I'm getting ready to head home for my annual leave, after 11 months we get 30 vacations days. I am so excited to get home for such a long period of time. I cannot articulate the feelings; its both exciting and a little intimidating. Exciting because it will be so wonderful to be with friends and family, intimidating because life here is different - like being on another planet kind of different. Either way, I am looking forward to being on vacation and being home. Hope coming back isn't hard.
When I look back, in some ways, it feels like I arrived yesterday. Yet in other ways I feel like I have been here for a life time. We've been talking these last few weeks about lists -"to-do lists", "bucket lists" and lists of joys. In the spirit of knocking things off my to-do list, I decided to list my blog entry this week would be reflections of the year.
- Aug - 3 weeks of training, say good-bye to friends and family. Crazy man on plane who yelled at me b/c I took his overhead compartment, leave my pictures in Heathrow.
- Sept – US army arrive at the house, start to decorate my new apartment. First time on Cipro. Begin to learn the names of the 100 staffers who report to me.
- Oct – 7.2 earth quake, UN guest House attacked, kangaroo room incident. Tense situation at a checkpoint. Trip to Istaliff, CNN visits hospital
- Nov - Explosion on my birthday, can't go for brunch. Meet new people at weekly BBQ's. Thanksgiving at Army base, no power for 4 days, up late writing a proposal with the team.
- Dec – 4 of us have to go to Dubai to get a visa, 2 weeks of running the hospital by myself because everyone else was on leave, had a skype Christmas, learned how to play poker, vacationed in Dubai, moved
- Jan – spend New Years in the dessert, have to get another visa in Dubai, had vertigo and passed out in the shower.
- Feb – Move, freezing cold, begged for a cook, got over my fear of lighting gas things, basking lunches at the French Cafe.
- March – NICU overflows, weather changes, team members back, different team member leaves, surprise friendships
- April – volcano, surprise trip home, find grenade at hospital, roses blooming in the garden
- May – Explosion 200 yards away, new volunteer arrives, dollar decreases, networking dinner for Fistula
- June – more visa issues, unusual staff requests, advocate for raises, peace Jirrga, ring of steel signs, ants in the kitchen
- July - 4th of July in Dubai, new visa, Fistula Hostile almost completed, new boundaries, Kabul Conference...a time of reflection.
Keep Smiling!
