It’s unlike me not to write a Christmas post, even if some of my Christmasses abroad have been less than wondrous. This year probably rates as the worst of the worst and is the reason for this belated holiday post.
On Monday, December 17th, I rode Gaza for what would turn out to be the last time. For, halfway through our ride, I fell off him and hit my head on the ground. I don’t know how or why as there is a 20-minute period of time that I can recall only in surreal, disjointed images. What I do know is that I got up by myself. What I also know is that I was severely disoriented, couldn’t – for the life of me – recall the date – and that I immediately had a severe headache and nausea.
I suffered a concussion!
So my last 3.5 days in Zimbabwe were spent, for the most part, in bed, asleep. I tried to teach Christoph, but barely managed a day and a half. In a stupor, I managed to take my cats to their “new” home in Harare, and I stumbled through several half-hearted goodbyes on the farm. At the last possible moment, I threw my belongings into my suitcase and flew to Windhoek, where I was greeted by a stressed-out, overworked Bruno (he has been working on remaking his vehicle ever since we parted ways in October, and has encountered problem after problem).
After an incredibly surreal goodbye to Zimbabwe, it was an equally surreal first week in Windhoek. After initially feeling slightly better, I began to weaken again as my stomach got worse and worse. After sleeping through most of Christmas Day, I spent Boxing Day in the hospital getting CT scans, etc. Thankfully, the results showed I had no damage and that my concussion was finally healed, so the reason I’d been feeling so yucky was stomach-related. I’ve been taking my prescription medications religiously, and FINALLY today I am feeling human enough to write this blog entry. I will hopefully continue to improve over the coming day or two, because Bruno and I are both anxious to leave the heat of Namibia behind and head to the South African coast.
I hope that the upcoming blog entries will be filled with exciting stories and beautiful photos of adventures had. In the meantime, I hope that everyone had a better Christmas than I did and is looking forward to spending the end of 2012 with loved ones. I likely won’t be drinking any bubbly yet, but I can at least hope for a healthier start to 2013!
Much love and happy holidays to each and every one of you. May the New Year bring you the courage to fulfill lifelong dreams, like the one I am in the midst of fulfilling!
Zavtrak - Happy new year Brittany. Sorry to hear that you were hurt, hope you’re all better now.