“The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.”
The day is already hot; yesterday was hot. I am inside right now with the air conditioner on and am quite comfortable, but, because the back door has to be shut, Gracie is driving me crazy. She rings her doggie bells to go out and a couple of minutes later flaps the dog door to come back inside. I think it’s a test. Either that or she’s out to drive me crazy. After I finish here, I’ll join her on the deck while there is still a breeze.
This morning I got my yellow fever shot for Ghana and a lecture from the doctor. He told me to wear cotton socks and sneakers: New Balance was his suggestion, and he thought two pairs of socks a day would be best, and I should travel with large zip-lock bags so I can store my muddy sneakers. Never wear sandals is what he said. Your feet could get horribly sunburned, and there is danger of rocks getting between your feet and the bottom of your sandals which could cause cuts which would lead to infections. He didn’t mention possible amputation from wide-spread infection, but I thought that’s where he was heading. Avoiding packs of dogs was another suggestion. I never once saw a pack of dogs; herds of goats is as close as I got. He said he assumed I was going economy so he was giving me a series of exercises to avoid blood clots. I took the paper and didn’t correct him. I figured with my t-shirt having a hole or two and my wearing rubber flip flops the assumption made sense. He gave me a pamphlet warning me about armed robbery, war in the north and the poor quality of hotels in Ghana. I just thanked him and left. I didn’t tell him I won’t be bringing socks or sneakers, and up north is exactly where I want to go, including Bawku which had had gunfire a year ago between robbers and police.
If I listen to the doctor, I can imagine what my new packing list will look like: sunscreen for my feet, pairs and pairs of old socks (old because the doctor suggested I could just throw them away after wearing them), sneakers, a bullet proof vest and one of those wrist locks connecting me and my suitcase. I just hope no one thanks of chopping off my wrist. It could get infected.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: Air conditioner, Bawku, Conditions and Diseases, Sandal, Yellow fever
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
July 7, 2011 at 11:35 am
I sincerely doubt the doctor has been there. You’ve been there, done that.
You should be advising the doctor on what it’s like being there – rather than just READING about it. 🙂
s
July 7, 2011 at 12:14 pm
s,
I tired to tell him, but I couldn’t get a word in-he held up his hand to stop me so he could keep going.
I would suggest he update his information as it made Ghana sound horrific.
July 7, 2011 at 7:28 pm
If he’s that opinionated and disconnected from reality, guess how WRONG he can be on your diagnoses and medications!!!
That would begin to worry me, if I were you. Maybe you’re happy with him. I require some aspect of parallelism between my doc and me.
Opinion = free <= maybe worth what you paid!
July 7, 2011 at 1:05 pm
Well why not wrap Yourself in some bubble wrapper too 🙂 🙂 If You should fall there´s no risk of any injuries, only that those bubbles will burst 🙂 🙂 🙂
I´m not sure I would like to bring my old socks when i travel, after all I don´t want people in other countries to know I´m a slob 🙂 🙂 🙂 I just love people with prejudices like that, they can make even my little village sound dangerous and exiting 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have a great day!
Christer.
July 7, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Christer,
That’s a grand idea-bubble wrap. I’ll e protected against anything, live or dead.
My old socks would embarrass me as well. They all have holes which I figure are okay as no one sees them hidden in my shoes.
July 7, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Well thanks for getting us worried now about your trip. Pay a little extra and take Gracie with you. I think you owe a call to LL Bean up there and prepare like the doc said. At your age it’s important to follow doctor’s orders. Ghana may not be the same place it was 50 years ago. Geeeez.
July 7, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Z&Me,
He has no idea about Ghana. His information sheet was out of date. I read blogs from Ghana all the time, and they are filled with stories of every day in the volunteers’ lives.They are mostly well other than a tropical thing now and then but we had them too.The cities are bigger, but the bugs are the same sort.
I will wear my sandals, take my anti-malarial pills and be perfectly fine. Just as in my day, people are safe; things are often not. My first weekend in Accra, during our seventh week of training, I held one strap while a thief held the other and we yanked. I won. I had my pocket picked and my house broken into. I always felt perfectly safe and so do the volunteers there today.
PS 40 years-not fifty!
July 7, 2011 at 2:34 pm
I doubt the doc’s been off-Cape for awhile. Great advice! Bring a couple of extra suitcases!
July 7, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Clare,
Would that extra suitcase be for the bullet proof vest?
July 7, 2011 at 2:35 pm
Like the new banner.
July 7, 2011 at 4:15 pm
Thanks, Clare, you’re the only one who noticed!
July 7, 2011 at 5:00 pm
Bring him a map: this is Ghana; Manhattan Island is over there …
Cheers
July 7, 2011 at 6:59 pm
Minicapt,
I had never met this doctor before today. I went because he gives shots for foreign destinations. I thought him insular-Manhattan Island is a perfect choice.
July 7, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Of course your physician is concerned. He is worried that you might contract Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Elephantiasis or the dreaded “Jungle Fever”. Your physician must be a true safety expert. That’s a man who wears both a belt and suspenders. Did he tell you not to drink the water and to brush your teeth with Coca Cola? Did he warn you to wear a pith helmut to protect you from the sun and long sleeve shirts and trousers to prevent insect bites other than mosquitos? Did he advise you to buy a snake bite kit?
I would be more afraid of being ripped off at the airport or flying on any African air carrier, other than South African Airlines, as opposed to worrying about health warnings. Here is a quote from the US State Department Website:
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Ghana’s Civil Aviation Authority as not being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Ghana’s air carrier operations.
I personally will only fly on Air Carriers from the US, Northern Europe, El Al and Emirates Airline.
July 7, 2011 at 7:07 pm
Rob,
As I told Minicapt above, this was the first time I’d met the guy.
When I was in Ghana, I saw poisonous snakes which had just eaten and were still digesting what they had eaten. One of my friends had worms in bumps on his back and another had a tropical virus on his arms. We affectionately named it after him-Friedman’s Disease. All that was just part of living in a tropical climate.
On the way over I am flying Lufthansa to Frankfurt then the same airline to Accra. On the way back, I am flying straight from Accra to DC on United. I used to take Ghana Air in-country though back then it also flew internationally. It no longer exists, but Ghana International has taken its place. Two airlines still fly in-country, Antrak Air and CiTylink, and I’m thinking of flying back to Accra from Tamale. That trip takes 14 hours by bus.
July 7, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Rick,
He’s not my doctor. He is just the local doctor who gives immunizations for foreign travel. I had never met him before.
My doctor is a woman, and I really like her, but she doesn’t give yellow fever shots.
July 7, 2011 at 11:24 pm
You must at all costs bring that bullet proof vest, wear a helmet, and carry a gun. Sheesh. I also like the banner. I do think Gracie is out to drive you crazy– she may have an idea you are leaving her for a trip.
I’m tired from a drive over the bridge to see my doctor, which although a lovely drive with a beautiful view, it is an hour long trip one way. On my return I alway stop at this one thrift store as a reward and found a great pair of barley used sneakers, a few books, and some other oddities.
Waving as I doze,
Lori
July 8, 2011 at 9:10 am
Lori,
I’d love a good thrift shop. The ones around here are far too expensive. They seemed to have mixed themselves up with antique stores.
Gracie just isn’t used to closed doors from the air conditioning. I’ll have to learn to be more patient.
July 10, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Good for you- you are such a seasoned travelor and adventurer lover, that you don’t want the DIsney World version but the real thing!
Marge
July 10, 2011 at 8:28 pm
Thanks, Marge
I have become accustomed to traveling alone though I’d love company. but most people don’t want to go where I do. I want to be an explorer!