So... this morning I skyped with my parents and found out that my secret had leaked to the one it was supposed to not leak to until I got home. Mom. Earlier this week I had sent an email to my dad about getting checked out when I get home to make sure my bones are ok, as this year I have had a shattered humerus, root canal from a broken molar on the airplane ride here from a piece of bread, and... yes, mother, a broken foot in Africa. I only told my dad a couple of months ago too (several weeks after the fact when I was back to running again), and purposely was waiting to tell mom until I got home and she could visually see that I am whole. She is a very caring worrier, as most moms are (and still asks about my arm, so I just couldn't find it in me to pile this one on!). Anyways, she saw the email I sent my dad and and was confused... so dad had to fill her in. She is so cute- she asked "Why didn't you tell me?" And I answered "Well, I think you know why." And then she agreed.
So the break had absolutely nothing to do with Africa, and everything to do with me. I was technically on American soil, I think, when it happened. On July 7th the American Embassy held a 4th of July Celebration in Kampala. After a delicious dinner (to us) of hot dogs and corn on the cob and fireworks, our clean-cut, stone-cold-sober group got down on the dance floor. We had such comments as "Wow, how many drinks have you guys had" (none) and "Are you professional dancers" (THEY were definitely drunk ;). I think it was during the song "Tonight's gonna be a good night" (only because the next time I heard it, I cringed), and I jumped up into some crazy pose and landed on the outside of my foot. I immediately knew something was abnormally wrong, and let the guys carry me out to the van.
And for the remainder of the story, I'm going to borrow from my friend Lane's perspective on how the rest went down (http://youmatteruganda.blogspot.com/2012/07/every-day-adventure.html).
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Sunday 08 July 2012
Like I mentioned in the previous post, we kind of sort of really got down "with our bad selves" on Saturday night. Melissa Sevy, (who is pictured in several of the last post's pictures) hurt her foot while dancing.
On Sunday morning, I gave her a piggy back ride to find a motorcycle taxi which she took and met Jace and I at the taxi park on our way to Jinja to attend church. Having arived in Jinja, we helped her to the church building.
After the second hour of church, I was walking to the third and final hour when a woman approached me with her cell phone saying "it's for you"
Confused, I answered and found Melissa on the other end. She proceeded to tell me that she was in a health clinic. She had just gotten an X ray and they were about to put a cast on her foot. Her dancing the previous night resulted in a broken meta tarsal (or something like that... a foot bone basically... give me a break, I'm studying public administration not anatomy)
So the break had absolutely nothing to do with Africa, and everything to do with me. I was technically on American soil, I think, when it happened. On July 7th the American Embassy held a 4th of July Celebration in Kampala. After a delicious dinner (to us) of hot dogs and corn on the cob and fireworks, our clean-cut, stone-cold-sober group got down on the dance floor. We had such comments as "Wow, how many drinks have you guys had" (none) and "Are you professional dancers" (THEY were definitely drunk ;). I think it was during the song "Tonight's gonna be a good night" (only because the next time I heard it, I cringed), and I jumped up into some crazy pose and landed on the outside of my foot. I immediately knew something was abnormally wrong, and let the guys carry me out to the van.
And for the remainder of the story, I'm going to borrow from my friend Lane's perspective on how the rest went down (http://youmatteruganda.blogspot.com/2012/07/every-day-adventure.html).
---
Sunday 08 July 2012
Like I mentioned in the previous post, we kind of sort of really got down "with our bad selves" on Saturday night. Melissa Sevy, (who is pictured in several of the last post's pictures) hurt her foot while dancing.
On Sunday morning, I gave her a piggy back ride to find a motorcycle taxi which she took and met Jace and I at the taxi park on our way to Jinja to attend church. Having arived in Jinja, we helped her to the church building.
After the second hour of church, I was walking to the third and final hour when a woman approached me with her cell phone saying "it's for you"
Confused, I answered and found Melissa on the other end. She proceeded to tell me that she was in a health clinic. She had just gotten an X ray and they were about to put a cast on her foot. Her dancing the previous night resulted in a broken meta tarsal (or something like that... a foot bone basically... give me a break, I'm studying public administration not anatomy)
This is the face of someone who leaves church by herself, (with a broken foot) hops to the road, flags down a motorcycle taxi and rides it several blocks before hopping to check herself into a health clinic in Africa without telling anybody. Melissa Sevy..... you're a wildwoman.
Melissa getting her cast
Melissa, Jace, and the docs
Me playing on Melissa's new crutches. While we waited initially for the doctor, they had already measured Melissa and a wood worker was busy making custom crutches for her. Pretty cool.
Easy does it
"hey Melissa, who is the most awesome dude in the whole world? Go ahead and point with your crutches. "
Time to go home
Riding back home to Lugazi with her foot out the window of the taxi van
Back in Lugazi, walkin home
Lane , Gimpy, and Jace
Neighborhood friend coming to show sympathy for Melissa. Hugs from cute grubby little neighborhood children make all the broken bones feel better.
Almost home.
From all of us Americans and wild dancers..... Melissa Sevy...We salute you.
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Thanks for the great documentation, Lane!
And let's hope for a safer 2013.
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