Afghanistan is extreme. I have not only come to appreciate this fact, but have become so accustomed to it as to have deftly moved past it. That is until I could no longer move.

About a week ago I finally had to admit that something is wrong. It has been wrong for several weeks now, but I blamed the stress, the new environment, the heat, the food… anything to avoid the inevitable trip to the local hospital.

I had talked myself into believing that my lack of appetite, nausea and general discomfort were all part of living here. …and in my defense, they kind of are. Unfortunately so are the parasites and other little nasties that seem to appreciate a pristine environment in which to wreak their havoc.

Fortunately one of my closest friends here is also a doctor, so six meds later, I’m finally on the mend. Am keeping food down and am hoping to actually be hungry again one day.