Last week I had another “never thought I’d be doing this” experience—an AIDS/HIV test! No it was not another one of my sick, “why not/ porque no/ pourquoi pas?” moments. I had to get the test for my visa and admission to AU-Cairo. For those who are not familiar with the procedure, as I was not, it’s a simple blood test (‘simple’ for those that don’t have phobias of medical facilities and procedures). In Dakar, there are many, many facilities that do the test for free. I had to fight a bit to get my name on it for bureaucratic reasons because normally it is done anonymously. The ladies were exceptionally nice and I got my results back within 20 minutes! “absence of HIV antibodies” it read.
The experience was overall very interesting because I had no idea how to deal with the topic culturally. I haven’t been able to feel if it is still a taboo topic, if its “o.k.” to talk about with immediate family members or if I could go public. I had no idea how people would react; would they believe it was really for Egypt or would they think it was just a cover up for an unscrupulous personal life? So, not knowing what to do but not having any shame in the process and feeling I couldn’t hurt anybody, I thought I would whole heartedly help in the destruction of the taboo status…I told almost everybody I know! No problems.
Also in true Senegalese style, as I was going through the “Pre-test counseling” the lady asked my marriage status and once she found out that I was single without a boyfriend in the States and I’ve some how, beyond her wildest imagination, have managed to live in Senegal for 5.5 months w/o boyfriends offered to introduce me to all of her brothers and male cousins. When I politely refused she warmly assured me that I’d for sure find a husband in Cairo! Look at that, HIV counseling and Relationship counseling all in one and for free! What more can a girl ask for?!
HIV Test…check that one off the list…
No comments:
Post a Comment