More changes
Not long ago I wrote about my new organization, called Kirovograd Press Club of Reforms. I started working there around the beginning of October, and things were going pretty well. In fact, things were going so well for my counterpart that after the elections, the new oblast governor offered her a new position. Well, of course she took this new position – who can blame her? It is a great opportunity and her talent is being recognized.
This new opportunity for my counterpart, however, causes a problem for me, insofar as she was working with me on projects at the organization, and with her gone, there won’t be projects at the organization – in other words, the nature of the organization is changing, and there is no longer anything for me to do with it.
Well, I guess that is not entirely true. I asked her about the fact that I had been appearing in the magazine that supports the NGO (in two issues now), and she said there is no reason I cannot continue to be in the magazine – I guess more as a guest writer now than as part of the organization. And she may still post some of my blogs on www.kirovograd.net. Maybe I will still be invited to things to photograph or write about them…I don’t quite know.
In any case, Monday was my last official day at the organization. I have to return to pick up some things I left there, but overall, I will no longer be spending my days there. So where will I go now? Well, I am not entirely sure of that yet. I am still living at the Technical University, and therefore still spending one day a week there (well, two again this week) and a day at the Technical College. But for a primary assignment, we are still working on that. Yesterday I met with an organization who said they would be willing to work with me starting the first of January. So that is a maybe/probably, but they have not signed the paperwork with Peace Corps yet so it is not a definitely until that is done.
I must admit, this has been hard. I feel like I am six months behind, as I am now moving to yet another new organization (I also may be setting some kind of record here).
I have been told I sound like I have been complaining in my posts lately. I have been told that I am maybe too honest with telling people what I am going through. But I don’t believe in not being honest (to the extent possible on a blog. I mean, I don’t say EVERYTHING) about my experiences and emotions. I mean, this is not an easy thing to do, and we all have frustrations, and bad days (or bad weeks). Maybe by telling people what I am experiencing I seem like I am complaining, or cannot handle it. But I am still here, and still getting up every morning, and moving along – trying to move forward. I think that is better than pretending, at least for me.
So…more changes ahead for me…it seems that change is what my life is about. But with change comes progress, so I have always believed. And deep down, I know that ultimately it will be positive – for me and for the community in which I live. Stay tuned for more updates!
Hitting the "Reset" Button 
Do your best and remain flexible… adaptation is key and you grow even stronger with each change and adjustment. Your resourcefulness will pay in dividend when your assignment is over and you return to the US.
Follow the path you take and know that in the end, they all merge to one destination.
Ross – There is a mantra of sorts that people who are applying to Peace Corps have, that they tell us – patience and flexibility. Then after we get our nomination and are going through the medical and legal process, they remind us of it. Then when we get to our country, they remind us of it. Thus the reason I occasionally put it on FB – reminding myself. Other people write “Oh, Ukraine.” I prefer the patience and flexibility reminder.
Karin,
Want to let you know that I can appreciate your sharing the experiences and emotions you are going through – they have been inspiring and have given us a chance to respond to you, so we are all learning from each other! So, please, continue to keep us posted and give us your updates. Hope for your sake that the sharing goes both ways – your telling us what you are going through – and your friends/family responding, which in turn will keep you going! Belated Happy Hanukkah! Your friend, Renate 🙂
Actually, I just realized that I’m still in time as far as Hanukkah goes – it’s from Dec. 1 – 9 this year and today is the 8th ***wink smile*** so not BELATED, but Happy Hanukkah, Karin! ***Smile***
Are these types of changes common in the Peace Corps? Wishing you the best of luck in finding an organization to work with.
Jami – weeeeeelllll….no. They aren’t. I happen to have run into a little bit of a different situation. Some volunteers, their first assignment, well, doesn’t work out (for the vast majority of volunteers, it does). Like mine did not work out, so I changed organizations. Usually, though, the second assignment sticks.
However, nothing is certain…it does not always happen that when a counterpart leaves an organization, the organization changes like mine did. Sometimes the PCV can stay and work with someone else. In my case, the organization’s role is contracting, and so I won’t have a counterpart or projects. So…there you go. Patience and flexibility.
Happy Hanukkah mon amie! Ben got snow boots last night and was disappointed until he put them on and found they worked as good dancing shoes. Maybe that will work as s a metaphor to take the crap that you are given and find another way to use/look at it that makes you happy.
It is said that everything happens for a reason, even though we may question “why?” sometimes. Obviously what you are going through will strengthen you to face whatever lies in your future. Love you!!