meggie hurt, meggie hurt baaaaaddddd

I don’t know where to start.  I feel like I’m floating in a world of discomfort.  It’s not too dreadfully painful, but it’s far from pleasant.  I don’t want to write a long list of complaints.  Suffice it to say, with all of the other mitigating factors, my sitemates left Razlog this morning never to return.  I sobbed with all of Harmonie’s high schoolers last night.  Today, I was standing in the front lawn at the PC office in Sofia.  I saw them get out of a taxi and started to cry.  We all had work at the office today, so I ran into them several times.  It was really hard.  Every time I saw either of them…  tears.  Many tears.  

It’s a tragedy whenever anyone leaves Peace Corps early.  For stupid reasons, like not being able to follow simple rules.  For getting caught up in a mess of other people’s judgment issues.  For medical reasons.  For problems adjusting.  For whatever reason.  It’s a loss to the staff, the host organization (even if they don’t realize it!), to the other volunteers with whom relationships have been built.  I know it happens.  It’s just never hit home so hard.  These people came into my life and affected it.  They provided encouragement, comfort, support, resources, laughs, and dinner buddies.  They are volunteers that have reinforced Peace Corps’ good name in Bulgaria, and in other countries, for the work they have done here.  What Harmonie has done with the kids here gives me hope that I too will be able to make it and make a small difference on some lives.