Hello there, all you anglophonians. Unfortunately photos are a complete no-go, so for those wishing to see more infected phalanges, all I can bring is disappointment.
After the last post, Tom and I went straight to our first football training. I forced Tom to go skins because I was worried that there is, indeed, no second first impressions, and that if I was to remove my top I might be banished from the village. We gladly jogged on (I was wearing my anti-ergonomic FILA pumps, so tom had a distinctly unfair advantage in his astros) onto the pitch. We were in training, so were playing in goals the size of a pigs testicle. As you will agree, these are fairly hard to score in, however Tom and I both came close. I went for an epic header, 3 yds (in a full-size goal, 300m) away and hit the bar. Tom came close with a great volley from 10yds, which hit the post. We were taken aback when the players repeatedly kicked the ball back to the keeper from a corner, instead of passing to a topless, fat, un-marked white man in front of an open (croquet sized) goal.
The next day, we began our research, our first victims were the residents of "Njimkang", and village of 3500; currently with a prevalence of 30% tungiasis. However, after only 30 or so questionnaires, the sample is small and insignificant. We aim to inspect and questions about 10% of them, to gauge a rough idea of the prevalence, risk factors and misconceptions they have about the jigger flea.
Wherever we go, people look. That is, more than the usual. When I am with Tom, they look less. That'll be his repulsive features and apalling chat. Some smile and some stare. Others, it seems, simply laugh at us, which is a little off putting seeing as we're here to help them and they're ripping the pith. For the time being, at least, they can be forgiven.
Our first day in Njimkang was that of beautiful sunshine, a little unexpected, and my ugly friend struggled out with appalingly red features. No jigger fleas, fortunately. We strolled in with our fleeces, umbrellas, raincoats and walking boots to realise this was one of two days of ripe sunshine that was to follow. Needless to says, we needed the intermittent, dribble of a shower we had afterwards.
Our research is going well, we have 1000 questionnaires which we are making our way through. The problem is that Tom and I cannot speak Limbum, the native language. So our days are spent overseeing and generally ensuring all is well and good, intead of filling in the questionnaires.
We're learning the important phrases, they are generally related to the "then and now", such and food, drink and toilets. Soon enough we'll be taking a full medical history and discussing their future plans and the imminent visit to England and our house. All 3500 of them!
Our driver Genesis (nick name pronounced "Jenny-shake") is driving us to and from the villages every day, as well as the bar, market and football pitch. He calls me (more than repeatedly, and never fails to find it ecstatically amzusing) George of the Jungle, and Tom is, apparently 'Ku-kum', which we think means, 'horny', or 'likes women...?.
Tom enjoys taking photos of crying children for some reason.
The heading is a pun on "Just do it", not "undo it", please don't get the wrong idea of our trip.
Must go, more later.
4 comments:
Hahaha, you have made me giggle. It sounds like you are enjoying yourself!! Shame about the language barrier, that must be pretty hard - hopefully in 6 weeks you'll have picked up many more words!
Shame about the problem with pictures, I'll have to wait to see them when you return.
Your driver sounds like a right laugh, I bet Tom really appreciates his new name - haha!
Keep us updated with the blogs, miss you lots, charlie x
Hi George -it's your Mummy here! I giggled a lot at your second blog which was classic! What's the beer like and how much is your tab currently? I'm quite interested in what the toilets are like too? Have you seen any animals or snakes yet? Can you do a separate "Mummy blog" with information about food, toilets and geographical scenery? I'm less interested in beer and footie and of course the fleas! Love you and miss you lots!
Mumerina xxx
Thank you so much for explaining the pun in the title so that we poor be-nighted souls could appreciate your stratospheric wit. Good to hear the footy is going well and the driver is always available for the tedious journey to the local bar. It's a hard life.
How's the project going? Have you redone the questionnaire or used the old one? Are the villages at different altitudes and do you think you will get anything on the climate change question?
By the way, impostors are using my blogger name; I don't know why.
Keep up the good work!
Glad to know that you arrived safely and are getting to grips with the tasks ahead. Your blog, what a woderful turn of phrase and word, which makes me think,"What could he achieve writing on a more exciting and pleasant subject"? The sky is the limit in that sort of field and have you somehow missed the opportunity. I look forward to more interesting episodes
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