Grab your backpack!
Hey! How you doin'?
So, tomorrow I'm headed out of town, and then out of the country to another continent in another hemisphere.
A couple of months ago, Christy Turlington asked if I'd like to join her as a guest to visit maternal health clinics in Bangladesh with her organization Every Mother Counts. We'll also be screening her movie No Woman, No Cry over there. And I will actively be trying to hold it together because one, Christy Turlington, and two, do you know how far away Bangladesh is?
I mean, that's at least a hundred miles, right?
The country is slightly smaller than Iowa, yet more than 150 million people live there. I know you will think I am a huge liar when I tell you that I am a sensitive little flower, but a friend of mine from India told me to be prepared for a major emotional roller coaster in terms of what I see and experience. I truly believe that this trip is going to be a life changer.
In preparation for this trip I visited the travel clinic at the University of Utah, and I tell you what. The woman who provided the consultation was super excited about diseases. I did not know one could be so passionate about typhoid or malaria or dengue fever, but the true shocker was just how thrilled she was to tell me about traveler's diarrhea. It ain't your mother's diarrhea.
(I don't want to think about my mother's diarrhea.)
To quote Travel Clinic Lady: "This is the kind where your poop just keeps shooting out of your butt. On and on and on. It doesn't stop."
I now randomly shout that description in her Utah accent during casual conversations. You should try it.
I know. I'm talking about poop in a post about charity work. What?
So I got a typhoid vaccine in my upper right arm, and whoa, that one hurt. I couldn't lift my arm for two days. I'm prepped for malaria and hepatitis A and traveler's diarrhea. I've got bug repellant, a water purifier, sunscreen and several books to read on the almost twenty-four hour flight. Only thing missing is a magical cure for jet lag.
(If you have any suggestions, please leave a comment! SOLICITED ADVICE, AHOY!)
I'll be gone for eight days, so I'm going to publish some of my favorite posts from my archives while I'm gone. Jon will be holding down the fort here in Utah, so right now I'm going to remind him that Leta needs to practice piano every day. And it's okay if they eat pizza every night.
I'm a little nervous but at the same time I'm electrified by this opportunity. This is just so awesome.
See you soon!
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FM Living
brekee said:
magical jet lag cure? AMBIEN.
also, you might want to bring some antibacterial hand soap.
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06.15.11 - 12:55 PM / 1jessiCat said:
Have safe and happy travels, Heather! And try to avoid taking pictures of Christy while she sleeps, I hear she frowns upon that. :)
I can't wait to hear your stories and see the pictures from this journey. I know you will capture them perfectly.
I don't say goodbye, so I will just say this....send me a postcard! have fun! don't eat anything that is still moving! don't forget your bug spray! Bon Voyage, my dear!
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06.15.11 - 12:56 PM / 2devoyka said:
How amazing is this? Super-freaking amazing! Good for you, good luck and come back safe!
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06.15.11 - 12:59 PM / 3ADDGirl said:
What an incredible opportunity! I think a good cure for jet lag is totally mess up your sleep before you go, and make sure you don't sleep during any "awake" hours when you are on the plane. Good luck!
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06.15.11 - 01:02 PM / 4amybonk said:
Try Melatonin for jet lag. But give it a whirl at home one night before your trip. I have a friend who is on antidepressants and was told that melatonin can make you groggy in the morning if taking certain medications. Other than that, it's a life saver.
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06.15.11 - 01:03 PM / 5OKMom said:
Have a great time!! You will come back a different person. (I think that's a good thing?)
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06.15.11 - 01:05 PM / 6barbara said:
Wow! How incredible!
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06.15.11 - 01:05 PM / 7MissMita said:
Toilet paper or packets of tissues. I know it sounds silly, but when I lived in China public bathrooms didn't have it. And it's all sorts of sucky to be caught unprepared.
And tampons if necessary.
Have a GREAT time. It will be amazing.
