after my complaining about having a houseguest (who is a marvellous cook, i do admit), i will be spending the next week on my own in the big city of monrovia.
truth be told, i wish i was also heading out to the field to see more of the country, but instead i will be making the most of my time. i have found a few shops that i want to check out: afropolitan and Jola House Creations and i'd like to take a trip to waterfront market to buy some lapas, but am a bit nervous to go alone partly because i have no idea how much anything should cost and partly because i envision it being a cacophonous and seemingly chaotic place. i could be entirely wrong, but may enlist mary's help to navigate it.
one of the challenges to life in monrovia for me is that there are few options for transportation and i feel as though i can't be as independent as i'd like. we don't have a car, although i recently learned that we could have one if someone had renewed his license (and knew how to drive standard...). the yellow shared taxis that ply the roads are seemingly ubiquitous, but also come with a queue of people ready to fight their way to squeeze into the car doors and i'm not sure how exactly payment or the system works, which will cause me quite a bit of stress.
there are the motorcycle taxis, driven by young men often with a version of trendy (and sometimes lens-less) sunglasses regardless of the time of day. the un security briefing includes a prohibition against using these, but we tried them out on the weekend and i must admit that it was a much more pleasant way to come home after a day in the city than being stuck to the synthetic seats of a dilapidated taxi. very breezy and rather exhilarating, if not a bit dangerous.
the typical mode of transportation i use is a car service operated by 5 guys. their cars are not always so reliable, as we found out while we were stuck for an hour this past weekend, but they are very friendly and a great resource about all things liberian. they tend to be available when you call, but it means that you have to hire them for short journeys or by the hour. and when i am in a shop knowing someone is waiting for me, i can't help but rush through my shopping. i think that this is something that i will just have to get used to otherwise i will spend the next few months rushing about and worrying about how long i am taking. the other downside is that if you just want to wander about and catch a taxi home, you can't. i either plan a pick up time or location or call them and hope they are free to collect me when i'm ready.
after my week of living like a bachelorette again, i will be packing my own bags to head to dar es salaam, tanzania to celebrate christmas on the other coast of africa. let the countdown begin!
Showing posts with label un. Show all posts
Showing posts with label un. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Monday, March 07, 2011
ready for this
apart from a really kick ass trip to an amazing city, my visit to new york was actually for another reason entirely and i just appended my own fun to the end of a 5 day training session. as these things often do, it certainly had its ups and its downs, but my overall impression was a positive one and i felt that i walked away with practical skills and a pocket full of contacts that could potentially be helpful for future professional gigs.
i prepared myself before going that i would likely be the odd one out, the one who is not currently based 'in the field' and who doesn't have scathes of emergency experience, but has been selected just like everyone else to attend. surprisingly, this didn't feel like an impediment throughout the time and i am not sure if that was because i was ready for it, i am more confident now than when i was last in one of these situations, or the other participants and facilitators weren't dickheads. i think it was a little from columns a, b and c.
the best part of it all was that at a few different points, i thought to myself, i can do this. and not only can i do this, i think i could do it well. as someone who regularly battles with self doubt, internal criticisms, obsessive thinking, and anxiety, this was good, very good.
the best part of the entire experience was a few days after it finished and i was wandering my way around new york city (rather than long island, where we had been holed up for the training), when i got an email telling me that i was an asset to the training and asking if i was interested in potential positions that could come up. with a resounding yes, i politely responded and there was a little back and forth. i suspect it all comes down to waiting on funding, but i was happy to be considered after what felt like a 5 day job interview. i guess i passed.
but. of course there is a but! but, now i haven't head for a few weeks and i am terrified that all this momentum is going to come to a screeching halt and i will be Stuck. with a capital S. and that is the terrifying part. i have spent the better part of the past 2 years rebuilding, settling and repairing. and now i am ready to head back out into the big, bad world.
last year i thought that i wasn't strong enough or interested enough or something enough to start again in a new city or a new country alone. for a long time, i had in my head that i would only ever being doing that with someone. well, that someone isn't around and hasn't been for a few years now, but it took me awhile to feel strong enough and excited enough to uproot again and start a new job and build a new life in a new place. and now that i feel that i am there, i am scared that an opportunity is not going to come my way. i will keep applying for things that interest me, but the anxiety is creeping in.
and this after i had some serious conversations with myself about what i would be giving up if i left calgary now. the stability, the money, the closeness with my family, the familiarity, the nest... and although i am still not sure how i would manage all that change, i feel like i would figure it out. but now i just need the opportunity to allow me the chance to figure it out.
eesh.
and there you have it, interwebs, that is what has been on my mind for the past few weeks since returning from new york. i needed a shake up, but i am also feeling impatient and just want to get on with things now that i have made a decision. so, universe, are you listening?
i prepared myself before going that i would likely be the odd one out, the one who is not currently based 'in the field' and who doesn't have scathes of emergency experience, but has been selected just like everyone else to attend. surprisingly, this didn't feel like an impediment throughout the time and i am not sure if that was because i was ready for it, i am more confident now than when i was last in one of these situations, or the other participants and facilitators weren't dickheads. i think it was a little from columns a, b and c.
the best part of it all was that at a few different points, i thought to myself, i can do this. and not only can i do this, i think i could do it well. as someone who regularly battles with self doubt, internal criticisms, obsessive thinking, and anxiety, this was good, very good.
the best part of the entire experience was a few days after it finished and i was wandering my way around new york city (rather than long island, where we had been holed up for the training), when i got an email telling me that i was an asset to the training and asking if i was interested in potential positions that could come up. with a resounding yes, i politely responded and there was a little back and forth. i suspect it all comes down to waiting on funding, but i was happy to be considered after what felt like a 5 day job interview. i guess i passed.
but. of course there is a but! but, now i haven't head for a few weeks and i am terrified that all this momentum is going to come to a screeching halt and i will be Stuck. with a capital S. and that is the terrifying part. i have spent the better part of the past 2 years rebuilding, settling and repairing. and now i am ready to head back out into the big, bad world.
last year i thought that i wasn't strong enough or interested enough or something enough to start again in a new city or a new country alone. for a long time, i had in my head that i would only ever being doing that with someone. well, that someone isn't around and hasn't been for a few years now, but it took me awhile to feel strong enough and excited enough to uproot again and start a new job and build a new life in a new place. and now that i feel that i am there, i am scared that an opportunity is not going to come my way. i will keep applying for things that interest me, but the anxiety is creeping in.
and this after i had some serious conversations with myself about what i would be giving up if i left calgary now. the stability, the money, the closeness with my family, the familiarity, the nest... and although i am still not sure how i would manage all that change, i feel like i would figure it out. but now i just need the opportunity to allow me the chance to figure it out.
eesh.
and there you have it, interwebs, that is what has been on my mind for the past few weeks since returning from new york. i needed a shake up, but i am also feeling impatient and just want to get on with things now that i have made a decision. so, universe, are you listening?
