Rainy season etc

The monsoon season has started in the country. People have warned us how intense it would be, and in a matter of a month, we will be so sick and tired of it.

It has become our routine now to go under the gazebo in the front yard and watch the rain, lying in a swinging hummock. I held onto this hummock since the time when I worked in Guyana. Our eclectic gazebo now looks like a strange bazar with a Vietnamese lampshade and cloth that I bought in a local market.

We look at the sky everyday in anticipation of a heavy downpour. M.FR has posted my calligraphy “rain” that I was practicing, on the front door. This makes it look as if we are into a new religion.

Trees and plants are happy and green as ever. Our home garden is also benefiting from the rain and sun. “Mitsuba” herb got featured in our meals already a few times.   

I am enjoying the monsoon so far and waiting to wear my rain boots.    

６ヶ月の成果

I just completed my assignment in the north. The past six months went so fast. This was my first fully humanitarian response experience being placed in a field office (as opposed to be in a country office in a capital) directly working with IDP camps.

I was actually the first one to be based in this remote state from this UN agency. Literally, it just was myself and my laptop computer assigned by my office to start up the whole thing. I had no office, no furniture, no colleague, no driver& vehicle and a brand new project to establish with a new partner organization. After six months, this turned into an office with four other national staffs, almost fully furnished and established office with a promising and functioning project thanks to support from other colleagues. It was challenging at times, but there's nothing too difficult to be overcome with a sense of humour.  Some examples: going to other UN offices when internet and power is off, taking picture with my i-phone for scanning to send official documents to the country office (in lack of scanner), paying for gas for the office car from my own pocket (which I am still waiting to be reimbursed.)     

I should be happy and glad that I left on a positive note. The only regret was that I could not and did not want to continue. I could have well stayed with the office and the position for another year probably. However, this was not a very sustainable option, as the state where I was working was so far from YGN. It takes a three-hour flight, which costs 400 USD to fly back, and this is not possible on weekends. Phone line was often down and Internet was so slow (hence not updating this site so regularly.) I have no regret prioritizing my personal needs at this time of my life, but I was sad to leave the interesting project and a wonderful team of colleagues.

I am really grateful for having this opportunity. This is not something I would have done, if I have not re-located myself to this country with M. FR. On my last day, I had a chance to have an hour presentation session to talk about our progress of the project, and I had positive feedback. I realize I do enjoy building something from a scratch, starting a project, developing a guideline, conducting trainings etc. It gave me another level of confidence to work in the area of gender based violence, which I missed in my previous position in the Maldives. 

Now, I am back. I finally get to enjoy the house and the life with M. FR. I am not sure how long I stay sane un-employed, but for now I am happy.