This is part VII of my 3-month journey in Sri Lanka, as a volunteer for WECare Worldwide.
It began harmlessly enough – a sore throat on a Friday that gradually worsened over the weekend. By 5 AM Monday, I was thrown awake by my own coughing. Exhausted and miserable, I reached for my phone to message my manager at the CNVR clinic, requesting a day off.
This wasn’t just a common cold. The painfully sore throat and harsh coughing fits made me wonder: Could it be COVID? In rural Sri Lanka, test kits were scarce. Not that it would change much in terms of treatment.
The global pandemic taught us the importance of self-quarantine. I was working in an office back then, so transitioning to a remote setup was seamless. But my current role working in dog welfare presents a unique challenge – it’s not a job that can be done from afar. The dogs recovering from spay and neuter surgeries need hands-on care, a stark contrast to my previous experience.
Before messaging my manager, I did some mental math to calculate the impact of my absence. Three new volunteers were starting that day, which should provide ample coverage for my duties in the recovery pen. Yet, I worried about the coming days. Would it be presumptuous to ask for tomorrow off as well? And what if my condition hasn’t improved by Wednesday?
As I awaited my manager’s reply, I found myself tussling with expectations. Surely, most managers would prefer volunteers to rest during severe illness. But would extended sick leave breed resentment over scheduling difficulties?
Working for a veterinary care charity, far from the flexible arrangements I once knew, I was learning to navigate the delicate balance between personal health and commitment to a cause requiring physical presence. It left me pondering the unspoken rules of dedication in volunteer work.
“It’s no problem at all. Get better soon,” came the reply. That was the last thing I remembered before falling back into a deep sleep.
P.s. I returned to work on Wednesday, coughing frequently into my face mask. That cough persisted for another week, and I was certain that at least one of my coworkers freaked out.
This is part VII of my 3-month journey in Sri Lanka, as a volunteer for WECare Worldwide.