Day 9

Thursday May 9^th, 2013. 

Today was a brutal day. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling freezing and so sick.  I was sitting on the toilet with the runs and throwing up in the tub right next to me; sometimes both at the same time.  I woke up again for a repeat.  We had to be up at 5 to leave for Mole National Park.  I went up to Lisa’s room and told her what was going on so she advised me on what meds to take.  I was feeling a little better.  We all got onto the bus and headed out.  Well the hotel packed to go breakfasts for us and the small was so assaulting to me.  The drive was also very bumpy.  I felt my color drop and I was either going to pass out or puke.  So I opened the window and stuck my head out and let it go.  I wretched for a good five minutes.  Lisa came over and helped me out again and I eventually fell asleep.  I woke up and we were stopped at the Monkey park. The people here live in tiny mud huts.  That is the only way to describe them.  They have thatched tree roofs and there is no grass.  Just dirt everywhere.  I could never imagine living like this but they do.  And they are so happy about life.  I love it. We got bananas from the locals and went into the forest.  It was so fun to see all the monkeys.  They just walk up and take bananas right out of your hand.  They were so friendly.  After walking around for a while I was feeling sick again.  So we walked further through the park and stopped at the monkey cemetery.  When the monkey’s are going to die, they walk into the local village and will pass away. So the village has a cemetery for all the monkeys that do this.  I started to get light headed again and really weak.  Lisa said she thought I would either pass out or have a small seizure because my blood sugar was so low.  We walked to this giant tree that the people used to live in and I started throwing up again.  Water and pills.  So great.  I stood up and everyone was just waiting for me to finish so we could take a group photo by the tree.  I am sure I looked all pasty and happy in that photo.  Everyone shopped for trinkets and I went and got on the bus.  The ride was another 6 hours.  The road was so bumpy that your body just gets tossed around.  At one point Richard hit a speed bump doing about 40.  It launched everyone and woke us all up.  I was still feeling ill around lunchtime so Lisa got me a sprite and that really helped out a lot.  I slept again and we finally arrived at Mole.  The park is actually very pretty.  Me, Kevin, and Devon are sharing a room.  It has a great air conditioner.  I was feeling feverish so I just went straight to bed while everyone else swam.  I woke up for dinner and was feeling so much better.  We all ate together and I just had white rice.  I came back to the room and finished up some homework reading.  I am feeling better but I am going to go to bed really early.  I want to be okay for the Safari tomorrow.  I can’t miss out on that.  Everyone kept saying I am such a nice sick person.  Well I knew there was a chance that I could get sick here and that is the risk I was willing to take.  Unfortunately it happened, but I am in Ghana.  I better make the best of it.  I mean at least I can say I have puked out of a bus window now.  I am trying to be positive through the whole situation.  Others have been feeling sick as well but only one other girl has thrown up.  So I am grateful to finally be here, as is my body.  It is sore all over.  I am in Ghana and this is a once in a lifetime chance.  Be positive.