Daily Blackout

I haven't had a "culture shock" moment since I arrived, but the power cut may be the first big adjustment. Now the planned blackout, what they call locally "load shedding" is 13 hours per day, and it is expected to go as long as 16 or 18 hours per day in a near future. 

My electricity experience was not nearly as bad in Malawi or Guyana. 

I walked home from work today just after 6, and it was pitch-dark. I needed a flashlight just to see what I was stepping on and also to be visible to cars, motorbikes and bicycles. As for the security.... I am not trying not to think about it (it is ok but the crime rate has gone up apparently. I am being careful). 

As a partial remedy to the "load shedding", I have installed something called an "inverter" in the new apartment. It is a device to store electricity when the power is on. Once the power is cut, a few lights and appliances can run on a huge battery (attached to the inverter) for three or four hours. Well, you always learn something new when you move to a new country :) This whole system costs about $400 Canadian, and it is by no means cheap. Only handful of wealthy local people and expats can afford it. I spent two afternoons with an electrician and the landlady to put in the system, so that I would not have to live in a total darkness.

I will see how this will work or not work after I move in a few days.  

APT

お家が決まりました！

引っ越しは１月１日（！）です。色々見た所、場所やサイズやデザイン値段と総合してなかなかこれ！と思えるところがなかったけど、適当なのが見つかった。一軒家の二階をアパートにしてあり、玄関は大家さんとは別。主寝室と客室、トイレお風呂（シャワーだけだけど）が二つとキッチン、リビングダイニングの間取り。バルコニーも大きくて、お友達に遊びに来てもらうのに丁度良い大きさだと思う。決めてはwood floorとごてごてしてない内装だった。見学した家やアパートはかなりの確率でピンクの壁で金色の縁取りが壁にしてあるなんてのがあった。おかしかったのが、お風呂場のタイルがお姫様模様（ドレスを着たお姫様の柄）というのがあった。家具はほとんど付いているけど、いくつか買わないといけない。カナダから送った荷物が届くのがすごく楽しみ☆　職場までは徒歩で２０分位でいけると思う。野外野菜市場のすぐ裏で、スーパーも近いし、タクシーもつかまえられやすい立地です。肉屋さんの前を毎日通らないといけないのが少し憂鬱だけど。（生きた鶏や他の鳥が籠に入っててヤギの顔なんかも店先においてある．．．．。）大家さんは少し年配の現地人の女性で、良い人そうです。

仕事は正直、読む物や覚えなくてはいけないことが多くて、少々プレッシャーだけど、頑張ります。取りあえずアパートが決まって良かった。

I found a place! I am moving on the January 1^st. I have looked at several places, but nothing suitable in terms of size, location, design and price. This apt is on the second floor of a house with a separate entrance from the landlady’s. It’s got a master bedroom, guest room, two bathrooms/shower, kitchen and living/dining room with a balcony. It will be a good size to have some friends over! During the course of my apt hunting, I have seen some really funny ones. In general the design is a  bit tacky, such as pink walls with a gold trimming. I also saw a couple of places where bathroom tiles had a pattern of a princess. I can’t wait to receive my shipment from Canada. It’s about 20 mins walk to work, and it’s right behind an outdoor vegetable market near a supermarket. I don’t like that I have to walk by a butcher (with live chickens in a cage and a head of goat etc…No~~) The landlady seems nice too.     

As for work, there is so much that I have to read and learn, and I am a bit overwhelmed to be honest. But, I am up for the challenge! I am staying in today to get some reading done.

1 week anniversary

It's been a week since I arrived in the country. It's Christmas and I am off work today.

I was invited to a Christmas eve dinner at my colleague's, so you can be assured that I was not alone. It was a half Finish and Basque dinner with people from several countries, and was very nice. 

Slowly getting things done. I got my UN ID, opened a bank account and had my prospective apartment inspected by the security office (!) I am doing this all during my work hour by sneaking out of meetings etc. Trying hard to remember everyone's name at the office as well as a long list of acronyms. Lots of intake of info more than my little brain can handle.    

Just a few things I have noted about the country and the life here:

• Local people are all very polite and nice (and short!)
  
• Interesting to see the mixture of people especially Indian looking and Mongoloid (Chinese looking) and I was told that I can pass as a local
  
• Traffic is crazy, I am very nervous crossing major roads. No pedestrian crossings and seemingly no traffic rules...
  
• The 10 hour power-cut everyday can be difficult. A flashlight is a must when venturing out after 6 as it is a total darkness
• Lots of nice stores and restaurants in the neighborhood, there are still so many touristy areas that I haven't even begin to explore. The part of the city where my office is and where I will be living probably (apt details TBC) sort of caters to the expats community.  

Wishing you all a merry Christmas!!

こちらに来てから１週間。少しづつ慣れてはきた。毎日、仕事の合間をぬって銀行口座を開いたり、国連のIDを申請したりと走り回っている。早く落ち着いて、仕事に集中したいけど、こればっかりは腰を据えて、こちらの生活になじむまで待つしかないな。昨晩はフィンランド人の同僚の家でのクリスマスディナーに呼んで頂いた。今日はクリスマスで仕事はお休みです。

My 1st week

The past few days have been hard. I feel like I am having two totally separate lives: the life of going to work and getting busy with settling into a new job and a country, and another one where I come back to the hotel and mourn the loss of someone who was close and special for me. It is tough that I am so far from Canada and also I have no one to talk to about this here being new and not knowing anyone too well.  

