It has been a wonderful 6-weeks of vacation. I have enjoyed the time to reconnect with friends and spend some quality time with my family. We went to Cooperstown NY and visited the baseball hall of fame. Which I highly recommend that all baseball fans go and see at least once.
This past weekend we went up to our cottage in New Hampshire. Hurricane Earl made for a windy few days but aside from that it was a great time of rest and relaxation. My father and I spent some time fishing on the lake. I was able to convince my Dad to put the worm on the hook the first time. Yes, I'm a nurse but I don't like touching the worms. They won't stay still, they are slimy and I'm afraid I'll stick myself. The second time I needed bait, I had to do it myself. And let's just say I don't have a career as a bass master fisherman. Over all the fish ate well that night; we did manage to catch a few sunfish, perch and a cat fish. We released them all back to become even bigger fish for us to catch next summer.
During this time home I had to make a decision about what my future holds. The big question was am I going to go back to Kabul and if I do for how long. I have decided not to return. I will remain on staff until at least the end of this month and will function as a mentor/resource remotely until a replacement can be found.
This was a very difficult decision to make, probably much harder then you would expect. I have enjoyed the comments from people as I have explained that I wasn't returning and hope my responses have been kind. I am aware that most people think I was insane for going in the first place.
However I don't feel that way. It was a wonderful experience and I have no regrets about going. I learned so much about myself and what is truly important in life. This experience has changed me in both positive and negative ways. I met some wonderful people both westerners and local nationals.
Living there for a year has given me a much better understanding of Afghanistan and the complexities of life for the Afghan people. After seeing what I saw and experiencing what I did, I will be a greater advocate for the rights of Afghan women and children. I am truly grateful to have been born in America . Yet Afghanistan has become a part of me and has changed me forever.
I do look forward to the day when I stop diving to the ground at loud noises. I still struggle to watch TV shows that are action/adventure. And please don't ask me if I think this war is winnable, I didn't spend any time with McChrystal or Petraeus. Just trust me, it's a very complicated problem and be thankful that you don't have their job.
As for what's next, I have no idea. I do plan on keeping the blog. I have sent out a few resumes and will see what doors open. The world is my oyster which is both exciting and a little nerve wracking. We shall see what adventures are next.
Keep Smiling,
Jen