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06.15.11 - 01:05 PM / 8hmdean said:
Eight whole days? You might be over the jet lag by the time you leave for the States.
I speak from experience -- I've been to India a few times, once for just a week. It's key to sleep on the plane, and the key to *that* is wine and benadryl.
You are going to have such a shocking, amazing time, one that will change you and stay with you.
Safe journey.
p.s. Take a few packs of antibacterial wipes. They come in handy more often than you'd think.
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06.15.11 - 01:07 PM / 9Schmutzie said:
Fabulous. Just fabulous! I must admit to a hefty dose of jealously on this one :)
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06.15.11 - 01:07 PM / 10The Dalai Mama said:
Congrats on this opportunity. I am sure it will be amazing and life changing. When I traveled to Ethiopia, I thought I was ready for the poverty, conditions, etc. I wasn't. It is hard.
Have an amazing journey.
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06.15.11 - 01:09 PM / 11theurbancowgirl said:
Mind.Blown. That is just so, so awesome!
I went with the Gravol (I think it's Dramamine in the States) and wine induced sleep on the plane to stave off some jetlag. Then just stay awake until bedtime in India. The first day might be rough, but so long as you do that it should be mostly okay.
Again. Wow!
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06.15.11 - 01:10 PM / 12koskersidlewild said:
First, I was totally expecting a post about Dora with that title.
Second, bon voyage! Trip of a lifetime FOR SURE!
Third, I have had success with taking an OTC sleeping pill (actually Tylenol PM, but my RN hubby hates when people use that instead of just a sleeping pill) ON THE PLANE during the destinations' nighttime (it's ok to drool on your seat buddy). When you arrive, change every clock on your body (please let us know if there is more than 1 'cause that would be fascinating). Take one more sleeping pill your first night. VOILA... you are on the right schedule!
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06.15.11 - 01:11 PM / 13Gulliver1 said:
Excited you're going and more excited to hear about it when you get back! Your blog may begin to take a whole new direction!
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06.15.11 - 01:13 PM / 14annstarrr said:
If you're arriving during the morning, the key is to sleep on the plane. (Read: Ambien, followed by coffee and/ or Adderal on arrival)
If you're arriving during the evening, the key is to NOT sleep on the plane and then crash when you get there. (Read: coffee and/ or Adderal, followed by Ambien on arrival)
The idea is you use the time on the plane to get used to the local time zone.
Have fun!
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06.15.11 - 01:14 PM / 15Lauren3 said:
That Christy Turlington is one smart cookie.
A) She started what is clearly a wonderful and needed organization. And she didn't even have to, because she has a hawt bawdy.
B) She smartly picked you, Valedictorian of Blogging, to help her bring attention to it.
Plus, she probably wants you along for the ride because she thinks you're funny and entertaining and crap, who knows. ;)
Best wishes, H-dawg!
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06.15.11 - 01:15 PM / 16Fifi Coon said:
I just read her (Christy Turlington-Burns) article in More magazine. WOW. You go girl!!!
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06.15.11 - 01:15 PM / 17c_girl said:
Re malaria, DON'T LET THEM MAKE YOU TAKE LARIAM. It makes people crazy--especially people who might be, for example, prone to anxiety and depression.I once thought I had a nervous breakdown that was really more of a Lariam-lunacy episode, but didn't put the pieces together for years.
Also, tangentially related but equally important, you should take the new Ann Patchett book, State of Wonder, with you. It's about traveling to somewhere unsettling and it is amazing (and also features Lariam!)
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06.15.11 - 01:15 PM / 18meltem said:
I would suggest bringing some PeptoBismol with you. Also, I don't know if you can get this in Bangladesh (I found it in India) but there is this mosquito repellent called Odomos that's way better than anything I've ever used.
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06.15.11 - 01:15 PM / 19Brandy in Canada said:
Melatonin will help with jet lag AND give you vividdreams!! Can't wait to see the pics!
