CAUTION: Now Entering Rant Mode
The day when Doritos can’t satiate your salt cravings, you know you have a problem. I began writing this post in the middle of the night after being roused from a sweaty, fitful sleep by an unquenchable thirst, acrid heartburn, and heart palpitations. All signs point to sodium overload.
Nights like these have been happening more frequently and part of me, perhaps an unreasonable part, is beginning to worry that my Tanzanian diet is slowly erecting a precarious platform for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and God knows what other ailments just in the relatively short time I’ve been here. I just hope that my small stint here doesn’t cause any irreparable damage and that I can oatmeal my way out of this mess.
Although our day-to-day eating habits have not been so dramatically altered, it’s the foods we tend to eat in the bush and out at restaurants that albeit are VERY tasty, have made me suspect them as the main culprits for a host of new, increasingly occurring body changes. No, I’m not just talking about a growing waistline (although that’s happened a bit too), I’m more referring to the feeling of over-exertion when I do a regular workout, the reoccurring heartburn, and the thirst attacks in the middle of the night that I mentioned. The one upside though is that this fatty, salty diet seems to be keeping my otherwise sluggish circulation system and low internal body temperature up a bit.
But what with the ubiquitous MSG, trans fats, and liberal use of sugar in many foods here, the unfortunate discovery that one of my all-time favorite junk foods just doesn’t cut it anymore, is not so surprising.
Despite the fact that I’ve been able to thus far elude the dreaded malaria (knock on wood) by pumping my system with antibiotics every day, and have been semi-successfully preventing regular bouts of diarrhea (again knock on wood) by avoiding the tap and going through gallons and gallons of (non-recyclable) bottled water, I’m still not convinced that leading a healthy life here comes easily or cheaply in ANY way.
In addition to much of the food being less-than-healthful, a few other characteristics inherent to this place also persuade me to think that Tanzania is not so good for your health.
The pollution in cities like Arusha is pretty atrocious. Every time we head out to run errands around town we are accosted by a thick smog of diesel fumes, burning trash, and unpleasant factory gases. I develop a headache each and every time. Not to mention the dust, the disease, the widely-available banned products, the questionable water sources and sanitation, and the severely lacking health care system that should be in place to treat people as well as educate them about these various dangers in the first place.
Maybe I’m just more delicate or snobby or skeptical than some, but find me one person who can get a face-full of exhaust and tell me it’s not bad for you. When I meet people who have CHOSEN to live here, I have to wonder what it is exactly that keeps them here long enough to consider sacrificing their health. Perhaps these people have enough money to carefully prepare their own meals, using only (likely imported) ingredients that they know and trust, and perhaps they return to their respective countries for regular check-ups, and first-rate medications, but it’s the day-to-day exposure to these kinds of artery blocking and toxic substances that makes the CHOICE to live here seem dubious.
Okay, I’m done now. Enjoy your day. :)
Even living in this small, musical, green, bike riding, liberal college town can feel unhealthy too some days but, I get over it and continue enjoying life as it plays out… you probably will after you wake up again.
Can’t begin to imagine what your transition will be like coming home. You’ll have to keep blogging for a while after that! Mary the aunt
You’re absolutely right, thanks for the encouragement. I know, I am very curious to see how I feel once I’m back at home in my old routines again. This blogging thing is addictive–don’t tempt me!
Those of us working in Galapagos often remarked on the poor diet the locals choose / have access to, not to mention to almost complete lack of health care out on Isabela. Yet there were several ex-pats that had settled down to make a life for themselves. I guess it really all depends on your fortitude and constitution. Hang in there, you’ll be back at the Weave soon enough. p.s. Love the photo.
Totally, Ben. Some days it seems more doable than others. It’s really quite amazing what one can get used to. But I AM looking forward to breakfasts and yummy coffee at the Weave again, in fact Brian and I were recently talking about just that! We have a whole list of things we can’t wait to do and taste and buy once we’re back home, but now that we only have exactly one month left, we’re just going to try to soak in as much of Tanzania as we can and enjoy every bit of it.
p.s. glad you like the photo.
my poor baby! i guess you’ll just have to tough it out for the rest of your stay. and your back in god’s country kick your healty habits back into overdrive! love mom
THanks mama. Yep, I might as well take full advantage of the delicious mtori and roasti na wali while I have the chance, because I see lots of rice cakes and egg white omelets in my future (oh, and maybe some half-marathon training).
Love you!