So I went on retreat with the other volunteers (will post about that soon). And then I went to a film festival (also I will post about that separately). Then in the second week of December, I got very sick. I had some type of bacterial infection. Possibly a lung infection, no definitive type of bacterial infection was given to me. But my blood work and symptoms confirmed that it was indeed a bacterial infection. Anyway, things went from bad to worse. I lost my voice for two days. I was in and out of the local clinic and received three nebulizer treatments because of impaired breathing. The experience kinda felt like slowly drowning. And then today (December 14th) I saw an asthma specialist in Jerusalem. He gave me the maintenance medication I was hoping for, so that I can start to get my asthma under control. Before I got sick, I was having frequent attacks and using my inhaler way more than I have needed to in a while.
Now I have new meds and “in shallah” God willing my asthma will be much better managed.
While I was sick my host family and my German volunteer neighbor were awesome. My host mom met my at the clinic and took me again the next night. My host brother came and waited in the clinic with me and gave me a ride home. And I felt very loved and supported because they were there. My German neighbor (Andres) gave me this awesome “get well” basket. It had oranges, tea, instant chicken noodle soup (just add water) and German Chocolate. Wow!
Now for more about the trip to see the Lung Specialist who know a lot, about asthma…
I spend a lot of time talking with and surrounded by people who speak arabic and things written in arabic. So, going to the medical center was intense. Not only did I not read Hebrew (so I literate) I also do not speak Hebrew. Although most people speak some English, there are many people to who do not or I have trouble understanding the english words because of a strong accent. Or they do not know the word for what I need. I can pull out words of Arabic when people are talking and that helps me get what I need. But at the medical center, I could not do that. I was working those logic and reasoning skills to the bone, which can also not lead to success because may things rely on social constructs. And I am in a social system that is foreign. Anyway, after spending nearly that amount of my entire monthly stipend on office fees, medication and tests I was exhausted.
I was nice visit my host family. And eventhough I could not read the words on the tv (I’m illiterate in Arabic too) it was nice to hear the familiar words of Palestinian Arabic. I had a great diner with an arugula salad and these pastries that I love. Some are filled with veggies and cheese others are filled with meet. And there these other pastries that are very common here. They are kinda like pizza in their shape but there is either only meat or meat with peppers on top of the bread and there is no cheese. There is an other version of these same pastries that is the same pizza look-a-like bread with just cheese on top. I sometimes get that last one at work. I will point to the pastry and say “biddi jebna” I want cheese
kstaten2010 