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06.15.11 - 01:16 PM / 20Sian - MummyTips said:
Hey, I'm new here at your blog.
I went on a trip to Bangladesh with Save the Children last summer. You will have an amazing time but be prepared to return a different person.
Christie's film is AMAZING. I watched it through tears having seen these things with my own eyes.
If you want to read a little about my trip - here's a link to my blog. http://www.mummy-tips.com/2010/09/inside-banglades...
My tips.
1. Travel light. if you have to go anywhere by sea plane (you will) they have tight weight limits. We were allowed to carry 5kg of baggage. My camera and computer etc weighed in at 11kg, so I left EVERYTHING behind in the city.
2. Buy yourself a lightweight sleeping bag liner. It's hot and if you do have to ditch your belongings you will still have somewhere clean to sleep.
3. Pack your bag full of bubbles for the children. The soapy kind that you blow. They LOVE them.
4. Don't cry.
xx
Sian
http://www.mummy-tips.com
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06.15.11 - 01:17 PM / 21kristanhoffman said:
WAY. COOL!
(Btw, the trip seems a bit shorter if you look at the map the other way, with the Pacific Ocean in the middle instead of Africa. But I don't know which way you're flying, soooo...)
For the jet lag, try to schedule it so that your body will be exhausted at the right times when you land. Like, if you're landing in Bangladesh at 5 pm, try not to sleep too much that way you will be EXHAUSTED by the time you get through customs, have dinner, and settle into your hotel (or wherever) so you can just CRASH that night and wake up more or less on schedule the next day. Alternately, if you're landing at 9 AM, sleep as much as you can during your travels so you have energy to push through that first day. Other than that (and the help of caffeine) there's not a ton you can do.
I can't wait to hear about your adventures over there, and about Jon's here, hehe. Best of luck to both of you!
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06.15.11 - 01:17 PM / 22Sian - MummyTips said:
btw... you dont need anti malaria unless you are going into the inner wetlands.
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06.15.11 - 01:18 PM / 23sherrye22 said:
Yeah, Xanax is your friend for a long flight like that. Also, a First Class ticket. Although I assume Christy Turlington is helping you out with that one. If not, well, Xanax AND Ambien.
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06.15.11 - 01:19 PM / 24inimitablej said:
Seconded/thirded the handwipes and toilet paper. DEFINITELY take toilet paper.
I'd also add a couple more tips:
* to help with jetlag on the ground: if it's before noon, take a nap. When you get up, eat lunch, and stay up as late as you can. If it's after noon, stay up as late as you can and eat at normal times for your destination time zone.
* take a microfiber washcloth. Face towels are often nonexistent in Asia.
* to keep from dehydrating, eat as much fruit as you can - the fiber helps you retain the water contained in the fruit longer than drinking water by itself.
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06.15.11 - 01:19 PM / 25slappyintheface said:
Buy a ginormous bag of starlight peppermints and ginger candies .... NOW!!!
and please don't take sleeping pills ... the last thing you need is to appear doped up on a "mission trip" - get some tart cherry extract capsules instead
have fun ... take lots of pics (duh) and don't mention hamburgers
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06.15.11 - 01:20 PM / 26the transient 1 said:
baby wipes. seriously. no good soldier leaves home without them.
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06.15.11 - 01:21 PM / 27sherrye22 said:
Also, your blog post about the Every Mother Counts organization prompted me make donations to it in lieu of Mother's Day gifts for my mother, MIL, stepmother and stepMIL. 4 new midwives will have the materials they need to practice when they graduate!
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06.15.11 - 01:21 PM / 28armarti said:
You should go punch your vaccine lady - you can actually take the typhoid vaccine in oral pill form AND it lasts longer than the shot.
Loved the documentary - so thrilled that you're adding to that work.
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06.15.11 - 01:25 PM / 29JWysok said:
Be safe. Be well. Sounds like the experience of a lifetime!
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06.15.11 - 01:27 PM / 30