Thursday, January 20, 2011
a little stuffed, but doing well otherwise
how was 2011 been for you?
i have only one thing to complain about so far. and it is this damn cold that i can't seem to shake. it began in my sinuses, moved to my chest before christmas where it stole my voice and turned me into someone who sounded like they'd worked in a smoking lounge for 30 years, and now it is back to my sinuses and my head. maybe it is a new cold (not sure how exactly this medical science thing works when it comes to cold viruses) or if it just won't leave, but it sure is frustrating. a lot of sneezing, a lot of congestion, and not a lot of drainage.
other than this damn cold, i am enjoying 2011 so far. i woke up on new years morning with an email saying that i have been selected to attend training in new york city on gender based violence programming and coordination in emergencies and i am really looking forward to learning more about the field, meeting some interesting people, and exploring the big apple for the first time.
and, as always, i am hoping that some sort oracle emerges to tell me what i should doing with my life, where i should live, and what i want to be when i grow up. hopefully this training and this trip will help me do that. but the idea that i have something on the professional and personal agenda is enough to tie me over at the moment
oh yeah, and it will also be a good way to celebrate my upcoming 30th birthday!
i have only one thing to complain about so far. and it is this damn cold that i can't seem to shake. it began in my sinuses, moved to my chest before christmas where it stole my voice and turned me into someone who sounded like they'd worked in a smoking lounge for 30 years, and now it is back to my sinuses and my head. maybe it is a new cold (not sure how exactly this medical science thing works when it comes to cold viruses) or if it just won't leave, but it sure is frustrating. a lot of sneezing, a lot of congestion, and not a lot of drainage.
other than this damn cold, i am enjoying 2011 so far. i woke up on new years morning with an email saying that i have been selected to attend training in new york city on gender based violence programming and coordination in emergencies and i am really looking forward to learning more about the field, meeting some interesting people, and exploring the big apple for the first time.
and, as always, i am hoping that some sort oracle emerges to tell me what i should doing with my life, where i should live, and what i want to be when i grow up. hopefully this training and this trip will help me do that. but the idea that i have something on the professional and personal agenda is enough to tie me over at the moment
oh yeah, and it will also be a good way to celebrate my upcoming 30th birthday!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
dirty little secret
here's a dirty little secret - i didn't donate anything to the relief efforts in haiti after the devastating earthquake this past january. yes, i wanted someone to hire me to go there, but i didn't donate. call it karma, but i sort of felt as though costs associated with the response would be covered because of the incredible news, pop culture, and celebrity coverage the disaster got. this is likely not the best way to judge whether or not humanitarian efforts need any additional financial support, but there it is and that is how i made my decision.
in keeping with that same thinking, ever since i heard of the floods in pakistan a few weeks ago, i have thought that it is so interesting that a natural disaster that has displaced an estimated 3 million people has warranted little more than a mention on the nightly national news and have found myself wondering if this is at all correlated with how much money has been donated by private citizens like me.
and it wasn't long before this line of thinking was covered by a popular aid blog, aid watch, and after reading it and thinking 'what the hell am i waiting for?,' i just donated to islamic relief.
i picked islamic relief because (and how is this for good donorship...) i knew a girl who used to work there before i met her when she worked for another international relief ngo. she didn't even have fantastic things to say about her working experience there, but nonetheless that is how i picked one of the agencies i know are on the ground in pakistan.
this will be rather interesting to watch play out because perhaps donors are fatigued, perhaps richies like me (and you, most likely) in the developed world don't have such a connection to a country half a world away, or perhaps freedom loving people are afraid that they will be funding terrorism and the like by giving to pakistanis, but i don't feel confident that it will be such the groundswell of donations as haiti was. i could be completely wrong, however, as many muslim ngos and networks are incredibly well funded using a completely different donor model and they might teach those of us participating in a more western and, dare i say, mainstream response a thing or two.
coincidentally, today is also world humanitarian day.
in keeping with that same thinking, ever since i heard of the floods in pakistan a few weeks ago, i have thought that it is so interesting that a natural disaster that has displaced an estimated 3 million people has warranted little more than a mention on the nightly national news and have found myself wondering if this is at all correlated with how much money has been donated by private citizens like me.
and it wasn't long before this line of thinking was covered by a popular aid blog, aid watch, and after reading it and thinking 'what the hell am i waiting for?,' i just donated to islamic relief.
i picked islamic relief because (and how is this for good donorship...) i knew a girl who used to work there before i met her when she worked for another international relief ngo. she didn't even have fantastic things to say about her working experience there, but nonetheless that is how i picked one of the agencies i know are on the ground in pakistan.
this will be rather interesting to watch play out because perhaps donors are fatigued, perhaps richies like me (and you, most likely) in the developed world don't have such a connection to a country half a world away, or perhaps freedom loving people are afraid that they will be funding terrorism and the like by giving to pakistanis, but i don't feel confident that it will be such the groundswell of donations as haiti was. i could be completely wrong, however, as many muslim ngos and networks are incredibly well funded using a completely different donor model and they might teach those of us participating in a more western and, dare i say, mainstream response a thing or two.
coincidentally, today is also world humanitarian day.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
29 + 4 update
ever since i decided to stop moping, things have really taken a turn for the better.
and in some random hope that the power of positive thinking actually might work, i just wanted to let the interwebs know that i have asked for something that i want as per goal #9.
i found a job i want. i found a job that could potentially meld my education and international experience in development with my nearly two years' worth of private sector corporate social responsibility knowledge! i found a job i want in new york city.
so i applied.
and if you are so compelled, join me in sending some positive energy in the direction of the un headquarters in nyc in hopes that they overlook my lack of the requisite 8 years of progressively responsible experience and interview me based on my ballsy cover letter and unique skill set!
and in some random hope that the power of positive thinking actually might work, i just wanted to let the interwebs know that i have asked for something that i want as per goal #9.
i found a job i want. i found a job that could potentially meld my education and international experience in development with my nearly two years' worth of private sector corporate social responsibility knowledge! i found a job i want in new york city.
so i applied.
and if you are so compelled, join me in sending some positive energy in the direction of the un headquarters in nyc in hopes that they overlook my lack of the requisite 8 years of progressively responsible experience and interview me based on my ballsy cover letter and unique skill set!
