The open sewers of Bamako are filling up!

Thanks to the rains, there are little rivers of joy flowing through our dear capital. It's kind of like, remember that creek that cut through the middle of campus, next to Sanford Stadium? Tanyard Creek? I only know the name because I did a project on how polluted it is. Anyways, imagine that green juicy goodness sitting in a 3 foot deep canal next to you on every sidewalk. In addition to providing nice scenery for your walk, the sewers create a fragrant stench that even follows you into buildings. (Kind of like the East Campus Funk! Wow, Bamako is more like Athens than I even knew) ....and create a breeding ground for mosquitos. Oh yeah, and the juice doesn't go anywhere. Once the sewers are full someone comes to pump them out before they overflow (hopefully). I never knew how grateful I was for storm drains and underground sewers.

I'm in Bamako for my mid-service medical exam, and because I'm flying out on Saturday night!!! So, I've got a few days to bum around the city, eat actual food, say last minute goodbyes, etc. Unfortunately I won't be having any last-minute beers at the Campagnard, because as a result of one of the many bodily-fluid tests we have to take at mid-service, I found out I have amoebas! Amoebic dysentery, actually. Fun little creepy crawly parasites in my intestine. The treatment involves 3 days of 4 huge pills a day to kill the amoebas, and no alcohol during or for 2 days after because interaction with the drug causes "violent vomiting." So much for on the plane/just off the plane partying. The meds apparently make you sicker before they make you better-witnessed by the fact I almost passed out in the artisan market a few hours ago, and subsequently almost vomited while waiting for the little taxi truck to leave. Think I'll rest up today and not try to brave Bamako heat and pushy vendors while these drugs are coursing through my body. I've never actually thrown up in public, but I don't really have a desire to.

I'm surprised I didn't catch amoebas earlier. Even our doctors say it's pretty much a matter of time before you get it-it comes from dirty water/dirty hands/pretty much any surface that isn't a bar of soap. I've been lucky, I think...I've only taken medicine for sickness twice in a year. Some people have caught amoebas 10 or 12 times. Go immune system!

The reaction I got when I told people (volunteers) that I was sick was funny..in America if you told someone you had intestinal parasites, they'd probably take pity on you, or be grossed out. The responses I got yesterday (I swear to god): "Aww!", "Sweet!", and "Congratulations!"