Called to Conakry by the PCMO: Weeks 14 and 17

Week 14

So the week before IST (in-service training) I journeyed to Conakry to visit the PCMO (Peace Corps Medical Officer) to discuss a couple health concerns. No big deal, should have taken only one appointment, but this is Guinea, and everything takes an unneccessarily long time. Tuesday I spoke with the PCMO and he decided I needed to have an echogram so off we went to a provate clinic downtown with a few other volunteers (one needed an x-ray because she injured her ankle). While waiting at the clinic I decided to have a little snack and proceeded to eat a bit of bread with cheese (not real cheese, just laughing cow). As I was on my last bite, I was called into the exam room, where the tech yelled at me for eating, saying she couldn't get an image now. Well, that sucked, especially because I was not told I couldn't eat. An hour later the tech tried the imaging and it was ok, but they needed to confirm what they saw was from food and not actually a medical concern.

After the other volunteers where finished with their appointments, we went to a fancy French restaurant (Le Damier) for lunch. I had an amazing mushroom and chicken quiche, a fruit tart, and ice cream. It was pretty expensive, but after months of rice and fishy sauce it was definitely worth it!

That evening, Julie (CD) and her husband Paul took all the volunteers in Conakry (about 7 of us ) out to dinner at San Remo's a pizza place not far from the PC compound. It was a great time and everyone swapped pieces of pizza so we could all try the different kinds. The outing was made even better when Julie picked up the tab for all of us, a very welcome surprise!

The next day, the three of us ventured off to our appointments with the PCMO, where Wiatta (hurt ankle) got a cast for her "sprained ankle" and I had another echogram which luckily showed no problems. Clara was unable to see the doctor because he decided not to work that day, nice huh?

When we were done we had the Peace Corps driver drop us off at Le Damier again for ice cream and croissants. The restaurant has a great atmosphere and stepping inside is like being transported out of Guinea and into the Western world. Of course we were a little out of place; sweat pants and t-shirts made us stick out when everyone else was wearing sleek dresses with heels and suits with ties. The staff, however, was very kind and a few of them new PC staff and so they gave us fresh squeezed juice (mango!) while we waited. From here, we met up with Janice (a PCRV who was leaving Guinea in the next few days) and the four of us had Chinese for lunch (needless to say it was incredible!)

That afternoon all PC Guinea volunteers received a text message from Julie, the Country Director, informing us of protests in Conakry due to upcoming legislative elections. We were told not to travel around Conakry and were pretty much limited to the PC compound. This warning carried over to the next two days making it impossible for us to keep our doctors' appointments. By Friday evening the protests had stopped and everything was back to normal in the city. A few more volunteers came to visit and we were able to venture out for dinner altogether (piza again!).

Sunday we all got on the PC bus and headed off to Mamou for IST.

Week 17

After IST a few volunteers, including myself, took a taxi back to Conakry for doctors' appointments and/or the quarterly visit we are allowed every 3 months. We left Mamou about 12:30 and made it to Conakry around 7:30 pm. Fortunately we were able to "de place" a taxi, meaning we found an empty taxi and paid for all the seats; there were seven of us and we found a car for 9 people (normally it's 2 people in the passenger's seat, 4 people in the middle, and 3 people in the far back seat) so we were at least comfortable on the trip. About 3 hours into the drive we ran into a traffic jam. This turned out to be the result of a damaged bridge which was in the process of being rebuilt.Yes, it was being built right then and there with hundreds of cars waiting on both sides to cross. We waited about 1.5 hours, during the hottest part of the day; oh, did I mention I also had a kitten with me?! (more on the cat in the next post) Once we crossed the bridge (super sketchy, basically just a couple metal sheets welded onto the existing framwork of bridge) it was smooth sailing for another hour or so. A little bit later, as our driver was speeding through a narrow road with a little market on the side, we rear ended a "patron" (wealthy person living in Guinea). Our driver tried to slow down and swerve, but there was a car coming the other way who sped up so we couldn't pass. So, the front passenger's side of our taxi hit the rear driver's side of the SUV and the patron flipped out and punched our driver in the face. There was hardly any damage to either car (taxi's are beat up anyway, most are literally falling apart) and no one was hurt; in fact, the kitten was sleeping on my lap all the while and didn't wake up once during the whole ordeal. After this, our driver seemed a bit more cautious, although we was driving very fast despite the fact that the brakes were not the best; from here we made it into Conakry in one piece.

This week in Conakry was pretty much the same as the last; a bunch of doctors' appointments and really awesome food. I ate pizza five times in addition to the delicious quiche from Le Damier. We made Mexican one night and a mango pie. At Le Damier I also tried a couple sandwiches: ham and swiss, and avocado, shrimp, and swiss. Both were amazing and I wish I could have them all the time.

The visits to the doctor went well and by Wednesday I was cleared to go back to site; although I don't really have any answers for my health problems, I know there is nothing seriously wrong, so we will see what happens. This, however, is not the case for one of my PC friends, Aprille, a fellow PH volunteer. She hurt her leg/ankly playing baskball during IST and had to see an orthopedic surgeon. The x-ray showed there was no fracture, but all her symptoms indicated a rupture to the Achille's tendon.

Aprille was medically evacuated to the US Thursday evenening to many hugs and a few tears, with little hope that she will be back (we only have 45 days for a med-evac before we either have to come back to Guinea or be medically separated from PC). At least Aprille will get the treatment she needs, but it is very unfortunate that her PC service is ending so soon, only three months in.

Today I leave Conakry for Boke and then tomorrow go back to site. I am glad to be going back, but after four weeks away from village it might be a little rough getting back into the sing of things. Luckily I have a few projects planned and I am excited to get under way and actually start working!