October 5!


 


 

Well, looks like we will be delayed until October after all. See the note below from the CUSO office in Sri Lanka.


 

Dear Wendy,

I am really sorry about this situation. XXX is continuously running to the NGO Secretariat in pushing them to get your document approve.

She went this afternoon also.Still it hasn't signed. She said she is going tomorrow morning also. I a m really sorry...we donot have any control over this.

XXX said, if she gets the documents approve this week, she can then send it for the visa. If you cannot come on the 7th as planned, it is okay to come at least one week later once you get the visa if you are ok with that. But one other thing is that once you are here in country,  we have to apply for the work permit for you for Jaffna. XXX said it will take at least 1-11/2 months. If you have to be back in Canada for the wedding  in September I donot think it is worth taking that risk/stress.

 
 

So what I would like to suggest is that you come in the October cycle. I donot know how easy for you to make your mind. I am really sorry. Also Wendy,I thought good to mention this to you now than in October, once   you come in October, we will need time to get the work permit. So you will have to be in Colombo until then. If the work permit is going to be delaying any further we can offer you one other placement, where we can get the work permit easliy. 

 
 

I am really sorry Wendy... this has become a very painful process for every one with the government bureaucracy.


 

Our daughter, Shelley is getting married in September, so this delay is not all that unpleasant and actually beats the unpleasantness of having to make another long international flight home for the wedding. Only those of you who have endured 20+ hour flights can appreciate the thought of having to travel there and back from such a far away country within a week. So, this part works out well. In addition, my father was hospitalized on Saturday night with an abdominal aortic aneurism and is to have surgery today. He is 87 years old and of course I want to see him stabilized before I leave. So, as always, there are reasons for things and things beyond our control that we must accept.

As my friend Helen Kormendy said the other day, "No matter what happens, you have still had a journey". She is right. This process of deciding to work for CUSO, applying, interviewing, taking the training, awaiting, awaiting, awaiting, delays, delays, delays, saying goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, have all been part of the adventure. We have learned to let go of our home and our vehicles. We have come to know more clearly the importance of our family and friends. We have learned about patience, acceptance and frustration. We have learned to live on less and accept voluntary simplicity. We have learned gratitude. We have learned to live out of suitcases and boxes. Had we not been delayed, we would not have had our 50 days in Mexico. We are now planning a pedal bike trip down into the Kootenays as a way to pass the time and to keep fit. Life is good.

I am cheered by the biblical quote: "One you put your hand to the plow, do not look back". We are keeping our hand on the plow!


 


 

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