Close of Service Conference


View of  part of the resort for the COS conference

This week I went to the Close of Service (COS) conference.  The conference was two full days with an evening arrival before for dinner and a morning departure after for breakfast.  The purpose of the conference was to let us know how to successfully complete service and to give suggestions on how to move back into the American lifestyle.  After two years of being in the remote villages the reverse culture shock can be difficult.  The meeting for was very good and informative.  It was also nice to see the whole group again.

The conference was at a resort in the Volta region and it was very nice.  The rather modern resort was well maintained and by a river.  The food was good - fish every night.  I got to get in a swimming pool for the first time in Ghana.  All in all it was very different from the normal accommodations for a Peace Corps volunteer.

 While I was at the resort for only a few days my cough greatly improved and the congestion went away.  

 
Nice big bed with flowers for the first day.


You can see the river behind the coconut palm

Health


The atypical pneumonia and allergies are likely not the source of the cough.  So perhaps the shave was of little value.  There seems to be some lung damage possibly caused by the dust and fungus of the Upper West.  I hope to hear the official word from a pulmonologist from D.C. about the diagnosis and treatment options on Monday.  It is likely permanent damage but seems to be an early mild case that will not be much of a problem at this time.  Again, I’m still waiting on the official word.

The health issue is complicating how I close out my service.  I want to get better and that might involve some sort of treatment and I also want to finish up at my site.  My major decision of the week was to wait until hearing from the specialist before I make a decision.  So for now I’m still stuck in Accra.

Permanent damage is of course not great.  However, I don’t have the final diagnosis so it might be something else.  Even if the preliminary diagnosis that I was given is correct there are a lot of worse things to get.  I can’t go back and undo it.  It likely will not shorten my life and should be rather easy to manage - so not a great cost.  No need to worry about it now and it would not do any good anyway.

I remain happy with my decision to serve in the Peace Corps, even if I do end up with a long term present from Ghana.  Life is about helping others and sometimes there is a cost and a sacrifice.

Love always,

John

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