About 1/3 of all malaria cases in Tamil Nadu occur in Chennai, so while I’d rather not take malaria prophylaxis for 6 months, it really does seem necessary. I took Lariam for my first four months I lived in Uganda and then quit since the risk of malaria in Kampala was lower, and I felt awful. I couldn't be sure that the blue moods, headaches and eventually facial numbness was because of the lariam (or if it was partly due to uprooting myself and moving to another continent far from my loved ones), but I had easy access to treatment so I thought I'd be alright without the prophylaxis.

This time around, I had few affordable choices but to take Lariam, so I’m hoping that things go better than in 2007. So far, I’m just having unbelievably vivid (but still pleasant) dreams. Here’s hoping they stay happy, bright and beautiful and that the numbness stays away!