Monday, May 31, 2010
do gooding as gospel
when i was 18, i dated a fellow who was five years my senior and who i thought knew a thing or two about life. i recall vividly one conversation we had where he told me that of all the people he meets, he only really 'liked' 20% of them enough to want to be friends or see again. in my youthful naivety, i recall feeling as though that was a very callous statement to make.
and now, at the ripe old age of 29, i feel that 20% was a truly conservative estimate and the proportion of the people i meet who i genuinely want to see again socially is somewhere near 10%.
i brought this up at a brunch i was with four other ladies this weekend and in our discussions, we agreed that as we become more certain of what we believe and our own values, it makes it easier to make decisions about people and this is completely natural . and sometimes, you meet people whose activities or comments tip you off to the fact that you likely will not get along.
my friend, an animal lover and vegetarian, said that she couldn't be friends with someone who hunted. there was a general mmm-hmmm-ing about this. i followed up with the statement, 'i don't think i could be friends with someone who told me they wanted to volunteer in an orphanage in africa.'
the response?
blink. blink. blink, blink.
and then i had to defend my comment and give a brief explanation of why volunteering in orphanages in africa is more often than not, a bad idea.
the blog world that i am haphazardly a part of has done a great job recently, and perhaps due to the overwhelming response and criticism of aid to haiti, of describing why voluntourism and orphanages as industry is not a terribly great idea and i won't go into the details here.* but what was really apparent through this exchange was how i felt i needed to justify my statement and opinion to people who had relatively low levels of knowledge on international development and aid because i felt as though i sounded so cold hearted and heartless.
i spent the better part of the rest of the brunch trying to convince them that a) i knew what i was talking about and b) that i am not a horrible, awful person who thinks that the poor, black babies of africa do not deserve our good intentions. and to be honest, i am really not sure that i was that effective.
it was one of those situations where worlds collide and i was going through the rolodex of posts i have read over the past months in shaping my argument about why holding the value against volunteering at orphanages in africa is not so different that holding a value that includes believing that hunting is wrong.
i like what Tales From the Hood has to say about why we believe that we have the 'right' to help others and the intentions behind doing it. and Good Intentions Are Not Enough often has posts that support the name of the blog. and these are written by professionals in the aid and development community so i know i am not alone in my judgements and opinions. and this also doesn't mean they are necessarily the gospel for all to live by, but it was a tough situation to be in and i wish i had a better arsenal of metaphorical weapons to use when confronted to defend why i believe what i do.
* if you are really interested in my thoughts on this, leave me a comment and i will try and string them together into something articulate in the future.
and now, at the ripe old age of 29, i feel that 20% was a truly conservative estimate and the proportion of the people i meet who i genuinely want to see again socially is somewhere near 10%.
i brought this up at a brunch i was with four other ladies this weekend and in our discussions, we agreed that as we become more certain of what we believe and our own values, it makes it easier to make decisions about people and this is completely natural . and sometimes, you meet people whose activities or comments tip you off to the fact that you likely will not get along.
my friend, an animal lover and vegetarian, said that she couldn't be friends with someone who hunted. there was a general mmm-hmmm-ing about this. i followed up with the statement, 'i don't think i could be friends with someone who told me they wanted to volunteer in an orphanage in africa.'
the response?
blink. blink. blink, blink.
and then i had to defend my comment and give a brief explanation of why volunteering in orphanages in africa is more often than not, a bad idea.
the blog world that i am haphazardly a part of has done a great job recently, and perhaps due to the overwhelming response and criticism of aid to haiti, of describing why voluntourism and orphanages as industry is not a terribly great idea and i won't go into the details here.* but what was really apparent through this exchange was how i felt i needed to justify my statement and opinion to people who had relatively low levels of knowledge on international development and aid because i felt as though i sounded so cold hearted and heartless.
i spent the better part of the rest of the brunch trying to convince them that a) i knew what i was talking about and b) that i am not a horrible, awful person who thinks that the poor, black babies of africa do not deserve our good intentions. and to be honest, i am really not sure that i was that effective.
it was one of those situations where worlds collide and i was going through the rolodex of posts i have read over the past months in shaping my argument about why holding the value against volunteering at orphanages in africa is not so different that holding a value that includes believing that hunting is wrong.
i like what Tales From the Hood has to say about why we believe that we have the 'right' to help others and the intentions behind doing it. and Good Intentions Are Not Enough often has posts that support the name of the blog. and these are written by professionals in the aid and development community so i know i am not alone in my judgements and opinions. and this also doesn't mean they are necessarily the gospel for all to live by, but it was a tough situation to be in and i wish i had a better arsenal of metaphorical weapons to use when confronted to defend why i believe what i do.
* if you are really interested in my thoughts on this, leave me a comment and i will try and string them together into something articulate in the future.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
cruise halong
things i did in halong bay
- ate squid, shrimp, crab, scallops, and fish caught fresh fromt he waters on which i sailed. it doesn't get any tastier than that.
- on the topic of food, i ate all my meals with a chinese family who were wonderfully pleasant. my western manners had to take a back seat amongst all the slurping, chewing, and burping though.
- more with the food (it really was very memorable!), our chef created table decorations out of food each night that we were encouraged to take photos of.
- i sipped countless iced coffees and halida and tiger beers on the top deck of our boat, the lagoon explorer.
- visited a photogenic fishing village of 40 families and 150 people who live, work, go to school, and play on the water.
- when i asked why there were so many dogs in the floating village and if they were for protection, the guide told me that they were pets and 'sometimes for eating.' well, of course, thinks the silly white girl.
- had a great guide (clad in his Ramani shirt) who wasn't pushy, wasn't trying to be my friend, and who studied tourism at the uni in hanoi. very professional.
- kayaked amongst the karsts and had a few thoughts of being all absolutely alone in the bay and how rare you get to have that experience. i wasn't panicked or worried, just calm.
- took a tonne of photos. even took my camera off the green idiot box setting and played around with what i learned in my photography course.
- thought and thought and thought and managed to set some goals for my future. i've already set some pretty concrete goals for my 29th year, but i really didn't know where i wanted to be in the future. i am still not 100% sure, but i have a better idea.
