Long haul

It's been a long haul of getting a Masters degree, a diploma in Tropical Nursing, Wilderness first aid certification, courses in International development, volunteering, and endless wondering if I am pursuing the right course of working overseas in the Global South once again.


Rejections and silence from numerous applications for the past year. In some cases, my 3 degrees and year in Kenya noted as "not enough" or my lack of french skills disqualifying from working in non-french speaking countries.


I've been confused more often than not. Has all this work and effort been in vain? Have I been following my own singular and selfish path?


Recently though, a glimmer of hope. After emails back and forth and communication delays, I have finally received an offer! Someone is nuts enough to take me on!


I have been offered a 6 month opportunity in Tabora, Tanzania with CARE Canada. They have been working to improve access to maternal health in the community and rural areas for some time and recently had a request from the director of the Regional hospital in Tabora for some help to assess and plan for their maternal and reproductive health in the hospital. They were seeking someone who could come along side people at the hospital to:

•    assess the Tabora Regional Referral Hospital maternal and child health services and practices   including management, administrative practices, quality and health information; 

•    Develop plan in conjunction with CARE and Kitete Hospital staff to strengthen the maternity ward, outreach program, referral system, and, 

•    To build management, administrative and patient-care capacity in the maternity ward of the Kitete Hospital

And as per Murphy's law, as soon as I accepted the position, I had 2 more interview requests for jobs I had applied for months ago! But I trust that this experience will be a great opportunity to build my experience for more future work overseas.

I am simultaneously really excited and really terrified! While I know it has been a 6 year journey to get to this point, I will always have some nervous anxiety about what I am doing! I know when I get there I'll have some private breakdowns of crying and wondering why I have put myself in a position of knowing nothing and no one! But after a week or two, I'll start settling in, once again getting used to people yelling "mzungu" at me, or trying to touch my hair or skin.

Thanks to everyone who has listened to me endlessly talk about my desire of moving overseas (okay, it's always about sanitation). 

So, if you know anyone who wants to sublet my place (just blocks from Kits beach!) for 6 months, let me know! I’ll be leaving about mid-October!