Though I think I arrived with a few of these lessons under my belt already, I will admit the new ones have been sharp and the reminders powerfully relevant. I do hope that Malawi will reward me in the garden where Gabon has not, but I do think that poverty, privilege and the raw contrasts of lived and learned experiences will still awe and humble me. Thanks for your post, Bess.
I'm sure you had heat stroke. It's common that the impacts can last a long time.
I think it's hard to understand the kind of poverty you are seeing every day. We have poverty in the US, but we have resources as well. To see poverty without resources and in a large population is hard. The problem is so large, that I think the empathy shut-down has to be fought against. So, so hard.
Thank you for articulating what I was too spluttering mad to find the words for.
And re: heat stroke, it's unnerving, but looking back, and because what I've experienced since then, a significant worsening in my ability to tolerate the heat, yes, I think so. I was in bed for three days.
Yikes. Ok. I’ll read up on it. We eat well here because the produce is so fresh and abundant, lots of fish available, and we eat beans and lentils a lot. Despite the heat of rainy season, have been feeling especially grateful for being here lately.
Though I think I arrived with a few of these lessons under my belt already, I will admit the new ones have been sharp and the reminders powerfully relevant. I do hope that Malawi will reward me in the garden where Gabon has not, but I do think that poverty, privilege and the raw contrasts of lived and learned experiences will still awe and humble me. Thanks for your post, Bess.
I'm sure you had heat stroke. It's common that the impacts can last a long time.
I think it's hard to understand the kind of poverty you are seeing every day. We have poverty in the US, but we have resources as well. To see poverty without resources and in a large population is hard. The problem is so large, that I think the empathy shut-down has to be fought against. So, so hard.
This ^^^
Thank you for articulating what I was too spluttering mad to find the words for.
And re: heat stroke, it's unnerving, but looking back, and because what I've experienced since then, a significant worsening in my ability to tolerate the heat, yes, I think so. I was in bed for three days.
I've seen it take a couple of years for people to recover from heat stroke. Take care of yourself.
Yikes. Ok. I’ll read up on it. We eat well here because the produce is so fresh and abundant, lots of fish available, and we eat beans and lentils a lot. Despite the heat of rainy season, have been feeling especially grateful for being here lately.
You are good. I’ll carry 3 year old Bess in a snowdrift for a long time .
Bess-in-a-snowdrift-Bess was a very happy Bess.
I think that #4 is the one that we in America need to pay attention to the most...
Next fall, when you are back in Maine, let me know--Betty Lane and I will include you in our invites to SCHC Maine Chapter meetings!
I still get the invites; I’ll come when I can 😊