far without you all!) & the Young family (Would not have made it at all without your generosity!)
THE TRUTH
So why did I collapse in Algonquin? Why did I get c. difficile as a healthy young teenager? Why was I in pain and sick most of the time? Why did I spend most of high school battling anxiety and depression? I found the answer in a drop of blood.
I made an appointment with a naturopath as soon as I arrived back in Peterborough from Algonquin. The traditional medical system had seemingly failed me, so my parents were willing to let me give alternative medicine a try. My first appointment lasted an hour and a half (astonishing after experiencing the 15-minute in-and-out appointments at my doctor's office). I had been concerned about the possibility that I might have celiac disease, and my naturopath agreed it would make perfect sense with all the symptoms I described (unlike my doctor she did not have to pull out a medical dictionary to look up what "celiac disease" was). She performed a finger-prick blood test, gave me a bunch of supplements to help rebuild my digestive system and keep me healthy as a vegetarian, and told me to come back in three weeks.
Three weeks later this is what I discovered: I have food allergies--a lot of food allergies. Although it's not celiac disease thank goodness! I am allergic to the following:
- Animal products (this includes all dairy and meat- eggs are a slight exception)
- Red grapes, bananas, melons, oranges, papaya
- Corn, asparagus, chili peppers, carrots, squash, radish
- Baker's Yeast
-Cane sugar
-Preservatives
I consumed most of these things on a daily basis and as a result suffered from gastrointestinal anaphylaxis, which is just a fancy way to say that my organs swelled up, the lining of my digestive tract deteriorated, and my food starting leaking into my blood stream or would just go sailing on through me leaving me with essentially no nutrients. My naturopath refers to it as "leaky gut syndrome".
In Algonquin, on our first night on trail we had eaten macaroni and cheese, with powdered milk and four different kinds of cheese, which explains why I had so much trouble the next day. I likely contracted c. difficile because all of the good bacteria and immune cells in my digestive system were busy fighting food instead of bad bacteria. I took forever to recover from c. difficile because I was told to take my antibiotics with good bacteria supplements and mass amounts of yoghurt, one of my major allergens, which prevented the good bacteria from being able to survive. My confused immune system also explains why I was sick so often with unexplainable illnesses. The pain I experienced after eating was caused by the swelling of my organs and the lack of protective lining. The sudden onset of depression and anxiety along with all this illness was likely due to the fact that my body was unable to absorb nutrients for almost five years, leaving my body few resources to create things like serotonin and dopamine with.
I know what you're thinking, but it actually doesn't suck. Yes, admittedly I miss cheese, but after cutting these foods out of my life I finally feel alive again. And I can still eat things like oranges, carrots, sugar, and baked goods on a fairly regular basis as long as I keep the portions small and make sure I'm not eating "major allergen" foods like animal protein and dairy. Plus, I am forced to be a healthy eater, which helps keep off the feared "freshman fifteen". I wake up with energy, I eat food without pain, I am healthier than ever before, and I am no longer on any medication for depression or anxiety- I AM SO HAPPY!
Props to: My mom & Susan Joyce
A YEAR IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL
I am just completing my first year of post-secondary at the University of Ottawa as an International Development and Globalization student. While I have been less than impressed with the university and my program, and while I am questioning whether or not I even support traditional development work anymore, I love Ottawa. The city is beautiful and I have made some wonderful friends. I have also been able to "peacefully assemble" on Parliament Hill and join some really amazing volunteer initiatives such as Best Buddies. I have heard the first two years of university are usually less than satisfactory, so I am going to grit my teeth and bear it at this point.
Props to: My Loran family, the M-kids, my amazing roommates, AI members, Best Buddies & all my new friends!
WHAT ABOUT GHANA?
So this is the section most of you are probably interested in, and I have some excellent news! I leave for Ghana on May 14th and will return to Canada on August 3. I have my passport, my visa, my vaccinations, and this time I have my health! I re-booked with Cross-Cultural Solutions so I will still be doing an internship in Hohoe (more details coming soon!). A little bonus I have added on is a 10 day extension for a trip to Tamale to visit my sponsored child and check out the Christian Children's Fund projects running in his community.
Stay tuned...
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