Tub thumping

Almost a year ago, I began procrastinating. Trying to imagine myself in a years time. What adventures would I be having? Having broken through the barrier exams, what joys would await me? Where could I go, what could I do?

I began to contemplate...  And decided something that would both challenge me educationally and spiritually would be a good idea. So having heard through the virtual corridors of the medical school that a trip to a mission hospital in Africa would be an incredible adventure. I signed up.

So in five months time I'll find myself in a randomly small town in North West Zambia, with nothing but a flimsy graft of medicine and a lot of hopeful prayer to get me through.

So I've been starting to prepare for this adventure. Preperation is of course key. I've been getting the travel plans sorted (the tickets are booked and paid for!), the blood tests, the anti-malarials and unfortunately the vaccinations.

During my PhD I once gave a presentation using this picture as a metaphor for the critical juncture I was at in my project - a leap of faith. At the time I didn't realise this was taken at Victoria falls, Zambia. I found this picture entrancing. I think it's something about the hiking boots and that expectant step that will never be fulfilled. I want to try this. I will try this. But mostly I think its an appropriate metaphor once again.

I got a yellow fever shot recently. It being mandatory for travel in most places in Africa. But I felt quite wretched afterward. I'm not sure if I've had something else brewing or its related to the vaccine, but the occassional sweats, nausea and dizzyness have been frustrating. After a few days of headache I decided to go see a GP. I explained to him that the headache was driving me nuts, but there weren't any red flags. I questioned if it was normal and whether I could have a sick certificate.

His response? "So you've come to me worried you might have a brain tumour?"

He told me to come back in two weeks if my tumour was still growing. Now whilst I agree with the diagnosis and management plan I feel like making jokes about my brain tumour having just met me for the first time was just a little bit too early. It is fundamentally funny though. Medical students are notorious for assuming the worst outcome is inevitable. Maybe it was the headache that meant I didn't fully appreciate it.