South Africa 2008 - Scott in the Time of Cholera
Well, more of lower-cased 'C' cholera. Or, just forgot to wash some grapes. Either way, it feels like Cholera. Much like my trip to Tanzania when I was waiting for Death's Sweet Release. This of course, has little to do with South Africa specifically and more to do with travelling. In large cities, it also has little to do with water cleanliness. If you are African and you come to the US and drink tap water you are taking a chance that you'll encounter a bug you haven't seen before. I have apparently encountered this bug and insulted its mother, and it's taken it personally. I am OK only when on my back and unconscious. All other positions or levels of awake are a world of pain and nausea.
My uncle just set out yesterday for Harare, Zimbabwe in his truck to bring food and water to our relatives that are left. He's going for 7 days and he is taking 15 liters of bottled water just for himself. The line at Beitbridge to get into Zim is apparently 3km long. It's back to back cars, just waiting in the heat, right in the middle of the Cholera outbreak. I'm feeling crappy, but I hope that our Uncle makes it back safely.
You know you are really, really sick when you can't remember what well feels like. Was I ever well? What does it feel like to eat food and process it appropriately? Will I ever know again?
Here's hoping. ;)
About Scott
Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.
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Get better!
Waterborne illnesses in the 3rd world are nothing to laugh at. We're very concerned for you and you're in my families prayers now. Get well soon and come back to us, with your family, safe and sound.
Sincerely,
Chad
Is Gaterade, or any sports drink, available in local stores? (Assuming you can manage the sugars in these drinks... they're often too much for me)
Hope you feel better. You'll be fine.
Tuffen up, like an old IDE hardrive that needs to spin for a just a little while longer!
Hanselminutes fan,
Catto
Waterborne illnesses in the 3rd world are nothing to laugh at.
Just as the "3rd World" specificity of the remark.
Mike mentioned sport drinks and while they are widely available here, South Africans usually just drink Coke in times of tummy troubles.
Nice play on the Gabriel Garcia-Marquez book title!
Glad to hear you're recovering.
--rj
As a South African I must say that I am very sorry to hear about your mishaps during your stay. It is a beautiful country but not without its flaws. Glad to see you're taking it in good spirits though! Hope you make a speedy recovery and have a greats festive season!
Damian
Love your blog btw. I'm a Microsoft/OpenSource person too and I'm glad people like you spoke up for this very smart union of different paradigms.
Found this and figured if you're still in South Africa it might be interesting:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3884623/Scientists-discover-new-forest-with-undiscovered-species-on-Google-Earth.html
It usually has nothing to do with bad water, as you probably know, but with the fact that you stomach aren't used to the bugs in the part of the world that you're in! Your stomach doesn't have the "stomach flora" that is required for this part of earth. Rest assured that once you're healthy again, it won't happen again - your stomach will contain all the necessary bugs!
http://www.bookrags.com/research/microbial-flora-of-the-stomach-and--wmi/
I feel for your uncle too, those lines to the border are almost as long as the ones to the mall here. Good luck, hope you'll enjoy the rest of your trip.
Maria
I would agree that urbanized South Africa is hardly "3rd world" and the tap water is largely fine. When I think 3rd world, I think of shanties with NO running water, no electricity. You can find this in parts of the US, in fact.
GWS!
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Come now Scott - the whole framework versioning and SP1 GDR release business *is* pretty sickening, but I think you're overplaying it a bit.
Joking aside, hope you feel better soon. And don't forget that once you're well again, you can never quite remember what really, really sick feels like.