October 25, Good News!!

I have been calling various people and chatting on FB, so I'm going to present today in short-form. I received a lot of info--mostly good--about what is happening. I had a meeting with the country director, EB, who gave me a lot of answers! She's a total sweetheart. She reminds me a lot of my mom's friend Joan, who I consider a second mother. Talking to her was very comforting, even though the topic at hand is serious. She's great.

• 1) I will be going to Lushoto tomorrow, as I wanted! I'm hoping to pick up my package this weekend, but as of this morning it still wasn't there. Makes me nervous that it won't be there, but I'll be in Lushoto until next Friday, so it's bound to arrive by then I think. I JUST REALLY NEED THAT PROTEIN POWDER AND THOSE SUPPLEMENTS! Otherwise, I'm kind of stuck in the sick-and-never-improving-boat. ALSO, I get to see my Lusho-crew! It's Ezra's last weekend! It should be a good time! 
• I will be spending my time at Glenn's house, so I'll be able to cook for myself and maybe write some songs with him. :) I bought a guitar today for 50,000 shillings from another volunteer who is now an RPCV. The neck is slightly cracked, which is why she sold it to me so cheaply. (An acoustic guitar for $32?!....I'm okay with a little crack. It still sounds quite nice!) 
• Hilda, my APCD, will be looking for a replacement site. It should have easy access to fruits and vegetables, and hopefully protein. I should be going to that site in around two weeks. So basically, it breaks down like this: Next week I will be in Lushoto. The week after that I will be back in Dar, staying here at Leah's house. The week after that I will be at my NEW site. 
• My new headmaster/headmistress will be informed that I am not doing well physically, and that things may not work out. So there isn't pressure there, and they should know that I'm coming in with a medical condition. 
• If I am not getting better, I ultimately can 'pull the plug' on staying here. The PCMOs also have discretion to suggest that I be medically evacuated or medically separated. Nonetheless, there are options like "interrupted service", so I could potentially come back even if such a decision is made. I'm not there yet, so I'm not going to worry about such things until I get there. BUT, basically I have a lot of say in the process of what happens next, which is really nice. I'm not the kind of person to give in, so it will take a lot for me to call it quits, but the option is there if I need it. Hopefully I make a quick turn around, but if I don't, my options aren't just one big dead end. Or so they say for now! 
• I will be getting all my things from site next Friday (November 2nd). Hopefully it is all still there! 
• OMS doesn't consider me the kind of person who is just trying to get out of service, but unable to admit that's whats behind my illness. EB also seems to really think I'm a solid volunteer-- I feel really good about that.

In short, I'm in a much better place than I thought I was! I'm still in limbo, but not horribly lost. I have a timeline of when things will be happening, and I am being reassigned a site. Basically it's just a question of whether or not my health improves. I am bound and determined to get better, and I hope I will be able to lead a sustainable life here. I am SO happy that I talked to our country director (CD), and I'm excited to go to Lushoto tomorrow! It's going to be great! Little merjade live in action!