So I'm guessing you've been wondering why I've all but completely abandoned the blog. To be honest, there really wasn't any news worthy of reporting in a longer format than a few lines without sounding bitter, angry, hostile or completely postal. Sadly, things here, up until about two weeks ago, were literally touch and go. Kurt and I have been having a really bad time of it. I wasn't sure either of us was going to make it here another day much less the four years we’re contracted. Frankly, I'm still not completely sure but I'm feeling a lot better than I was and am more confident that we will be able to fulfill at least two of the four years.
In brief, this company, as it turns out, is NOTHING like what we had been lead to think it was and nor were our positions within it. We’ve been lied to, I’ve been assaulted, insulted and generally mistreated simply because I have the nerve to be intelligent, educated AND a woman. Well, I no longer work for the company- I resigned at the end of December and feel all the better for it. Kurt is still with the company and trudging along as best he can under the circumstances. This, of course has changed things a bit for us financially but not so significantly that we'll be hurting.
The good news of it all is that I am now relatively stress free and can now focus on more altruistic and artistic endeavors. I have begun volunteering at the local Red Cross Home for Motherless Children and intend to also volunteer/assist the governor’s wife with a few mutually dear causes (educating women on the unnecessary and cruel act of female circumcision, for one). Also, I am, as some of you may have read on Facebook, organizing a showcase of American art here in Nigeria. Bottom line: I’m keeping busy.
This of course means that since I now have positive things to share I will be posting more often to this blog. Frankly, I stayed away not because I didn’t have anything to say but more because I didn’t want to say it. Some things you just can’t put a positive spin on no matter how hard you try- and this situation was the biggest case of trying to polish a turd ever!!! Let’s be honest folks, there is enough negativity out there so why add to it?!
In any case, thanks for being patient while I regained my bearings.
Love,
Sydney… and I’m *still* looking for Paradise Falls
Well, I guess that's what I get for slacking on my blog reading, I had no idea you'd left the company! I hope things are settling down and am so sorry you had to experience other peoples issues. :(
ReplyDeleteAre you still enjoying your charitable works? That sounds like a much more rewarding pursuit.
<3