Saturday, October 28, 2006
I’m feeling beat-up, today. Too much happening too quickly, and not according to plan. Myrna and I are talking past each other about plans for the future and whether she has reason to feel taken advantage of. Not a good topic for long-range discussions, however essential. At least the project in El Salvador seemed to be coming along nicely, and I even received a copy of my flight tickets, with departure set for November 8. So I arranged my exit with the head of Inglés Kennedy, who wished me well and said they would be delighted to have me come back and rejoin the ESL teaching staff again. Nice to know.
But the next day, the Peace Corps nurse handling my medical testing emailed to say there was a little problem with my last test that needed to be checked out first. Hmmmm. Erythrocytes and leukocytes where they shouldn’t be, probably a residual problem relating to my African schistosomiasis. Then, an urgent message from my recruiter, saying that the El Salvador project has been CANCELLED. The NGO I would have been working with is having organizational problems, the last Peace Corps Volunteer there was not getting adequate support, and it would not have been a good situation. I guess I’m glad not to find myself in the middle of a mess, but it does leave me stranded high and dry here, and it seriously impacts all the planning Myrna and I were quarreling over..
The Peace Corps did have a counter-offer, that actually sounds fantastic. Organizational Development for a 1500 member All Island Bee Farmers Association (the AIBFA, of course). Setting up systems for reporting, record-keeping, coordination, communications and events planning, with oversight from a Board of Directors and assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture. The problem with it is that it is in - - - Jamaica! That is a beautiful place, but a looong way from Guatemala, and it is unlikely that a non-Peace Corps wife would be permitted, And in any case there is precious little Spanish spoken in Jamaica for Myrna. The recruiter and I had a several-hour discussion about the ins and outs of it all, without resolution.
Meanwhile, there is this little nagging medical test issue. So today I went to see a well-recommended General Practitioner, who immediately referred me to a specialist at a hospital on the other side of town. The especialista seems very competent, thorough and methodical. I’m not sure that is a good thing. He now has me booked for a smorgasbord of tests that will have me taking taxis back to the hospital repeatedly for three days. And this is just for the diagnostic stuff.
Did I mention the dunning letter from a collection agency for a medical bill from last February that my bank confirms was paid?
But the next day, the Peace Corps nurse handling my medical testing emailed to say there was a little problem with my last test that needed to be checked out first. Hmmmm. Erythrocytes and leukocytes where they shouldn’t be, probably a residual problem relating to my African schistosomiasis. Then, an urgent message from my recruiter, saying that the El Salvador project has been CANCELLED. The NGO I would have been working with is having organizational problems, the last Peace Corps Volunteer there was not getting adequate support, and it would not have been a good situation. I guess I’m glad not to find myself in the middle of a mess, but it does leave me stranded high and dry here, and it seriously impacts all the planning Myrna and I were quarreling over..
The Peace Corps did have a counter-offer, that actually sounds fantastic. Organizational Development for a 1500 member All Island Bee Farmers Association (the AIBFA, of course). Setting up systems for reporting, record-keeping, coordination, communications and events planning, with oversight from a Board of Directors and assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture. The problem with it is that it is in - - - Jamaica! That is a beautiful place, but a looong way from Guatemala, and it is unlikely that a non-Peace Corps wife would be permitted, And in any case there is precious little Spanish spoken in Jamaica for Myrna. The recruiter and I had a several-hour discussion about the ins and outs of it all, without resolution.
Meanwhile, there is this little nagging medical test issue. So today I went to see a well-recommended General Practitioner, who immediately referred me to a specialist at a hospital on the other side of town. The especialista seems very competent, thorough and methodical. I’m not sure that is a good thing. He now has me booked for a smorgasbord of tests that will have me taking taxis back to the hospital repeatedly for three days. And this is just for the diagnostic stuff.
Did I mention the dunning letter from a collection agency for a medical bill from last February that my bank confirms was paid?
