First and foremost, thanks for all the love and support the past few days. This week has been absolutely terrible, but I feel grateful to have such loving friends and family.
Also, I want to clarify that medically, I will be okay. I don’t have anything contagious, cancer, or something that will lead me to ask you for bone marrow or liver parts. I’m not sharing it here because a) I am exercising free will, b) I still have a lot of questions and things to learn myself, and c) I will tell you on my own terms, away from the internet.
I am being medically separated against my will, because Peace Corps no longer deems the medical facilities available to me in China adequate for my slightly elevated needs. (For example, at my site it’s hard to be sure needles are clean or that the appointment with the doctor will take place in private. Expectations are low.)
What is most stressful and miserable right now is the one way plane ticket I have to the states a year and a half ahead of schedule. I don’t have a job or a plan or a winter coat and I’m not the kind of person who doesn’t have those things.
Barring any unforseen circumstances (and there are many more than you can imagine), I’ll be leaving Bangkok tonight and arrive in DC on Friday morning. There I’ll work with Peace Corps to get my feet on the ground for a week or so, and the rest is up in the air. (If you want to be in touch in DC, and it’d be great to see you, please send me your contact info as–surprise!–I don’t have any of that with me.)
I’ll keep blogging to keep you in the loop, and maybe tell you some of the many things about China I never got around to sharing. Like how Asia has given me super strength fingernails, or how the entire street outside my apartment is mindblowingly delicious, and the Chinese tourist-style outing I took to the Three Gorges, or what China Goggles are.
But until then, see you on the other side.
Hi Kristin,
I have been reading your blog. You are a gifted writer. Your blog has allowed me to see China through your eyes and feel it through your experience. Your writing is delightful. My admiration of all you have accomplished to live in China is enormous. I am sorry that your departure from China is so sadly abrupt. I hope that job, plan and winter coat will materialize and there will be light at the end of this tunnel. From the other side …
Best Wishes,
Corinne
Hi Kristin,
Thinking of you as you transition back and figure out what is next. Just like this chapter, we have no doubt the next one will be wonderful and worthwhile.
You are in our hearts.
Safe travels,
Sue
Hi Kristin-
I too have enjoyed reading about your many adventures and hope you will find time to share even more thoughts once you return. Safe travels and try to keep your head up.
Kristen
Oh, and here’s to your next adventure. As long as I have known you, adventure has never followed far behind.
Hi Kristin,
You don’t know me, but I’ve gotten to know you pretty well through your blog, which may or may not be kind of creepy. Sorry…. about that.
Anyways. I’m going to be part of the next wave of Peace Corps China volunteers arriving in June. Your blog was one of the first that I started reading when I first discovered my placement, and the one that really made me excited to begin my service. Thanks for that.
Sorry about the medical separation, I can imagine that struggling with a a new health issue, and your life being a little up-ended like this cannot be pleasant. But, just from having read your blog for the last month or two, I’m not too worried that you won’t be able to dust yourself off and land on your feet.
All the best in the future, and thanks again for letting me live a little vicariously through you for the last few months.
Trevor