- got a titch of a sunburn on my shoulders and legs. i broke the cardinal skin care rule - put sunscreen on even if it is overcast!
- slept soundly for 2 nights in my cabin as the gentle rocking kept me asleep and i woke up to the birdsong outside my open cabin window.
- i learned and observed how squid are caught and touched them when they were still alive to watch them release their ink.
- did i mention the food?! my favs were the shrimp, tomato, and mushroom soup, the egg fried rice, the fish, the BBQed shrimp, and the pumpkin soup. oh, and the crab, which the waitor needed to help me with as he expertly ripped the shell off it in one fluid motion. i'm not sure if this is typical vietnamese cuisin, but my suspicion is that it is luxury vietnamese food because i can't imagine anyone eating that amount of protein unless you've signed up to the atkins philosophy of weight loss (and heart disease).
- collected fabulous shells, much larger than i've seen elsewhere. i rinsed them in my bathroom sink to make sure i'm not bringing any critters back with me.
- crawled around a cave where 'foreigners' had broken off stalagtites (or mites?) to make into decorations to sell before the area was declared a UNESCO world heritage site, but the cave was still pretty neat and outside there were wild orchids growing and friendly dogs that i couldn't imagine eating!
Wednesday, May 05, 2010
fading on day 4
4 days down, 2 more to go. including a full day simulation. full day. simulation. and to prepare for this we have to have an additional session this evening for more group work. group work!
part of why i feel as though my energy is fading is not because i spent last night in the sex tourism capital of the world (the walking street of pattaya shocked me and it would take more to shock me than the average person strolling through a sex tourism district in thailand), but because i am still not terribly convinced about this whole un thing and my role and future in it.
i have a new friend (who, incidentally, is considered throwing in the human rights towel and taking up floristry as a career path) so that is keeping me going at the moment.
don't get me wrong, i think this training is going to be invaluable. but 4 solid days of humanitarian reform, cluster systems, ohchr/unhcr/rc/hc/wfp/icrc/irc/amc/ocha/wash/gbv/iom/nrc/iasc/idp/drc/icouldgoonandonwiththeacronyms, strategic planning, programming, advocacy, interviewing, etc (etc again, if you are kenyan) is numbing my brain's capacity to fire on command.
and there's no way around it but through it.
part of why i feel as though my energy is fading is not because i spent last night in the sex tourism capital of the world (the walking street of pattaya shocked me and it would take more to shock me than the average person strolling through a sex tourism district in thailand), but because i am still not terribly convinced about this whole un thing and my role and future in it.
i have a new friend (who, incidentally, is considered throwing in the human rights towel and taking up floristry as a career path) so that is keeping me going at the moment.
don't get me wrong, i think this training is going to be invaluable. but 4 solid days of humanitarian reform, cluster systems, ohchr/unhcr/rc/hc/wfp/icrc/irc/amc/ocha/wash/gbv/iom/nrc/iasc/idp/drc/icouldgoonandonwiththeacronyms, strategic planning, programming, advocacy, interviewing, etc (etc again, if you are kenyan) is numbing my brain's capacity to fire on command.
and there's no way around it but through it.
Sunday, May 02, 2010
1 day down, 5 to go
i arrived in thailand to be reminded of how much fun i had here last summer and how wonderful the city of bangkok is, even if its airport is fortified with military and police to prevent another shut down as they had a few years ago during similar city-wide protests.
i checked into my little hotel after travelling for 21 hours and promptly requested a foot massage because it just seemed like the right thing to do. and it turned out that it was as i fell right back to sleep after having slept soundly (and not drooling or leaning on the japanese man sitting next to me) on my flight from tokyo to bangkok.
i met the group that i will be training with at another hotel and we were ferried here, to pattaya, where we banded together to start a contest that whoever can identify the most sex tourists by the end of the week gets a prize. no one knows what the prize will be just yet, however, but i am taking suggestions.
and who says people who work in human rights have no fun?!
it seems that my recent experience in the private sector is of great interest to many of the people here who have never left the ngo/un/government world. and it cracks me up to think what they think industry should and should not do and the types of stereotypes they have about life in the business world. i have got to admit that i was likely touting the same opinions a few years ago, but i hope that i have a more level head now and am realistic about how the world really works.
for the most part, the other people i have met are not arrogant, not pompous, and not all woe-is-me while at the same time bragging about how hard they have roughed it. is this really a un sanctioned event?!
it seems that the week will be jammed with a lot of thinking, working, and group work (yippee!), but i will be very well fed and meet a lot of great people who will surely be great contacts to have.
all of this is not without the typical social anxiety that comes from meeting a whole group of people who are sizing every one up and down, but it just so happened that on the way here i sat with two lovely, young women who seem to have knowledge and experience of human trafficking and great attitudes and senses of humour to boot.
here's hoping my first day is a testament to the rest.
i checked into my little hotel after travelling for 21 hours and promptly requested a foot massage because it just seemed like the right thing to do. and it turned out that it was as i fell right back to sleep after having slept soundly (and not drooling or leaning on the japanese man sitting next to me) on my flight from tokyo to bangkok.
i met the group that i will be training with at another hotel and we were ferried here, to pattaya, where we banded together to start a contest that whoever can identify the most sex tourists by the end of the week gets a prize. no one knows what the prize will be just yet, however, but i am taking suggestions.
and who says people who work in human rights have no fun?!
it seems that my recent experience in the private sector is of great interest to many of the people here who have never left the ngo/un/government world. and it cracks me up to think what they think industry should and should not do and the types of stereotypes they have about life in the business world. i have got to admit that i was likely touting the same opinions a few years ago, but i hope that i have a more level head now and am realistic about how the world really works.
for the most part, the other people i have met are not arrogant, not pompous, and not all woe-is-me while at the same time bragging about how hard they have roughed it. is this really a un sanctioned event?!
it seems that the week will be jammed with a lot of thinking, working, and group work (yippee!), but i will be very well fed and meet a lot of great people who will surely be great contacts to have.
all of this is not without the typical social anxiety that comes from meeting a whole group of people who are sizing every one up and down, but it just so happened that on the way here i sat with two lovely, young women who seem to have knowledge and experience of human trafficking and great attitudes and senses of humour to boot.
here's hoping my first day is a testament to the rest.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
what's my middle name?
how was mexico, you might ask?
it was fantastic! i have lots of great photos to post, which i will likely put on facebook, and a few hilarious stories to tell, but it seems that as soon as my plane touched down last saturday, i have been running at full tilt.
