An African-American woman and scientist in Tanzania

by Danielle Lee, Ph.D.

Actual field diary entry, Tuesday, August 7, 2012, ~8:30 am

I cried this morning. In the shower. I was trying (poorly) to suppress screams of pain as I let the water run on my leg. I knew it was going to be bad when I saw blood on my pants as I pulled my field cover pants off.

I had been running into the same bush on line 3 between traps C and D every day. It has scraped me good, but this time it really hurt. I fell down and screamed in pain. Shabani* was breaking across the field to come to see about me. It really was of no use. He couldn’t help me. I just needed a minute or two to recover. I soon walked it off.

But in that moment standing in the shower, I let out a yelp. I tried to hold my scraped leg under the hot water to clean the wound. But it stung like the devil.

I cried, much like I did as little girl. I looked down at my scarred legs and immediately recollected the summer of 1981. I was such a tomboy, playing in the yard and in the streets with my boy cousins, and clumsy, so clumsy. My legs and arms were covered in bandages like tattoos. This obviously frustrated my bio-dad to no end. I vividly remember him threatening to spank me if I got another scratch on my legs. He scolded that I was a girl and I had no business being scarred up like that. I was shook. I tried to play more girl-like and carefully, but it was of no use. I liked climbing trees and tussling too much to stop. So I resorted to hiding my scars from him.

But as I looked at my abused legs, I couldn’t help but think how ‘unlady-like’ my stems were. What boy is going like me with my legs looking like that or with feet badly needing a pedicure?

And it makes me wonder, Do male researchers ever have conversations like these with themselves or with each other? Unlike our male counterparts, female researchers or long-term travelers and hikers have a few extra hygiene and grooming regimes to consider.

What about that time of the month?

How do I keep a happy lady garden in the middle of the bush?

Do I or don’t I shave my legs?

First, the monthly menses

Dealing with the logistics of menses is always an inconvenience to me. My previous field research experiences taught me that tampons are the most wonderful invention, ever! They are especially handy if you have a heavier flow or will be busy for long periods of time in the field. Wear a pad for backup so as not to soil and permanently stain your good field pants. However, the last time I was in a developing nation doing field ecology, I said if I could halt my period for the time I was there, then I would certainly do it. I was able to do just that: I had a hysterectomy 3 years ago(yay for me), but am sorry I can’t offer more first-hand advice for managing menses to younger researchers. [Ed. note: Some birth control pill formulations promise to limit bleeding to four times a year.]

I did make note that you can get feminine products in Tanzania, primarily sanitary napkins. They come in small-quantity packages, and there are not many varieties. It’s like the options that were available in 1980. If you have a preference for certain products, e.g., dry-weave, wings, long/short, light/super-absorbent variety pack, then I recommend bringing your own.

Second, maintaining your lady-garden

Since said hysterectomy, I have become more sensitive to microflora imbalance. It didn’t occur to me to be prepared for yeast infections. I eventually asked one of the other U.S female researchers if she had suffered from yeast infections since living in Tanzania. She told me that she had but that she was prepared. Her doctor pre-prescribed vaginal antifungals to take with her on her trip. I was not warned, but it occurred to me that if I was drinking bottled water because of the risks of local water disrupting my GI tract, then maybe my private parts would be sensitive as well. I began washing my sensitive areas with bottled water and noticed an immediate improvement. I also began taking acidophilus pills to get my system on track.

But let’s not underestimate the importance of your clothes and underwear-cleaning regime. You may discover you are allergic to the washing powder sold and used there. If that is the case, then I recommend hand-washing your unmentionables with bar soap and hanging them up to air dry in a dust-free location.

No matter what may be the root of your sensitivity (including old-fashioned stress), I highly recommend all female researchers to include vaginitis treatment ointments/creams and/or pills in your sundry first-aid and medicines kits. It is as important as packing anti-itch creams and anti-diarrheal pills in my book.

Finally, to shave or not to shave?

I have vanity issues, I admit. I (unnecessarily) obsess over grooming. Should I continue to shave my legs and underarms? Hirsute woman problems. The truth is, this grooming obsession didn’t matter. There was no need to obsessively attend to whiskers above my lip or on my chin or get a pedicure or even (welp) wear deodorant. Taking cues from local women, I noticed no one shaved their legs or under their arms – at least not as obsessively as we do in the West. And everyone had dusty feet! LOL, seriously red dust was everywhere and people wore sandals or flip flops or went barefoot for many occasions and traveled long distances, too!

A week before my departure, I ran out of my solid, invisible unscented deodorant. I thought that I would just go to the drug store and buy more. Nope! I visited 4 stores and could only find was liquid roll-on anti-perspirant that was flowery smelling. It did nothing for me, but it didn’t really matter. It wasn’t uncommon to smell a ‘day’s worth of work’ on people throughout the day, but I felt uncomfortable.

These were my obsessions. However, doing these are things made me feel human, like a woman even. But it was a relief to relax my obsessive pre-occupation with my body for a while.

The take-home message is if there are some things that help you make it through the day or season, then bring them, e.g., tweezers, hand mirror, a pumice stone, or certain brand of hygiene product. Yes, most basic products are available at the local dukas or apothecaries, and prices are fair. However, the varieties are limited. There is no better way to be reminded of how first-world you are than when you ask for a single-use, fancy-pants, non-essential comfort-only products in a developing nation.

*Shabani – Shabani Lutea was my field research assistant. He works for Sokoine University of Agriculture and is experienced trapping and handling wild African Pouched rats (without gloves!) He is the most awesome field research assistant there ever was, forever branded as the Rat Whisperer, because he really is that good.

About the author

DNLee is a post-doctoral researcher at Oklahoma State University. She is currently studying African-Pouched Rats, Cricetomys gambianus, an interesting yet largely mysterious animal that uses its keen sense of smell to detect landmines. She spent summer 2012 in Morogoro, Tanzania, studying the animals in the wild and in captivity. This is DNLee’s second installment in her series for Double X Science about her field experiences in Tanzania.

Photo credit: All photos, courtesy of Danielle Lee, Ph.D. Continue reading →