The Doctor Makes House Calls

The offending test

Sunday, 7 May 2023 (83)

Feeling much better. Almost as good as I felt before Covid. Unfortunately, I am not getting enough sleep. I'm just not tired.

It has been a nice day. Went out by the pool and filmed some. I did an interview about my getting Covid. Then filmed it again. Then accidently deleted the audio files. Hopefully, I'll get some editing done in the next few days.

Being here has given me some time to think about what's to come and how to make the best of the new place. 

Monday, 8 May 2023 (84)

Shortly after I awoke there was a knock at the door. Peace Corps doctors make house calls (Doctor Tahiry does) or in this case resort hotel calls.  He took my vitals and of course my O2 levels were bad but better with a different O2 device. I feel better knowing that mine was a point or two too low when taken by a better quality one. He kept saying no one wants to send anyone home but I know differently. They would send me home in a heartbeat if I am not showing great health. Doctor A has said on many occasions - He is not our friend and our health is most important (not our desire to be here). So I reveal as much and as little as I need to walk the fine line being honest and being healthy. 

I know my body. I know what I consider healthy may not go over well with them. I know my diet. I know how little I drink water. I know how little I sleep. I know my lung capacity. I know I have the health of a 63 year old trying to pass for a 40 year old. I know there are likely reasons for me not to be here and yet I am.

Lunch and dinner with Sarah if you count 8ft apart at two different tables. 

Not such a bad place

Tuesday, 9 May 2023 (85)

I had hoped I would be negative with the Covid test this morning. Nope. Though my vitals are fine and I have just a slight head mist to remind me that I could be better.

Been doing everything but editing. I've downloaded music to use in the videos. Watched movies. Organized hard drives. And of course written here and in the blog. I did finished a video today. It was about the experience with Covid instead of swearing in. I wonder if people look at my videos and wonder why almost every one of them is so dramatic. 

It's odd to be documenting life rather than just letting it slide along and melt into one long memory. When something happens, I'm probably the only one who goes into screenwriting mode and wonders what shots would capture this best. An on camera interview? Some closeups, wide shots? Maybe try and get others to say the things so I don't have to? Perhaps, a specialty shot like time lapse, a unique angle, or lots of cut away b-roll shots?

And although I really do hope to get the camera off of me - for now, I am the channels' one and only character. A few passing volunteer or staff interviews spritz up the events along the way, but it is indeed my story and my adventure. I had hoped to include so many others but haven't been able to sell it. Perhaps, if the others were closer to my age, I could have gained their trust and shown them the possibilities. They never gave me much of a chance, and I doubt many will even find the channel. Perhaps, down the road when their service is over. Perhaps, then they will find it and either be very upset over my perspective, their exclusion, or be grateful that the process was documented - if only slightly.

There are other projects I am considering, once life in Sahanivotry becomes rote, and calm, predictable and slow. Such as - writing a book no one will read about my experience with the Peace Corps. I heard from Sarah, yesterday over dinner that a couple others have that in mind. Neither of the two she mentioned would thrill me with their perspectives. I'm afraid they wouldn't be kind to the Peace Corps. Their youthful rebellious views might be against much of what the Peace Corps stands for, came into existence for, and is not to their liking when it comes to how it's taught and enforced. The Peace Corps is not to the current youth's liking - or at least not to a few.

A surprising news item today. We heard that a staff member had gotten Covid and all the volunteers have been asked to test and turn in their results by Friday - earlier if they experience any symptoms. I wondered if it was my driver or someone else I had interacted with. Five minutes later the text comes from Brett, our country director - he's the one with Covid. And he spoke with, shook hands, hugged many, if not most, at the swearing-in ceremony. So I may not be the only one at all. I had spent just a few minutes talking with him last Thursday and mentioned that in my contact tracing conversation, but it wasn't a very long conversation - maybe five minutes.

This evening I finished my last dose of Paxlovid. I've taken the three pill mix twice a day for five days.