Over Before it Began... and then it Began Again!

I'm going to be candid here about why I am transitioning from a job in Rwanda to a new position in Rwanda.

I lived in Kenya for 6 months (2 years ago) and have been seeking another job in Africa (paid in USD) and in my field (I have a Master's degree in Public Health and Preventative Medicine) on and off since... I recently got out of a serious relationship and decided it was time to make it happen. So, I applied for (and landed) a 1-year job as a Program Manager for an organization in Rwanda that uses a sport for development model to promote gender equity through coed sports for youth. The organization is amazing, Rwandans are awesome, and the place was perfect... however, my boss: not so awesome. She flew over with me for the first 11 days here, but I was really sick the first week so I didn't exactly "shine". Then she decided that she wants someone with a lot of experience in "sport for development" (which is new to me, but I was excited about it). She said I was a great person and admitted that I had done nothing wrong, but said she thinks my background in Public Health is not going to be a good fit with her organization.

The weird thing is, she didn't think it was a big deal that I had packed up my life into 2 suitcases and planned on working really hard for her organization for a year (or at least a month, so she could see what I could do). She comes from a very wealthy family and it didn't occur to her that it would be a big deal to pull the rug out from under me like that. I never misrepresented myself. She knew all along that I had never worked in sport for development or had any specific training on it before this job opportunity. She says she didn’t realize how important it was until we got here.

So, after only 11 days (though I have been preparing for this for the past 3 months), my boss told me she was "letting me go" right before getting on a plane to go back to the US.  She later emailed me a to-do list from the plane, reminding me that she had already paid me through the end of January and owed her allegiance.

At first, I was devastated and thought I was in a terrible situation, but then I realized I am exactly where I want to be. I have an incomprehensible love for everything African. 

Nothing brings me more joy than giving high fives to little African children in rural villages and letting them play with my hair. If Peter Pan ever asks me what my “happy thought” is, that would be it. I’d be flying high with a little pixie dust! But I digress…

So, I decided to use some of my savings to stay longer and arranged to volunteer at a local preschool until I could land a paid job (again, preferably in Public Health with an international organization that could still pay me in USD).

To my pleasant surprise, the day after I got let go, I was contacted by an organization my friend had sent my resume to! It is an international org that empowers young women through a school-based program, which aims to prevent rape and domestic violence. It is an extension of a program called “No Means No Worldwide” (NMNWW) which is based in Kenya, but has recently started working in Malawi as well.

They have an amazing twice-annual training that starts this Monday (the 26^th) and they asked me to get there as soon as I could. I've booked a flight (I leave first thing tomorrow morning) and I agreed to a one-month trial to make sure I am a good fit for this org and this org is a good fit for me as well. The pay is $515/mo in USD, but the cost of living is much cheaper and what matters most to be is doing work I am passionate about. I'm nervous and excited!

When I told my former boss this, she asked me to pay her back some of the January living stipend money she had given me, as I would be departing Rwanda on the 24th (instead of her proposed date of the 27th). Yes, she is docking my pay (not pay, as it is not hourly, but docking my $1000 per month stipend amount) for the mere 3 days, despite the fact that I will continue to type up notes (from the training I received) to send to her during this time.

Woah- this is turning into a novel! Sorry so long! Many people have asked what happened & I didn't know what to say, so I have not said anything. And now, it's like I have verbal diarrhea or something! Ah! I'll wrap it up:

In sum: Rwanda is great, but the job didn't work out. I have this awesome opportunity to move to Malawi to work for a different NGO and I'm going for it! Wish me luck!