May 14, 2005: Headlines: COS - Bangladesh: Blogs - Bangladesh: Medical Separation: Personal Web Site: PCV Root in Bangladesh writes: "Well, we now have to medically seperate you." These were the words that sent my heart racing and my stomach to plummet.
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May 14, 2005: Headlines: COS - Bangladesh: Blogs - Bangladesh: Medical Separation: Personal Web Site: PCV Root in Bangladesh writes: "Well, we now have to medically seperate you." These were the words that sent my heart racing and my stomach to plummet.
PCV Root in Bangladesh writes: "Well, we now have to medically seperate you." These were the words that sent my heart racing and my stomach to plummet.
"Do I particularily like Bangladesh? No. Have I felt completely useless in Bangladesh? Yes. Am I frustrated, annoyed, and at times completely pissed off by the people of Bangladesh? Yes, nearly always. Do I feel like I am actually making a difference amoungst those 133 million people in Bangladesh? Yes. Could I leave them and the life I am living now in Bangladesh? No. Will I go back and complete my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bangladesh? Yes."
PCV Root in Bangladesh writes: "Well, we now have to medically seperate you." These were the words that sent my heart racing and my stomach to plummet.
Saturday, May 14, 2005
"Well, we now have to medically seperate you." These were the words that sent my heart racing and my stomach to plummet. Good ol'boy Jimmy Austin (imagine the full thick Don't Mess with Texas accent) very casually said to me after the camera that I swallowed came back with a completely normal record of my small intestines, "Normally no news is good news, but in your case its bad." So yes, Peace Corps essentially told me that I am fired because I am normal.
Funny, at that moment, right then on May 2nd, I could have said okay and walked away from Bangladesh forever. Yet, I didn't even think about that as I launched myself into a battle to keep my position as a Peace Corps Volunteer. I only have six months of service left, one more course, and so many little things that it suprises you how they build up. Do I particularily like Bangladesh? No. Have I felt completely useless in Bangladesh? Yes. Am I frustrated, annoyed, and at times completely pissed off by the people of Bangladesh? Yes, nearly always. Do I feel like I am actually making a difference amoungst those 133 million people in Bangladesh? Yes. Could I leave them and the life I am living now in Bangladesh? No. Will I go back and complete my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bangladesh? Yes. There have been so many times that Shannon and I have both wished to have an excuse to leave that country, so when we get one we fight as hard as we can to remain. We must simply be mastacistic. But we will return, today in fact, and complete our courses and start one more set. We will see our friends, help our students, and continue to educate and breakdown misconceptions and stereotypes with the community. We will return to our poor cat that has been left in the hands of one of our students for a month. We will be returning to the swealtering heat, the oppressive humidity, and soon the flooding monsoon. Fruits will be arriving soon, more mangoes and pineapples than you know what to do with! The filth and dirt, shit and trash, beauty and color. So, two weeks after I could have easily walked away from Bangladesh, I find myself returning with my wife to complete our service and wrap up this part of our lives.
When this story was posted in June 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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| American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy Returned Volunteers met with author Philip Weiss in Baltimore on June 18 to discuss the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner. Weiss was a member of a panel that included three psychiatrists and a criminal attorney. Meanwhile, the Seattle U.S. Attorney's office announced that Dennis Priven cannot be retried for the murder. "We do not believe this case can be prosecuted by anyone, not only us, but in any other jurisdiction in the United States." Read background on the case here. |
| June 14: Peace Corps suspends Haiti program After Uzbekistan, the Peace Corps has announced the suspension of a second program this month - this time in Haiti. Background: The suspension comes after a US Embassy warning, a request from Tom Lantos' office, and the program suspension last year. For the record: PCOL supports Peace Corps' decision to suspend the two programs and commends the agency for the efficient way PCVs were evacuated safely. Our only concern now is with the placement of evacuated PCVs and the support they receive after interrupted service. |
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Story Source: Personal Web Site
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Bangladesh; Blogs - Bangladesh; Medical Separation
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