new directions*

August 30, 2010 at 8:38 am (Uncategorized)

*not only a reference to my new found love of “gLee” but also to my life in general lately…

August 2010

sorry everyone, things have been pretty crazy lately so i’ll try my best to update you in the next few posts, highlighting the latest happenings here in malawi.

sooooo as maybe most of you know i was unfortunately fired from my last position as a nurse at the orphanage. i really really loved that job, those kids, and being there. it brought me so much joy, but i was treated so badly and unjustly by the staff and funders. i even contemplated coming home as a result of such mistreatent. so it had been a very rough time for me emotionally after all that i’ve been through. (and i will have to keep my words short on the matter for several reasons, and share with you in person next time i see you. so for now, my legal advisors say i should plead the 5th.)

therefore, last few months were spent wallowing in complexity: i had to find another new job and housing. after some networking, i managed to find some work with an NGO, that wanted to use my nursing expertise on a new large-scale project regarding people living with HIV, especially orphans. the project is just starting up, so i’m learning as i’m going.

as usual, my stuff was put in storage and i lived out of suitcases (story of my life!) I stayed for about 6 weeks at my good friend Kris’ house. it was fun to have someone to drink coffee and do yoga with but by the end i was ready to have my stuff back in a place of my own. now i have a nice loft apartment, yes another upgrade! i guess one of the perks to frequent moves? it doesn’t compare to, say the loft i had in Boston overlooking the Common…but for malawi – its pretty nice. there are a few slight home improvements (ok a list) that is being worked on, like getting rid of rats. its also right next to a loud college dorm that blare bass music most of the time. i find myself less and less tolerant, thinking “i’m too old for this crap!” but i feel helpless since screaming at them thru my window won’t help much.

the upside is that i have a gas stove/oven in my kitchen! so i get to bake!!! so send me some baking mixes or chocolate chips – my friends and guests will LOVE it. i keep promising my Malawian friends some american baked goods.

i’ve also decided recently to take the GRE (grad school entrance exam) in november. i haven’t gotten as far as applying to programs or anything, i just want to take the test to get it out of the way and study while i have more “free” time to do so. plus they offer the old school paper version here, which is reportedly easier than the computerized version they offer back home. we’ll see how i do.

am in my new office now, much like a zoo. as i type, monkeys are literally swinging from the trees and howling as they chase after each other. won’t ever find that in america! well…unless maybe you work at a zoo…and i mean a REAL zoo, altho some of us may believe hospitals, offices, etc may sometimes resemble such.