one of my pet peeves is when people talk about how busy they are. and i am as guilty of it as the next person. i also thought that my life would be able to slow down just a titch once i returned from mexico and this weekend's film screening is out of the way.
but no. oh, no, no, no.
then this training opportunity in thailand came up (which is still a big, old yay), i decided to go to vietnam after the training, and i have become some sort of 'right hand man' to my boss at my day job. i am not sure how any of this happened.
except the part where i thought, 'wait, i am going to be in thailand, which is ever-so-relatively-close to vietnam, where i have always wanted to go AND i have a friend living in northern vietnam right now. is that not sort of like a sign from the universe that i must go?' and i quickly answered my own rhetorical question by booking my return flight nearly 2 weeks after the conclusion of the training...
in the midst of finalising the details of this saturday's event, i am now up to my eyeballs in meetings with people from all over the company during the days, i am living in an absolutely pigsty because my house is a tip, and i have no idea a) how much i owe in taxes or b) how exactly to figure this out if my accountant doesn't return my phone calls.
but 2 of my herbs in my herb garden have sprouted! and even though the training location has had to be relocated outside of bangkok due to those protests, they assure me that the possible venues are 'very attractive' and i booked my first night's stay at bangkok airport in a hotel that has 24 hour massage facilities. and although i am sure they would hook me up with that kind of massage if i requested, i am sure i can get me a nice (and legitimate) rubdown in the middle of the night as i will be jetlagged and wide awake at 4am.
unfortunately, this trip will mean that i will miss the first of 2 half marathons that i am registered in and my fitness will certainly take a hit from not running for 2 weeks. but in exchange, i will receive an incredible networking opportunity, excellent training, a week in some swank hotel in a beach town, and then 10 days in vietnam. there will be other races.
it was fantastic! i have lots of great photos to post, which i will likely put on facebook, and a few hilarious stories to tell, but it seems that as soon as my plane touched down last saturday, i have been running at full tilt.
one of my pet peeves is when people talk about how busy they are. and i am as guilty of it as the next person. i also thought that my life would be able to slow down just a titch once i returned from mexico and this weekend's film screening is out of the way.
but no. oh, no, no, no.
then this training opportunity in thailand came up (which is still a big, old yay), i decided to go to vietnam after the training, and i have become some sort of 'right hand man' to my boss at my day job. i am not sure how any of this happened.
except the part where i thought, 'wait, i am going to be in thailand, which is ever-so-relatively-close to vietnam, where i have always wanted to go AND i have a friend living in northern vietnam right now. is that not sort of like a sign from the universe that i must go?' and i quickly answered my own rhetorical question by booking my return flight nearly 2 weeks after the conclusion of the training...
in the midst of finalising the details of this saturday's event, i am now up to my eyeballs in meetings with people from all over the company during the days, i am living in an absolutely pigsty because my house is a tip, and i have no idea a) how much i owe in taxes or b) how exactly to figure this out if my accountant doesn't return my phone calls.
but 2 of my herbs in my herb garden have sprouted! and even though the training location has had to be relocated outside of bangkok due to those protests, they assure me that the possible venues are 'very attractive' and i booked my first night's stay at bangkok airport in a hotel that has 24 hour massage facilities. and although i am sure they would hook me up with that kind of massage if i requested, i am sure i can get me a nice (and legitimate) rubdown in the middle of the night as i will be jetlagged and wide awake at 4am.
unfortunately, this trip will mean that i will miss the first of 2 half marathons that i am registered in and my fitness will certainly take a hit from not running for 2 weeks. but in exchange, i will receive an incredible networking opportunity, excellent training, a week in some swank hotel in a beach town, and then 10 days in vietnam. there will be other races.
Friday, April 09, 2010
waking up to opportunity
after weeks of having no idea what i want to be when i grow up, i woke up this morning to two emails.
one telling me that i have been selected to participate in a week long training to be part of ocha's protection capacity roster in bangkok. there were only 5 spots for canadians and i got one. thank you norwegian government.
and another inviting me to be interviewed for a position in uzbekistan with one of the few un agencies that i would like to work with. i am really not sure it is the right fit for me, but i will answer their questions about my strengths, weaknesses, knowledge of trafficking of persons (lots) and drugs (none) and see what they have to say.
so, yay.
and decisions.
and a little bit of eek, too.
but mostly, yay.
one telling me that i have been selected to participate in a week long training to be part of ocha's protection capacity roster in bangkok. there were only 5 spots for canadians and i got one. thank you norwegian government.
and another inviting me to be interviewed for a position in uzbekistan with one of the few un agencies that i would like to work with. i am really not sure it is the right fit for me, but i will answer their questions about my strengths, weaknesses, knowledge of trafficking of persons (lots) and drugs (none) and see what they have to say.
so, yay.
and decisions.
and a little bit of eek, too.
but mostly, yay.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
things are looking up
here are some thoughts to prove that i am not just a big grumpy guts lately.
- i had an awesome run tonight at quite the clip, making me feel as though i am really improving and that my lungs are in great shape. during this time round training for a 1/2 marathon, my calves are not growing at an exponential rate and looking huge (as they did last time i increased my distances like this). i think i must have adjusted my gait in the past few years because i am not having the calf pain and subsequent cramps, which could have been behind those enormous calves (and ladies, enormous calves are not the easiest to dress...)
- sometimes i need to be forced to take a break and often, this comes in the form of a sickness that forces me to STOP. but not this time. this time i have planned a trip to mexico to stay at this lovely place with my most favourite people in the world, my fam. i know we are going to have a blast and the countdown is on for the best family vacation ever!
- as an aside, the guys on american idol are really kicking the girls arses this season. i love the kid with the mullet. any 16 year old that loves ray lamontagne as much as i do (and has a shameless mullet), gets my vote. if i lived in the u.s of a. and voted for american idol contestants.
- i am now trained to conduct audits (specifically on environmental management systems, but the principles translate to other areas that i have some knowledge) and i think that i would be a really good auditor. anal retentive? yes. keen attention to detail? yes. sort of nosy? yes. blunt and tells it like it is? yes. see? totally up my alley. i think there is a lot of overlap between auditing and monitoring and evaluation (in un speak) so here's hoping i will be able to apply what i have learned over the last 3 days during future career steps.
- going back to tv again for a momento, glee's new episodes will be starting soon, yippee.
- this weekend, i have plans to head to a movie with one of my girlfriends who i haven't seen in awhile and i have a date with another friend to go hiking or for a nice walk.
