Sick as a Dog

The next few days, unfortunately, are a blur to me. Because I’m feeling so badly, I just want to curl up and sleep all the time. I have no energy, find it hard to talk and am practically unable to smile. We go to Michelle’s office and she’s up and down, in and out of her office. Her co-workers are so thoughtful and they boil water, bringing it to me and instructing me to place my face over the bowl and breathe deeply, to open up my sinuses. Esther constantly walks quietly to my desk and sits down a cup of strong tea or Macchiato, knowing the warm liquids are soothing to my throat and sinuses. Yiberta, Getnesh and the others wonder if it’s the altitude, if it’s the flu. I tell everyone it’s a sinus infection and I just need antibiotics, but they don’t really listen because I don’t say it with energy. I just want to sit very quietly, very still and let time pass. Because with every minute, perhaps I’m healing and on the way to feeling better.

Today I look over a printed copy of RaDO’s website. I edit the copy, which is in English, and make suggestions for additional info and pages to be added. I read through their annual report and research papers and other literature documenting their programs. All of this info will help to sketch a marketing plan.

Michelle is busy tying up loose ends because she and I will be flying to Zanzibar this Friday night. After we spend a week in Zanzibar, Michelle is going on Safari in Tanzania and will climb Kilimanjaro. She will be away fron RaDO for three weeks and she’s feeling pressure to put things in place before she leaves.