Life Changes

So it's been a while since I've had a chance to update this blog...and man, so many changes are taking place just as we speak!

I made it back to Zambia on my 44th day of being a medevac-we are only allowed 45 days to fully recover or else we are sent back to America....so I barely scraped by but I did and it was so wonderful to return home. I must say though, the medical staff in South Africa are absolutely amazing and I am so glad they handled my case-I was in excellent hands and will miss their medical advice. But I came home to Zambia on the condition that I take it easy biking and that I continue physio-therapy. Lucky for me, the medical team in Zambia was on my side and agreed to these conditions so I returned happy and almost healthy!

I arrived on a Wednesday and the following week, my entire intake was coming down to Lusaka for our mid-service conference so I ended just staying which was good because I had some physio appointments set up. The mid-service conference was a stressful week for me, I was still in pain and I didn't know what to do about returning to site. We had one on one meetings with our boss-the Associate Peace Corps Country Director (APCD) and she was very understanding. The entire time I was in South Africa we had been in email communication and she was so willing to help, in whatever way she could. We talked about my situation and she thought ultimately, it would be best that I move to Lusaka. In addition to meetings with out boss, everyone had to go through midterm medical check-ups which I had done in SA but they forgot to do a TB test and so I went for that...and on top of all my other medical woes, guess what..yep I tested positive so that added more stress to my already stressful return to Zambia. I was told I needed to be put on treatment for 9 months-and during this 9 months, I am not allowed to drink any thing...not a single drop of alcohol! Wow. Well I can do it but it's just a shame cause every now and then, it's always nice to let loose with a few cold beers but I guess I can do that at our COS-close of service-party next September! In addition, they told me I had to be monitored every month so another reason why it would be helpful for me to move.

So that week, I was busy meeting with the medical team, my APCD and Jo-our PEPFAR coordinator who is also in charge of third-year extension placements in Lusaka who was helping to find a post for me. Positions with NGOs are specifically reserved for volunteers who completed their two years and want to stay on for a third. So they are making an exception for me due to my health and I am so thankful....otherwise it would be hello America which I'm just not ready for yet. So right now, there are two possible placements for me...one is with a small NGO based out of San Francisco called Knowledge Beat which was started by RPCVs-returned peace corps volunteers-and I would be doing HIV/AIDS awareness with youth groups and girls' empowerment camps so right up my alley. The only downside is that it is a bit outside of Lusaka so I would be isolated and living at the office...which could be a good thing or a bad thing. The other option is Save the Children which of course, I'm thankful to my Dad for helping organize. I am waiting to hear back on to what the work will be there and then we can make a decision.

I returned from this midservice conference sad that I have to leave the village life but excited for some tangible work experience in an NGO sector which is ultimately the type of work I hope to get into some day. So I am back in my hut sweet hut....really I have the most perfect site in all of peace corps and it is going to be so hard to leave since it's finally completely set up and beautiful, but I know my health comes first. I just hope that they community gets another volunteer who can fulfill the two years since I didn't and the one before me didn't either. I am having a lot of goodbye meetings and next Wednesday, the 27th, I'll be pulled from my village and will go up to Kasama for a few days. I will have to write a detailed site report and then on the 1st, I will be driven down to Lusaka with all my stuff. So I am on a roller-coaster of emotion now but at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel....and I am still in Zambia and that makes me incredibly happy.

And I'll still be participating in Camp GLOW-so please, I'd like to put another plug in for the camp...it is going to be so great and we have partnered with the NGO CamFed-Campaign for Female Education who are so excited to help us with this event. It will be a great opportunity for grade 8 girls to attend a fun leadership camp.

Alrighty hope all is well back home and please please keep in touch!

Oh yes...I have a new mailing address since I'll be moving soon:
Sarita Fritzler, PCV
P.O. Box 50707
Lusaka, Zambia

Keep the mailing coming as I love receiving it and hearing from all of you!