Monday, March 08, 2010
wah wah wah
i am in a funk. it is official.
and what is the cause of this funk, you might ask. (and if you didn't ask, you can stop reading here because i am going to go ahead and answer my own question).
i fear that i am loosing my 'edge.' i used to be the person in a meeting who would say their background was in international development, but now i have been back in canada and working in oil and gas for over a year and without a huge repertoir of work experience to my credit, i can't keep going on saying that i have a 'background' in much of anything if i have been doing what i now do (whatever that is...) half as long as i used to work in kenya.
and yet, the career path that i am heading down now doesn't excite me or inspire me to do my best. i will do a good job, but i don't really care about my work (at least not my day job). sure, working for the bureaucracy that is the un system and in a country that was seriously lacking in infrastructure that i now have the luxury of working with, was also a daily struggle and i wouldn't say that i cared about my job everyday, but at least i took ownership of my work and felt that there was a greater reason to do it than just a paycheque.
eesh. i just don't know what is to come next and i fear it will just be more of the same. and yet, i don't know what to do besides what i have been doing by keeping my network warm and sending out updated cv's to people in that industry. i was feeling really motivated and that i was sitting on the precipice of something interesting or exciting or just a change of some sort and now i fear that i am spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere apart from exactly where i already am.
blah, i am whining. and this is a funk. and i am not quite sure what to do to get out of it.
but, hey! i ran 14km last weekend and it felt great and not a huge stuggle and the 16km that i have scheduled for this coming weekend is not scaring the bajeezus out of me and that is good.
and what is the cause of this funk, you might ask. (and if you didn't ask, you can stop reading here because i am going to go ahead and answer my own question).
i fear that i am loosing my 'edge.' i used to be the person in a meeting who would say their background was in international development, but now i have been back in canada and working in oil and gas for over a year and without a huge repertoir of work experience to my credit, i can't keep going on saying that i have a 'background' in much of anything if i have been doing what i now do (whatever that is...) half as long as i used to work in kenya.
and yet, the career path that i am heading down now doesn't excite me or inspire me to do my best. i will do a good job, but i don't really care about my work (at least not my day job). sure, working for the bureaucracy that is the un system and in a country that was seriously lacking in infrastructure that i now have the luxury of working with, was also a daily struggle and i wouldn't say that i cared about my job everyday, but at least i took ownership of my work and felt that there was a greater reason to do it than just a paycheque.
eesh. i just don't know what is to come next and i fear it will just be more of the same. and yet, i don't know what to do besides what i have been doing by keeping my network warm and sending out updated cv's to people in that industry. i was feeling really motivated and that i was sitting on the precipice of something interesting or exciting or just a change of some sort and now i fear that i am spinning my wheels and not getting anywhere apart from exactly where i already am.
blah, i am whining. and this is a funk. and i am not quite sure what to do to get out of it.
but, hey! i ran 14km last weekend and it felt great and not a huge stuggle and the 16km that i have scheduled for this coming weekend is not scaring the bajeezus out of me and that is good.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
deciphering un speak
i got an email that requests me to send in all my vaccination information... and gives me a list of things that i would need to bring... and a list of contact details of the people on the ground and the geneva head office... and a sign off saying 'wishing you a good trip!'... and a list of medical risks... and instructions on how to get to the border from the capital of the dominican republic...
i have no idea what this means. am i going? what would i do? am i prepared to live in a tent? can i possibly only pack 15kg worth of stuff?
it feels strange to be mildly (or extremely, if i am being honest) excited about the prospect of going to haiti. and terrified because i do not speak french. but what does that message mean?!
i have no idea what this means. am i going? what would i do? am i prepared to live in a tent? can i possibly only pack 15kg worth of stuff?
it feels strange to be mildly (or extremely, if i am being honest) excited about the prospect of going to haiti. and terrified because i do not speak french. but what does that message mean?!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
haiti fatigue?
there has been so much media coverage since the devastating earthquake in haiti over a week ago, but i wonder if people's will to give and their concern will fade after this sudden burst of interest in the poor, caribbean country?
and i know that parentless children is one of the worst parts of this disaster, but i am not sure exactly why the media continues to focus on that. right now, there are families, single adults, children, and the elderly living in makeshift camps and they will all need help. and my concerns about supporting orphanages in africa rather than the community could likely be transferred to haiti if the wealthy countries continue to think that all that needs to be done is babies and children need foreign families rather than focusing on what the unhcr likes to call 'durable solutions,' solutions that are longlasting and have an overall positive impact.
or maybe i am just too cynical?
but canadians raising almost $70 million to go towards the relief efforts is pretty cool. i am really curious how that money is going to be distributed and if it will be given to the un to distribute through its flash and central emergency relief fund (cerf) system? or if it will all go to the red cross, which is typically the lead agency in disaster management and relief. i can't help but wish i was a part of it.
had i paid more attention in those french classes, i might be. but i have a small amount of hope that one of my contacts within the system will call and need my assistance or 'expertise.' at this point, all i can do is ask, which i have done. and now i patiently wait.
and i know that parentless children is one of the worst parts of this disaster, but i am not sure exactly why the media continues to focus on that. right now, there are families, single adults, children, and the elderly living in makeshift camps and they will all need help. and my concerns about supporting orphanages in africa rather than the community could likely be transferred to haiti if the wealthy countries continue to think that all that needs to be done is babies and children need foreign families rather than focusing on what the unhcr likes to call 'durable solutions,' solutions that are longlasting and have an overall positive impact.
or maybe i am just too cynical?
but canadians raising almost $70 million to go towards the relief efforts is pretty cool. i am really curious how that money is going to be distributed and if it will be given to the un to distribute through its flash and central emergency relief fund (cerf) system? or if it will all go to the red cross, which is typically the lead agency in disaster management and relief. i can't help but wish i was a part of it.
had i paid more attention in those french classes, i might be. but i have a small amount of hope that one of my contacts within the system will call and need my assistance or 'expertise.' at this point, all i can do is ask, which i have done. and now i patiently wait.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
thoughts on consolidated emergency response
it is sunday and i will get up to go to work tomorrow morning. i will listen to the news about haiti and i will wish i could do more. or just do something.
and throughout this, i understand what the humanitarian workers, that are no doubt flooding port au prince at this very moment, are feeling. some of them will be exhilerated (rightly or wrongly), this is what they live for. some of them will spend every waking moment thinking and planning and budgeting and proposal writing and liaising in hopes they can streamline the aid, money, food, water, volunteers, and other parties that will be flooding into the region. and some will work their hearts out and spend their sunday afternoons at a pool because that is what they will need to do. i know, because i have done it.
