Before coming to Malawi, I tried to prepare myself for any and all ailments that might occur during my service. I stocked up on meds for many different situations. A lot of “just in case” things were stuffed into my luggage. Never did it cross my mind, EVEN ONCE, that I might get an ear infection. Not once. So, as I sit in this Peace Corps vehicle on our way to pick up chicken and then travel to Kasungu from Lilongwe, I can’t help but laugh. This is the greatest ear infection EVER.

Before this, I had never had an ear infection. Not even when I was little. I’m not prone to getting them. Also, I don’t think that they are incredibly common in adults… I could be wrong, though. Anyway…

I had had a cold for around three weeks. I went to Mphomwa for my site visit and the night that I came back to Njombwa, I was so excited to be home and to see my family. I ate dinner so quickly that night and it ended up upsetting my stomach. I woke up in the middle of the night and puked up all of my food. Well, when you’re puking, there is a lot of pressure that goes to your head and so I ended up with pressure in my left ear. I didn’t think much of it because it was annoying but I figured it would fix itself by the morning.

I woke up the next morning to even more pressure in my left ear and, by this time, it was aching. Not terribly. But aching nonetheless. I went to language class and decided to go see the PCMO (Peace Corps Medical Officer) after language.

When I went to see the PCMO, she and I both decided that it was probably congestion and so she gave me a decongestant and told me to let her know if it wasn’t fixed by the next morning. The next 24 hours were excruciating. I took the decongestant and prayed. The pain continued to increase. I tried everything. I didn’t sleep at all that night and in the morning I walked out of my house and saw my Amayi and just cried. I couldn’t stop crying. I was so frustrated.

Amayi went to get Chifundo, the homestay assistant. Chifundo called the PCMO. They told me to start taking antibiotics, Advil, and Tylenol. I continued to cry. I went to go catch the bus to Mponela to go and open my Malawi bank account, despite the fact that I was nauseous and completely miserable. When we got back from the bank, I went home and went to bed for the rest of the day.

After the first 24 hours, the pain started to subside, slightly, and I thought that it would continue to get better as the time passed on the antibiotics. I was wrong. The little bit of relief was all the relief that I would feel over the next three days. My ear ached every time that the pain pills wore off, especially in the middle of the night. My ear leaked like crazy while I slept and it made me have to wash my pillow so I started stuffing tissue in my ear at night only to have the soaked tissue wake me up six or seven times as well as the pain. It was horrible. During this time, I kept in contact with the PCMO as well as texting my mom and my cousin who is an incredible pediatrician. I don’t know what I would have done without them.

I was constantly doubting the antibiotics. I wanted stronger pain meds but they couldn’t transport them to me because of the need for the PC vehicles in other parts of the country.

Finally, Monday rolled around and the PCMO sent me a text to check in and get an update. I told them that I thought I should have them look at my ear again and they agreed. I assumed that they would come to see me in the training village. Instead, they sent a car to transport me to Lilongwe. My immediate thought: Lilongwe has PIZZA!!!!!!!

I got to Lilongwe and the PCMO checked my ear and gave me some drops. I was then taken to check into a hotel. Yep. With running water! And a toilet! And a shower! And a bed! And electricity!!! Not only all of that, there were also a bunch of PCVs there that are in their last week of service and they were so happy to help me find pizza.

I spent the evening chatting and eating pizza and Indian food. Literally what PST (pre-service training) dreams are made of. I woke up the next morning to pancakes and bacon. After breakfast I went and got ice cream and then walked back to the Peace Corps office. The PCMO checked my ear again and decided to switch my antibiotics and then I got in a car to go shopping with PC staff.

My ear still hurts. However, I feel rejuvenated and like I’m finally on the mend. I’m traveling back to my training village to finish up the last month of PST and as much as I hated this ear infection, I can’t imagine that I would have enjoyed it any more in the USA. Plus, the amount of joy that I felt getting to eat dairy products would not have been as great if I hadn’t been deprived of them for so long.

BEST EAR INFECTION EVER.