Nathan Update

There are several bits of good news relating to me. First of all, I had another blood test today, and the results were ALL within normal ranges. I had some lingering liver function issues, and then my hemoglobin was in bad shape after a few weeks of the virus attacking my bone marrow, but all is well now. I'’m still a bit more tired than normal, but part of that is just because of my lack of activity for the past few weeks. I'’ve had several longish walks recently and they seem to be getting easier, so I'’m thinking I'm recovering pretty well. Thanks to all of you for all the support!

The second bit of news from me is that I now have a job! I mentioned in the post on Ben'’s first week at school that I've been spending a lot of time hiding in the manager'’s office at the preschool. The school has been without a manager for a while, or has at least been in limbo. The previous manager is about 8 ½ months pregnant, and she leaves this weekend to go have her baby. The man who was hired to replace her had to unexpectedly leave the country since his wife's contract was cancelled, leaving them with no particular reason to be in Cambodia. I had been slated to take a seat on the board of directors, and had agreed to be the interim manager while we did a new job search for a permanent replacement. Then I got sick and had to back out also. One of the other board members stepped in and took care of everything, and in the processing of doing it he realized that we had been thinking of the job all wrong. It really is a job for a parent, rather than a job for somebody hoping to advance a career significantly. There are maybe 15 or so hours of work each week, and a lot of that is dealing with parents and minor maintenance issues and things.

So when I came back from Bangkok, he talked to me, and told me that he thought I'’d be a great person to take the job. After talking to him about the revised set of responsibilities, and the flexibility he imagined would be available, I agreed. Today I met with the former manager, and I'’m going to be starting for real on Monday. I'll be able to continue to do some of the work I'’ve been doing with the Embassy, either in the afternoons, or during the slow times at school. I'’ll be near the kids all week, I'’ll be getting a bit of money for doing it, I'’ll be helping out a great school, and I'’ll be getting to develop some new skills. I am, of course, a bit nervous about taking on these responsibilities with minimal previous experience, but I'’m thinking things will probably go well. In any event, I now have found a great way to have a job and still stay close to the kids.