you wake up each morning, wondering what happened overnight, how many people died, how many people were displaced, and what the hell you can do to make one lick of difference in the grand scheme of things. you realise that all you can do is what your role dictates and if you do that well, it might end up helping someone down the long line of humanitarian aid.
haiti is devastated, without a doubt. but the reason it is so devastated is because even before this earthquake, there would have been a complete lack of infrastructure, governance systems, and sustainable economy that could withstand such a threat to its very existence.
part of me wishes that people cared as much as they do now on other days when people throughout the world are living day to day in poverty, finding ways to make it through and maintain their livelihoods. i am not implying that people are unhappy or miserable or that their quality of life is linked inherently to their standard of life, but i am saying that i wish that people cared as much about others as they do right now.
i have considered giving to the haiti relief effort, but have decided against it. not because i don't believe that the efforts will be effective or because i think my dollars will be squandered, but because i am going to devote my pennies and time to somethings that others might not be thinking of right now. spreading the net, supporting local agencies building strong communities, and advocating for those who have been forced into work or sex that they never agreed to. because i think that canadians and other country's nationals will be giving a lot right now and i am going to keep on the paths that i believe are worthy today and other emergency-free days.
but i would be lying if i said that a small part of me doesn't wish i was sitting in some sweltering office in the caribbean, writing project proposals that would be circulated throughout the donor community through the united nations consolidated appeals process or the emergency relief funds earmarked for such disasters as this. because that is what i can do.
and throughout this, i understand what the humanitarian workers, that are no doubt flooding port au prince at this very moment, are feeling. some of them will be exhilerated (rightly or wrongly), this is what they live for. some of them will spend every waking moment thinking and planning and budgeting and proposal writing and liaising in hopes they can streamline the aid, money, food, water, volunteers, and other parties that will be flooding into the region. and some will work their hearts out and spend their sunday afternoons at a pool because that is what they will need to do. i know, because i have done it.
you wake up each morning, wondering what happened overnight, how many people died, how many people were displaced, and what the hell you can do to make one lick of difference in the grand scheme of things. you realise that all you can do is what your role dictates and if you do that well, it might end up helping someone down the long line of humanitarian aid.
haiti is devastated, without a doubt. but the reason it is so devastated is because even before this earthquake, there would have been a complete lack of infrastructure, governance systems, and sustainable economy that could withstand such a threat to its very existence.
part of me wishes that people cared as much as they do now on other days when people throughout the world are living day to day in poverty, finding ways to make it through and maintain their livelihoods. i am not implying that people are unhappy or miserable or that their quality of life is linked inherently to their standard of life, but i am saying that i wish that people cared as much about others as they do right now.
i have considered giving to the haiti relief effort, but have decided against it. not because i don't believe that the efforts will be effective or because i think my dollars will be squandered, but because i am going to devote my pennies and time to somethings that others might not be thinking of right now. spreading the net, supporting local agencies building strong communities, and advocating for those who have been forced into work or sex that they never agreed to. because i think that canadians and other country's nationals will be giving a lot right now and i am going to keep on the paths that i believe are worthy today and other emergency-free days.
but i would be lying if i said that a small part of me doesn't wish i was sitting in some sweltering office in the caribbean, writing project proposals that would be circulated throughout the donor community through the united nations consolidated appeals process or the emergency relief funds earmarked for such disasters as this. because that is what i can do.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
mostly a working list
i realise that yesterday's post was a little heavy and not that that is against my blogging policies (not that i have any), i thought i would lighten up the mood around here with a list. because who doesn't love lists?!
- there is a slight, tiny possibility that i could get dragged into a project my company is doing with a un agency in another country. and by slight, i mean, my boss asked me about something in the budget and i had an answer, so there is not much of a possibility at all, but at least i proved my worth about knowing something about why the project has gone sideways.
- recently i had my desk and chair ergonomically assessed and it is making a world of difference. no problems with swollen thumbs or with achey shoulders now that my desk has been fitted to my size, my chair has been switched, and i have one of those pads to rest my wrists on as i type.
- i get to plan our company's volunteering events for the united way of calgary this year, it will be a lot of work, but i think it will be great to be involved.
- i booked my flight to thailand! i bet you didn't even know i was going, did you? well, i am. in june. for 3 weeks. with my top (amazing race) chum. it should be grand.
- i've booked a hair cut for $35 and you can too, if you print off this coupon for a hair cut at swizzle sticks salon in calgary (as long as you've never been a client of theirs and can get in before april 30th)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
still here, i promise
really, i am.
i even had a few ideas for posts. and even starting drafting them. but until i get back to them, here are a few tidbits:
i even had a few ideas for posts. and even starting drafting them. but until i get back to them, here are a few tidbits:
- Australia is not such a long movie and it has great big screen movie star kisses, cheesey lines at just the right moments, and hugh jackman on horseback. it is worth the sitting time just for that last bit.
- tis cold. so cold in fact that i bought a pair of uggs. i know that there are other brands that are cheaper, but i just felt like i should go hard or go home. however, they are so cozy, i would eat them if i could. and hugh jackman on horseback. yum.
- yesterday my friend was telling me how her nose ring once fell out during a meeting and she had to casually cover it up and we chuckled. then this morning, i yawned during a training and drooled on my shirt! seriously, who does that? i didn't even know it was possible.
- i wrote my spanish placement exam and they said i have a good handle on the language. i guess they were not considering my big capital letters saying, '¡NO ENTIENDO EL SUJUNCTIVO, AYUDAME!' but at least i remembered to put the ¡ in there so it makes it at least punctually correct
- i don't know what all this talk about an economic downturn is about, i have spent more money in the last few months than i have in years. pish posh.
- somalia's still crumbling, if anyone cares to notice.
- i could really go for a beach holiday. is it appropriate to follow that last comment with this one?
- it is if i also say that i am in the middle of Zanzibar Chest, which is fantastic and i wholeheartedly recommend it even though it is not my policy to recommend a book before i am done with it. but it covers the chaos that is somalia and other african historical bits and bobs while the author relays his experience as a white kid in africa and then a foreign correspondant in war zones.
- i am not sure if i have ever recommended it here, but Emergency Sex is also a great read. similar idea. more un, less reuters than the other book, but same conflict zones. same appeal to me, the reader.
