Final Days and Unrelenting Haze

The final days in Pheriche are upon us. We are have already begun packing, cleaning, organizing, and making our final preparations for our trek out over the passes. Chris and I had planned to spend our last couple of days on top of the Kongma La and enjoying the outdoors, but a storm moved in from Bangladesh and brought a thick cloud that got stuck in the valley obscuring everything. Of our three day window, we had no reasonable days in which to attempt this pass, and so we spent the days going somewhat stir-crazy in the clinic.

We have all come down with Pheriche Lassitude. There have only been a few patients to occupy our time and even fewer in the lectures. Chris got so bored he gave a second lecture to only three people. Penny finished the medication inventory and took a three-hour nap. In between games of Solitaire, Hillary re-folded all the t-shirts, scarves, and hats, then blew up the Gamow bag for fun. Chris Hill researched homebrewing equipment inspired by our brew planning and searched for jobs in Canada. Arjun spent hours on Facebook and attempting to Skype. Pumo (the clinic dog) found a girlfriend and the other dogs have all been curled up in balls in our front yard all day. The yaks are all covered in frost. Even Utom (the main employee in the Himalayan Hotel) came by several times to chat and hang out. We watched old Will Smith and Tom Cruise movies. We considered starting the 3000 piece puzzle. While we don't wish ill health on anyone, we desperately wished for something to happen. We have rarely been so bored.

Photos: From inside the Gamow Bag.