recovering from illness
i bragged too much about not getting sick, as the rest of my group of students dropped one by one. ended up getting sick myself, and being ill in a foreign place caused me to miss the comforts and familiarities of home. it was the first time since being here that i honestly said "i wish i weren't in india right now" and thought of all the friends and family that i missed ...it was miserable.
i ended up being given a "precious pill" (that is what they call them), which is a pill of Tibetan medicine that is blessed by His Holiness (the Dalai Lama). i followed all instructions: eat a banana, chew the pill, drink two glasses of boiling water, turn off the lights, go to sleep, and keep very warm (i used three blankets and was still cold... because the medicine causes heat to leave your body). i woke up with all sickness gone. no joke.
i feel embarassed to admit that i miss some aspects of home still though ...as if i am being ungrateful for the opportunity to be here. i certainly am not ungrateful, of course, but i do feel it is only fair to be honest and admit certain weaknesses. if only i could bounce in a bubble over to america to visit with some loved ones and sit in a bathtub for an hour or so (not at the same time, haha), and then come back here... that would be most welcomed. i suppose being sick just makes one vulnerable to all that is going on. as i heal, i know i will bring myself back to this moment.
the final point of this entry is:
tibetan medicine is amazing, and i miss you.
i ended up being given a "precious pill" (that is what they call them), which is a pill of Tibetan medicine that is blessed by His Holiness (the Dalai Lama). i followed all instructions: eat a banana, chew the pill, drink two glasses of boiling water, turn off the lights, go to sleep, and keep very warm (i used three blankets and was still cold... because the medicine causes heat to leave your body). i woke up with all sickness gone. no joke.
i feel embarassed to admit that i miss some aspects of home still though ...as if i am being ungrateful for the opportunity to be here. i certainly am not ungrateful, of course, but i do feel it is only fair to be honest and admit certain weaknesses. if only i could bounce in a bubble over to america to visit with some loved ones and sit in a bathtub for an hour or so (not at the same time, haha), and then come back here... that would be most welcomed. i suppose being sick just makes one vulnerable to all that is going on. as i heal, i know i will bring myself back to this moment.
the final point of this entry is:
tibetan medicine is amazing, and i miss you.
posted by jac at 11:20 PM
2 Comments:
I miss you and I'm having issues with mustard today. :) I LOVE YOU!
Fear not. It was only a matter of time. Consider falling ill in a foreign country a rite of passage, Not much fun, but you will be stronger for the experience. I am very proud of you for accepting the reality of this study and letting go of the romantic preconcieved notions of what you thought it would be like. Learning starts when you shed what you think you know and open yourself up to what is the reality that is around you.(Did that make sense.)
We miss you here, but are happy and proud of you. We think of you often.
Sharon & Dave
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