Eye Troubles
I do not know what is happening this year. It may be the dryness of the season, the perpetual dust or the smoke filled air but I have had persistant eye problems since the onset of the dry season. Maybe it is that I have been working in the field. There is a type of bean that when you touch it you itch uncontrollably. People here call it "Feijao malouco" or crazy beans. Seriously, you will go crazy if you come into contact with it. You itch uncontrollably and by itching spread it to other parts of your body. You have to wash your clothes a special way to get it out. During the dry season it is even worse because on windy days it can fly through the air and it can get you without having touched the horrid thing.

Whether crazy beans or not my eyes have seen better days. First it was my right eye swelling up like I had been hit by someone. (Someone asked if Jenny had been upset at me.) Then a spot swelled on the bottom eyelid. Someone told me it could have been a fly that laid its eggs in my eye. Scary. From time to time my eyes will hurt and get red. Maybe allergies? I had problems with this as a kid and being an agriculture consultant I spend much time out in the fields and the bush. It is my job so I have to put up with dust and allergies from time to time.

I finally decided to go to the doctor. Mozambique has a universal health care system provided by the state. It is great because it is free health care. Great! I thought. I waited 5 hours. (1 to have my vision checked, 2 until all 50 of us were seen by the doctor and then another 2 until everyone had been checked and we could get our prescriptions. I think this may change my mind from state offered health care to private.

So I finally get to see the doctor for a total of 30 seconds. I have seen cattle run through the shoot at my father's farm getting better attention than that. The doctor asked, "Are you working in the fields much." Yes, I said," I am an agronomist." Doctor "Well you shouldn't work in the fields so much and stay out of the dust." Again, I am an agronomist working in a development organization. I think that is possible? And by the way tell the guys up the road to stop burning the bush it is really starting to get irritating. Literally