Slow but steady (hopefully)

It's been a week since I came to the "new" country. As usual, I will not reveal the name of the country, but it will be pretty evident where it is. It is one of south-east asian countries, one that is going through rapid political and economic changes and has one famous woman political leader. Do you know??

This week M.FR has joined me here. To date, I got a local mobile phone number, moved into the third hotel, had one written test for a position, informal job interview, and started house/apt hunting today. Small progress, but I am feeling good.

I like the city. It feels livable but lively and charming (in exotic and developing country way.)     

To pack or not to pack

Story of me and my infamous beaten-up red suitcase 

When I am everywhere with just a suitcase, what should I pack? especially, when I don't know where I am going and how long I am going? My life is full of uncertainty. 

Even though my suitcase is huge (and heavy- yes I know. I get comments from taxi drivers, hotel porters, friends), there is a limit to how much it can accommodate. 

I traveled with it through the Sahara crossing trip, and then to Japan via Nepal. I had a slight "re-structuing" of a content during the one week stopover in Nepal this summer. Which I can't tell you what it was, because I honestly don't remember. 

Before I went to the US in September, I also left some stuff in Japan with my family. I added my recently acquired items, like books, clothing and a few backpacking gears into my core things.   

Next, I went backpacking in Washington. In the meantime, I accumulated more camping/ backpacking gears, such as walking poles and an air mat. Then, it was no longer summer, so I had to buy a few warm clothes. Left some camping gears at friends' house near L.A and also sent back what I borrowed from my sisters.

Afterwards, I went to NYC to stay with M. FR's family. I had no intention of adding anything any more to my suitcase. My good girl friend held on to a bag of my winter clothes from TWO years ago, and I was finally able to get back. 

While my suitcase (and me) was going through these changes, a plan to move to a new country became more concrete. This meant I had to have at least a few pieces of work clothes for job hunting. I ended up leaving the bag of my winter clothes in NYC, as I was heading to a tropical destination. I have a suitcase full of stuff, but I don't seem to have what I really need.          

I did an inventory of my suitcase:  

• 7 books (English and Japanese) 
• 5 pairs of shoes including summer sandals 
• hairdryer- I don't know why I am obsessively carrying this all the time.  
• 宮島のしゃもじrice scoop that I bought in Hiroshima
• winter clothes (sweaters and jacket)
• 7 dresses 
• Yosoiki (special occasion) purse 
• Basic toiletries and cosmetics
• Underwear, t-shirts, a few pairs of pants

 

What does this say about me? that I am totally illogical and crazy?  This is hardly adequate to move to a new country.  

My suitcase is all scratched up and two wheels are not in an optimum state. I am embarrassed to drug this piece of garbage everywhere, but I am now too attached to replace it.  

New country??

In the past when I was talking to someone about working overseas in different countries, I was asked "do you visit the country before you make a decision to move there?" The answer was "No". But, I realized it was a perfectly valid question under a normal circumustance. If I am moving to a new country for a few years, it is good to be sure that I will like it or the life is tolerable there. The countries where I worked: Nepal, Maldives, Malawi, Guyana, I did not know much about them when opportunities to work there presented themselves. These are countries where many people don't know where they are and for some that they even ever existed. I am sure most people working in the development and humanitarian sector do not ask these questions, like "is the life comfortable there?" naturally because our jobs are where there are problems of all different sorts, poverty, disaster, conflict etc.

Countries where I worked are far from tough in the development& humanitarian standard. I have never been in fear of getting shot or kidnapped. Things that I had to "endure" were power cuts, general personal insecurity, air pollution and feeling of isolation. Not so bad. 

Anyway, this is all to say that I am trying to move to a new country. In fact, I am already here. My long vacation is over, and I am now in a full-swing job hunting mode. This is my first attempt to move to a new country in which I was very interested (and of course, again totally new and unknown to me) and look for a job sur place. I have been following jobs till now, so the location of a job was a secondary concern. This time is the other way around.   

Coming to a new country and learning about it, is indeed exciting. I've learned that the mobile phone sim card costs $150 while you can find a good mojito for less than a dollar!  

Keeping my fingers crossed for finding some interesting work here!             

カリフォルニア州の海岸にて

West Coast

I have not posted anything for a long time! I am not sure if anyone is still visiting my site. Sorry for the long time silence! Life just happens and I myself can't even keep up with the speed.


In the US on the west coast now.  never imagined that I will be doing this road trip this year.

More to come...