Monday, April 14, 2008
no right answer
(april 13, 2008)
it’s a sunday morning and i am sitting in my flat listening to canadian jams (City and Colour and Tegan Sara are repeating on my playlists at the mo) enjoying my coffee and reading the guardian weekly, which is sort of like heroine for this expat – it satisfies my craving for good journalism and my withdrawal from international news coverage.
there is an interesting article by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (of Half of a Yellow Sun fame – read it, read it!) about the proposed bill in nigerian parliament that would legislate women’s dress (ri-dic-u-lous), but the part of the article that got me thinking and put a recent experience into perspective is the author’s challenge to debate what ‘culture’ is.
often, i hear people say elements of daily life in kenya are not part of the kenyan ‘culture’ and are imports of the colonialists, the un, the missionaries, etc. while this could be historically accurate, i think things get dangerous when you start to decide which parts of a culture are organic and which are imports, because it dismisses the reality of the dynamism of culture.
it is also the means by which someone could dismiss select cultural imports while simultaneously accepting others. in kenya, this is particularly clear in the widespread acceptance of protestant christianity as part of modern kenyan culture, clearly an idea originally imported from the west by someone once upon a time.
the glorification of pre-existing culture begs the question of when did this ‘culture’ start and how could we possibly identify culture in its purest form, assuming it ever existed as such?
on the other hand, i recently had a discussion with someone about the common practice of using phrases such as ‘negative cultural practices’ to describe the root of societal ills such as sexual abuse and domestic violence. it slips off the tongues of many development/humanitarian workers and has become part of the vernacular of this world-saving business. but a cultural practice such as wife inheritance does not lead directly to sexual abuse as easily as is often assumed.
for example, in somalia wife inheritance was a protective measure for those women who were widowed and ensured their livelihoods were maintained and their children would be cared for. to claim that it is one of the causes of sexual abuse is forgetting that such a cultural practice is not inherently negative and especially in a culture that has suffered near complete breakdown and disintegration of cultural practices due to 17 years of violence, is it the negativity of that practice or the inability to maintain culture that is at the root of the ‘problems’ we attempt to solve?
in this case, it is not the dynamism of culture that is denied, but the forces that have contributed to a breakdown of cultural values or practices that seems to be forgotten.
yet another element enters the debate when practices such as female genital mutilation (fgm) is considered. i cannot imagine any justification that could be given for me to understand or accept such an activity that has well documented health complications, including that it is an accepted cultural practice in some communities, including much of somalia and parts of kenya. does defending something as cultural mean that it should not be legislated against or condemned? as far as fgm is concerned, my answer is no. but there are other more contentious practices defined as cultural where i cannot be so sure of my answer.
there is surely no right answer nor even just one answer. but at least it got me exercising my brain on a sunday morning (demonstrating my sometimes questionable ability to exercise restraint and moderation on a saturday night!).
it’s a sunday morning and i am sitting in my flat listening to canadian jams (City and Colour and Tegan Sara are repeating on my playlists at the mo) enjoying my coffee and reading the guardian weekly, which is sort of like heroine for this expat – it satisfies my craving for good journalism and my withdrawal from international news coverage.
there is an interesting article by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (of Half of a Yellow Sun fame – read it, read it!) about the proposed bill in nigerian parliament that would legislate women’s dress (ri-dic-u-lous), but the part of the article that got me thinking and put a recent experience into perspective is the author’s challenge to debate what ‘culture’ is.
often, i hear people say elements of daily life in kenya are not part of the kenyan ‘culture’ and are imports of the colonialists, the un, the missionaries, etc. while this could be historically accurate, i think things get dangerous when you start to decide which parts of a culture are organic and which are imports, because it dismisses the reality of the dynamism of culture.
it is also the means by which someone could dismiss select cultural imports while simultaneously accepting others. in kenya, this is particularly clear in the widespread acceptance of protestant christianity as part of modern kenyan culture, clearly an idea originally imported from the west by someone once upon a time.
the glorification of pre-existing culture begs the question of when did this ‘culture’ start and how could we possibly identify culture in its purest form, assuming it ever existed as such?
on the other hand, i recently had a discussion with someone about the common practice of using phrases such as ‘negative cultural practices’ to describe the root of societal ills such as sexual abuse and domestic violence. it slips off the tongues of many development/humanitarian workers and has become part of the vernacular of this world-saving business. but a cultural practice such as wife inheritance does not lead directly to sexual abuse as easily as is often assumed.
for example, in somalia wife inheritance was a protective measure for those women who were widowed and ensured their livelihoods were maintained and their children would be cared for. to claim that it is one of the causes of sexual abuse is forgetting that such a cultural practice is not inherently negative and especially in a culture that has suffered near complete breakdown and disintegration of cultural practices due to 17 years of violence, is it the negativity of that practice or the inability to maintain culture that is at the root of the ‘problems’ we attempt to solve?
in this case, it is not the dynamism of culture that is denied, but the forces that have contributed to a breakdown of cultural values or practices that seems to be forgotten.
yet another element enters the debate when practices such as female genital mutilation (fgm) is considered. i cannot imagine any justification that could be given for me to understand or accept such an activity that has well documented health complications, including that it is an accepted cultural practice in some communities, including much of somalia and parts of kenya. does defending something as cultural mean that it should not be legislated against or condemned? as far as fgm is concerned, my answer is no. but there are other more contentious practices defined as cultural where i cannot be so sure of my answer.
there is surely no right answer nor even just one answer. but at least it got me exercising my brain on a sunday morning (demonstrating my sometimes questionable ability to exercise restraint and moderation on a saturday night!).
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
this is not looking good
in the last 36 hours...
but i must say that after yesterday's chaos, things seem to be normal today. but that is what the entire past month has been about - the normalcy of chaos.
and i am still entirely and completely safe.
- an MP was murdered outside his house
- 4 people were 'hacked to death' in kibera
- kofi has said that it will take kenya at least a year to get back on track and only if the political aspect is sorted in the next 4 weeks
- a boy who was invovled in the eldoret church arson that resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people was on the BBC this morning said that any kikuyus returning to eldoret will be killed
- a kalenjin elder on the radio said that he will instruct his people to resist the rule of a single group
- the front page of one of nairobi's dailies read, 'un poised to evacuate'
- staff at work was instructed not to leave the city and to stock up on essentials, including cash and food
but i must say that after yesterday's chaos, things seem to be normal today. but that is what the entire past month has been about - the normalcy of chaos.
and i am still entirely and completely safe.
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