It's so different from what I'm used to, here in this house. We have the 12 students (18-23years old), Manja and myself, and "E" from Canada too. "E" wanted to live in the house to get to know everyone before he moves to another house across town. We're "stuck" here - that's our "job" - as live-in youth workers, but it's a lot of laughs. A year ago I'd have said : "no way do I want to live with so many people!", but it's actually okay. There's always something happening, somebody singing, or playing a game.
But sometimes there's a bit of drama: Last week was one of those times...
A student collapsed at lunch. I enlisted another to help me carry him up the stairs in a "fireman's-carry". He's cold, and has extreme pain in his hands, and sometimes his chest. Four other students and I rub a local version of "Deep Heat" into his hands and feet to try and stimulate the circulation while we wait for a Tuk-Tuk to get him to the hospital. At one point, I'm massaging the stuff into his chest, as he's having breathing difficulties, and he starts to slip unconscious. "Stay with us!" I'm calling out, and talking to him to keep him awake. I was very worried that he might die right there in my arms. Then the Tuk-Tuk is there, and we carry him off and put him in the back. The hospital is luckily only a few minutes away, and he's found to have a mineral deficiency. We all go out and buy some bananas and kiwi-fruit! Phew! I was a bit stressed after that and went off to a quiet spot to sit and chill out for a bit.
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