30,
January 2001- Simsbury CT USA
Only
three days remain until we depart for Spain. As Pat Macomber likes to say, “We are in
the squirrelly phase of preparation.”
Tensions are high and emotions are tested. The final hours of preparation
are under way. At this point many of the things that I thought I would get done
before departure have fallen victim to lack of time and lack of energy. The
trucks have arrived in Cadiz Spain and are clearing final customs as I write
this. Our passports are being sent
overnight from the Ghana Embassy in Washington- thus completing all of the
required visas. Bags are being assembled all over my house and last minute
instructions are being left so that hopefully the lights will still be on when I
return.
My
toughest moment occurred this evening when I finally decided to take my first
Methloquine dose for the prevention of Malaria. After staring at the pill for close to
an hour I gave into the fear of getting Malaria and decided to risk the enormous
side effects of the drug itself.
Unfortunately, I know all too well the emotional (it makes you crazy) and
the physical (big G.I. problems) that the drug Larium causes from my first
encounter with it in Africa. We are all hoping that our crew doesn’t turn into 8
paranoid psychopaths. What was
that? Did I see some one peeking in my window?………
-Michael
Ladden