Stressful Call from Uganda! About This Page:

[tinker_me_happy]

I was working a very busy very short staffed and hectic day yesterday when I received a very stressful call from Alicia in Uganda. She was crying hysterically!! I had to leave my work area to call her back. Needless to say I was thrown into a panic! I think she is okay. She was not physically harmed in anyway, but apparently there has been quite a bit of drama in her intern unit. She is in a new village (for her program) this year, so it has been exceptionally difficult on all the interns - and villagers too I imagine! Long Story short, mostly because I still don't know the long story - the "National" intern was not doing his job properly, Alicia called him out on it, then everyone else got mad at her and she became overly emotional. His job in part is to translate, which he was not doing appropriately. He was keeping things from the group that the villagers were discussing with him and doing what he wanted to about it without letting the group know until weeks later! This in not how the program is supposed to work! This is also his first year there. It does not build trust with either the village or the interns when this happens. To the groups defense, my daughter can be very emotional and explosive, so I'm sure she "ripped him a new one" and was not very diplomatic, when she found out what he had been doing. She is overly passionate at times! Her hysteria was not good and she sounded completely over whelmed and exhausted. This was not like her at all!!
Please send some pixies that things are better for her today. She comes home in 2 1/2 weeks. It is hard when so much dedication and hard work has been put in and things have been undermined behind your back. From the sounds of things she did not handle the situation well - but even so, the other intern made a really big error in judgement as well. There is going to be a really big interpersonal mess for all of her team to clean up in the next couple of weeks!

[rella]

[oddboysmum]

[GATechGal]

It's tough to learn lessons like this. Pixies that things work out and that she gets home safely.

[HiddenMickey]

[chelle89]

[JuliB57]

[lauriep]

Definitely sounds like the Nat'l Intern has been very wrong in the way he's doing his job. Tough situation and I feel for Alicia because I know all that emotion and hysteria comes from the concern she really feels for these people and the fact that she wants to get the job done properly. I hope it gets cleared up and she can leave with a lighter heart (and you, too!)

[notjustamom]

You may have hit the nail on the head, she's probably exhausted and a bit overwhelmed. Who wouldn't be? Remember, she's a strong girl for even going over there let alone twice. The next 2 1/2 weeks will fly by and I bet next time she calls you'll hear "sorry about that mom, I was having a really bad day but I'm better now". Good luck making it through!

[Pris]

Oh, I feel your pain. My DD is like that as well and I have gotten many of those calls. It hurts so much to not be able to wrap your arms around them tight and let them get it all out. You are probably right in your assessment of the situation. I know my DD doesn't always handle things in the best manner, but her heart and usually her assessment are spot on. Good luck!

[DawnK]

[mcc0313]

[GinnyMouse]

[DisneyFanAnn]

[chezp]