I have spent the most of my weekend with a real estate agent. I have looked at many places, but nothing perfect yet (if there is ever a perfect apartment).  Similar to Malawi, you can have a huge house for a relatively reasonable price. But, the question is do I want to live in a large house on my own? Everything that I have seen is within a walking distance of 15-20 minutes to the office, which is good. However, there are constant power cut, and I have to consider the case where I work late and have to walk back in darkness. So, the route to go home and access to taxis also matter. I would say that security is utmost important in considering a place to live. Too much to think about…..

The agent guy is very nice. He told me that he is from the low caste of Dalit, and he has been very poor. He showed me one road that he helped construct when he was as young as 7 years old. He also showed me his grandson’s picture, and he is very proud that the father of the boy made it to the university.

The biggest accomplishment of the weekend was that I got a cell phone. It was a rather rigorous process, as I had to submit a photo, copy of my passport and fingerprints. I was happy that I ventured out on my own to the main road and walked around quite a bit. I also slept through the night, so I may be adjusting to the time zone little bit.

For work, it’s fine so far. My days (two days) were spent mostly on admin things, such as attending a security briefing, getting a bank account application form and reading reports and docs. It’s a busy time of the year, so I am just keeping to myself for now and trying to understand how things work. I participated in training on facilitation skills Friday half day, and tomorrow I will be sitting in a review meeting for one of core programs of the agency. I see my colleagues working, and I can’t wait to get busy, but I know I have to be patient and take one thing at a time. Moving to a new country for a new job never comes so easy.

I have arrived

After spending three days in lovely Copenhagen, I flew over many time zones and finally arrived in the country. 

It was quite an adventure as usual and expectedly, but I am OK. I checked into a very nice hotel and already went to work this morning. My day started with attending training and then half a day at the office. I have met with most my colleagues, and they all seem to be very nice and friendly. I am sure that there will be many challenges ahead, but I am very excited about the opportunity. I even went to a wedding reception for one of my colleagues. So far so good. 

I will write more on the weekend. Happy Friday!

無事に到着しました。時差ぼけだけど、仕事初日はスームーズにゆき、同僚は皆フレンドリーで優しそうな人達でホッとした。また週末に詳しくコペンハーゲンでのことやら書きたいと思います。

See you!

I am off to Montreal tomorrow morning and then will leave for Europe for training. I will arrive in the country Thursday evening. Please keep your fingers crossed that I will get there (with still some paperwork pending...) 

明日モントリオールで１泊し、友人達と会って翌日の日曜日に出発です。まずはデンマークで研修を受け、木曜日の夕方に現地入りします。 

Crunch Crunch Time

I have not been busier. I have been literally running around to get things done. Three more days before my departure and still a lot to do and many more people to see. 

I visited Guelph and Toronto one more time this weekend to see Lynda and other friends. It was quite an emotional visit. 

To make the matter worse, there has been a big snow storm and (un-relatedly) the Ottawa bus company is on strike (hence no bus services in the city) from today. I had two more vaccine shots, made another visit to the bank as my banking information was not correct to process a wire transfer, lunch with a friend, a haircut and shooting e-mails in-between. 

I hope that I survive this week.... sigh 

オタワは昨日の大雪で道路はすごいことになってる。しかもバス会社のストでバスが走っていない。この一番忙しいってときに長靴で雪の山を越え、雪道をザクザク歩いていかないといけない。出発まで残り数日。どうなることやら。 

Getting ready

Little by little, I am getting prepared for the departure. 

I have booked my flight leaving on the 14th, shipment is waiting for my green light (I have to find an apt first) received the flashy blue passport, getting immunization shots and a prescription for malaria pills among many other things. 

The hardest part is the mental preparedness. Since I was thinking that I would leave in January, I feel the decision was made so suddenly to leave in December. It was just probably for over a week when I was entertaining the idea of January departure and but got quite comfortable with it. I know it would have given me a time to get rest and spend a time with my close friends. 

This is like a pulling the bandage off. It's going to hurt anyways, so you might as well do it quick and get over with it. Along with tying some loose ends and run a whole bunch of errands, the next week will be a very emotional time saying good-byes to many people. 

I am excited about my new adventure though! 

着々と準備は進みつつあるが、残り１週間になってしまった。リンダが末期がんと宣告されたことや、友達のプライベートなショックな知らせなどで、少し感傷的になっている。忙しい中でもなるべくリラックスできるようにしなければ。

Last Day at work

今日でお仕事納め。

ほぼ1年半ここに勤めたことになる。良い上司と同僚に囲まれて、のんびり働かせて頂いて感謝。念願のカナダNGO勤務だったけど、そこに到達すればしたで、次の目標（限界？）が見えてきてしまって、丁度良いタイミングで辞めることができたのではないかと思う。仕事も担当していたことが一段落着いて、当初はもっと早く赴任する予定だったけど、最終的には良かったです。

職場でサプライズでピザのランチと午後のケーキまで用意してもらってしまった。お別れ会の第一弾です。今日は仲良しの同僚とエチオピア料理を食べにいきます。明日はもう一つのNGO（雇われている方の）で見送りランチをして頂きます。2つのNGOを行き来するへんなポジションだったけど、これもおもしろい経験でした。

さて、出発が決まったような。12月14日にオタワを発つことになりそうです。まだ飛行機の予約もできてない。どうなることやら。1月出発のつもりで準備をしていて、ここで急にすぐに来てくれと言われてしまった。どこかでまだ、だいどんでん返しがあるハズとは思ってはいたが．．．。 To be continued.....