So it has been 8 months since I last posted. And I had originally promised to post again later in the week. Well, don't get me wrong, I tried (multiple times) but was really having trouble finding the right words to encapsulate everything I was going through mentally, physically, and emotionally. But here I am, 8 months later, and I'm about ready to start writing again.
So here's the breakdown of what you've missed:
- I was away from school until November treating the dysentery. I ended up being accepted as a patient at the Tropical Disease Research Unit in Toronto. I visited Toronto a few times between November and February and during December I literally had medical testing of some sort to attend to every couple of days (which isn't easy when you're trying to write exams). I found out the following:
1) When shigellosis is found the lab has to do two rounds of testing on the cultures they obtain, just to be sure. The second round of tests showed that I DID NOT have dysentery (although this is likely what I had in Ghana). E. coli looks frighteningly similar to shigella bacteria, so I probably had an E. coli infection. Anyway, these results were obtained two days into my treatment period on cipro, but the lab forgot to contact me. Or call my doctor. So I was treated for something I didn't have. Luckily cipro is a generalized antibiotic, so it ended up killing whatever bacteria had actually taken up residence in my digestive tract.
2) I had also contracted schistosomiasis. "Schisto" is a parasite that you can pick up from swimming, bathing, or drinking contaminated water. It can cause restless nights, fevers, and sweating because they are mostly active at night. They also cause you to crave starch and sugars, because this is what they feed on. So that explains a number of the symptoms I was still experiencing post-cipro treatment. To be honest, I was lucky to only have a mild case. I swam multiple times in Ghana (I couldn't resist the waterfalls!), used the water for brushing my teeth (it was apparently treated in Hohoe, although I continued to use the water once I was in Tamale despite not knowing how safe it was), and I definitely drank out of the tap in Tamale too (I had heat stroke after visiting Abdul-Malik's family and walking down the street for a bag of water just wasn't happening).
3) I do not have HIV. I did not contract malaria. However, I could be carrying a dormant version of malaria that may become active within the next two to three years, so I'm supposed to be cautious if I feel like I'm coming down with a flu.
- When I returned to school I discovered I was eligible for "disability" status due to my longstanding health issues. This simply means the university will allow me to write my exams in a private room near a washroom where I can eat and drink and take breaks as needed during my exams. They'll also help facilitate postponed exams if I ever happen to miss exams due to illness again. If you have a health condition that makes three hour exam periods stressful, I would seriously advise looking into what options your university has to accommodate you--it can make a world of difference!
- I managed to finish my semester without dropping any courses (although four out of five of my professors suggested this would be academic suicide). I even wrote a paper about shigellosis and drug-resistant bacteria as a globalization movement, which got a much-needed "Excellent work, McCuaig" from Professor Mark Salter (although I still question if he was commenting on my writing skills or my ability to fight tropical disease). On top of that I was able to maintain my average so I didn't lose my scholarship. Looking back I honestly have no idea how I managed to do this. (Shout outs to adrenaline, genetic coding, and bullheadedness!)
- Second semester utterly exhausted me. Plus I was living in perpetual fear of getting sick again. I managed to curb this by focusing my energy on exercise and well-being. I also needed to change my thought process. As a visual thinker I decided the best way to do this would be to start a visual art project that I could contribute to every time I was feeling less than magnificent. I decided to create a wall of gratitude. I made a sign that says "Today I am thankful for..." and stuck it on my wall. Every time I'm feeling really awful about something I sit down and think of something that makes me happy, or helps the world, or allows me to live comfortably. Then I write it out or draw it and stick it up on the wall. Now every day when I wake up the first thing I see is a wall full of colour and thanks. It reminds me to keep things in perspective and to think positively.
A lot of other things happened, but I'm ready to move on from the past so let's look at my present. Today I woke up and went to work at the Assembly of First Nations, an NGO that acts as a representative to the federal government on behalf of indigenous nations within the state of Canada. I started working there at the beginning of May as part of my university co-op program. My official job title is Assistant Policy Analyst and Strategist, but because I work at an NGO this essentially means I help out wherever needed. The main project I'm working on deals with First Nation governance and jurisdiction over determination of citizenship. The AFN's work is mandated by resolutions passed by indigenous Chiefs from across Canada, and last year they voted in favour of the AFN facilitating a national dialogue on First Nation citizenship, with the objective of generating ideas and strategies on ways to lobby the federal government to essentially scrap "Indian Status" (as outlined in the Indian Act) and allow First Nations to determine their own membership using culturally appropriate methods. I will be posting more about this over the summer, but for more information check out our Citizenship WebPortal herea. For more information on discrimination and gender rights abuses within the Indian Act you should watch the last segment of this episode of First Story (Kudos to Kelvin Redvers' whiteboard skills!).
I have recently decided to postpone my schooling until January 2012 after the Assembly offered to extend my contract until December. Although this decision caused me a lot of anxiety initially (it totally de-railed my 5-year plan, yet again!), I am feeling confident that my choice to stay is the right one. I love the people I work with, I have learned more in two months on the job than I did in two years of university, and I come home at night feeling good about what I'm doing. I've developed/improved a ton of skills, including learning how to use web content management systems, webcasting equipment, and teleprompter technology, boosting my graphic design capabilities, and pulling together briefings and condensed content descriptions within short deadlines. Plus I'm learning a lot about indigenous cultures and my own country that I never knew before. I'm even picking up some basics in a couple of indigenous languages.
The best part of my new job is the work environment. Last week we hosted a First Nations veterans' meeting so my day began and ended with a prayer and a drum circle. I can't even begin to describe the sensation of having drum beats and singing voices reverberating in your veins first thing in the morning. It gave me this incredible energy and inexplicable sense of calm that lasted throughout the day, despite a number of stressful situations arising. Over the weekend I attended my first real Pow Wow, and the only thing I didn't love was my inability to join in on the intertribal dances. Between the colourful regalia, beautiful ceremonial objects, beating drums, singing, and crowds of dancers, from the tiniest children to the most respected elders, I was in a state of awe. If you ever have the opportunity to attend a Pow Wow I would highly recommend it--it is an exhilarating experience to say the least!
Aside from work I have continued to busy myself with volunteer projects. I have not forgotten about Gbi Special School. In fact, I am in the process of developing a project proposal for the teachers I have partnered with there in regards to their vocational training programme. Stay tuned for more...
