Allergic to Dharamsala

Seriously, I must be.  What else can explain 2 more days spent with terrible stomach ailments and a raging fever, rendering me unable to sleep, eat, move, or do anything?

I did have an assortment of odd fever dreams, including one where I had to send a Power Ranger in to battle a monster called “The Diarrhea Demon”, and one where Kerry Butler was standing next to my bed singing “Away in a Manger.”  Totally, totally bizarre.

This time I felt sorry for myself not because I wanted to go home and get the hell out of here (although a bath would have been the best thing ever) but because it’s my LAST WEEK, and the last thing I want to do is be spending it in bed, tossing and turning while I let out little cries of misery.  Yesterday I missed my placement, one of my very last days, but today I made myself go because time is just running out here.  Little Namita was jumping all over me and breathing in my face while I sat there sweating, and all I could think was “She feels so cold!” It’s weird to have the breath of another human being feel like ice.  I survived the long hours at the daycare, and ultimately I’m glad I went.  Moving around and getting some air was probably good for me.  Also good were the antibiotics I started taking again in an effort to avoid the scary Indian medical clinic.

I don’t understand how I can be perfectly healthy and vibrant in Delhi and then come here and be knocked down so many times.  It’s such a puzzle.  It must be in the water, which I’m not drinking or even brushing my teeth in, and I wipe my face when it comes near my mouth during my bucket shower.

But I think either time or the Cipro is doing its job, because I’ve made it up into town to the internet cafe and our last dinner out (going to have some nice comforting pasta).  I can’t believe I leave here the day after tomorrow.  Where has the time gone?  Then back to Delhi, to visit Pinki and Nikhil and Monica and the others one last time before I head off to England/France/Ireland! (which hopefully I will not be allergic to.)

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