Medical Separation and Interrupted Service

On January 28th, Tyler was medically separated from Peace Corps and I decided to take Interrupted Service. This means that we can begin the process to reinstate and return to Mongolia after Tyler receives medical clearance after about three months. I have been told that the reinstatement process is considerably less involved than the initial Peace Corps enrollment process, but that it could take from 3-5 months. We don't have any guarantee that we would return to our site, Khovd, but our country director has said that he would try send us back to Khovd if/when we reinstate.

As for now, we've returned to the United States and are staying with Tyler's family in Pittsburg Texas. His family is currently remodeling their house and have rented a large bed and breakfast, so we're living in the lap of luxury. Yesterday I washed and dried our clothes by machine!

I am currently seeking employment as a teacher and Tyler is setting up his appointments for physical therapy.

Things have not worked out according to plan, but we are glad to be home. Tyler's Papa (his mom's dad) suffered a heart attack this week and has been in the Intensive Care Unit in Tyler, TX until today. He is still in the hospital, but now he's been discharged from the ICU. We are grateful that we could be here now to spend time with Papa.

Medical Evacuation

This has been a very interesting holiday season. Three weeks and a half weeks ago Tyler dislocated his knee cap while wrestling with another volunteer in some approximation the Mongolian style. An MRI showed that he had torn three ligaments, including a bucket handle tear in the meniscus that made it impossible for him to bend his knee more than 30 degrees. Washington received the electronic version of the MRI immediately and the hard copy was also sent there. In the mean time, he stayed in a hotel in Ulaanbatar and we celebrated Christmas. I went to Nalaikh for the New Year to see my host family and Tyler stayed at the hotel. After two weeks, Peace Corps Washington replyed that he should go to Thailand for surgery and I was lucky enough to get to go with him since one of our Peace Corps Medical Officers was on vacation in Hawaii.

Thailand is so beautiful. The food is delicious and plentiful. There are flowers and green things everywhere. It is hot! We saw a traditional dance performance in which there were flying dancers, musicians, a river and elephants--I actually touched one elephant's trunk as it walked through the audience! We also saw the Avatar at an IMAX theater in 3D. The Thai people are very friendly and famous for their smile, but they don't stare at foreigners. In fact, in inclosed spaces like elevators they stare at the floor. It's easy to to get around in Bangkok. The sky train is easy to use, but there is also a river taxi and two types of street taxis--modern and traditional. It seems like everyone there speaks at least a little English. After Ty's surgery while he was sleeping in the hospital I went to the Grand Palace and saw where the King and Queen of Thailand live and I also saw the famous Reclining Buddha.

I didn't want to leave Thailand and I especially didn't want to leave Tyler while he's still recovering from surgery, but I'm grateful that I got to accompany him at all and to stay for the surgery. That really meant a lot to both of us. The Peace Corps staff in Mongolia and in Thailand have done so much to help us in this situation. The Thailand Peace Corps Medical Officer helped us make all of the appointment at the Bumrungrad hospital and she came with us to meet the surgeon the first time. That hospital is like a 5 star hotel.

I'm in Korea now posting from the airport and they've just annouced the boarding call for my flight to Ulaanbatar. Pray for Tyler to heal fast.