Internet down

My Internet has been down at home, and I am unable to update my blog... (yes me and technology..sigh) I will try to fix by the end of this weekend. I am totally fine otherwise, and I had a great refreshing end of the year-new year trip and now back to the routine (though I am trying to make a few changes in life). I recently bought a bicycle. I will write more once my Internet is up& running again!!

Happy 1 year anniversary!

I just passed one year mark of being in this country. I arrived on the 18th of December and started the job on the 19th. It feels just like yesterday, when I was staying in a hotel and being totally disoriented about everything.

A lot has happened this year both sad and happy things, but it was probably one of the most exciting and enriching years of my life, and I am really lucky to be able to feel that way.

After a year, I feel much more confident about my work and hopefully a little bit about myself, too. There is still so much to learn at work, but I feel I have come a long way (reading my entry on Dec 22, 2008!!). I feel that I made myself an important part of the team and I am actively involved in planning activities for 2010. I managed to build relatively good working relationships with partner organizations that I work with. Based on lessons learned, I will try to improve my work next year.

I will be sending e-mail greeting cards to my friends, but I just want to thank all my close friends and family for your support and keeping in touch. Having you really gives me a sense of stability (when I am everywhere and nowhere). I am usually better at writing e-mails, but this year for sure I was slacking.... Hope you know that I am still thinking of you, though!

Wishing you all happy holidays. I will probably have more postings before the end of the year.

こちらに来てからもう１年って早いなー。去年、来たばかりの頃、何も分からなくて不安だったことを思い出すと何だか感慨深いです。今年は悲しいことも大変だったこともあったけど、総合して色々な経験もできたし、楽しくてすごく充実した１年だったと思う。来年もはもっと良くなるように、ポジティブシンキングで頑張ろう。

デリーの写真

ドサという南インドの食べ物。米粉でできたパリパリのクレープに潰したジャガイモを入れて食べる。スナックセットなるものを頼んだので、パラオライスやらココナツのチェトニーソースやら食べきれないほどついてきた。これで２００円くらい？美味しかった。
India Gate 独立の印の門。パリの凱旋門みたい。国会議事堂からの大きくて真っすぐの道にあります。

Delhi Trip

I am back from Delhi and had a fantastic time!

It was good to see my friend. It turned out that we haven't seen each other almost 9 years, but again it just felt so natural and did not feel the gap of the time at all. It was such a short visit (my flight was delayed by 3 hours by an unprecedented fog!!), but we did a lot. We of course focused on chatting, gossiping, catching up and analyzing the UN work etc. We slept on a same bed and stayed up late to talk until one fell sleep and woke up and talked again. I hang out with her children who are both teenagers and enjoyed my friend's great home Indian cooking. We talked while she was cooking and talked some more in a coffee shop and restaurants.

I did some shopping as well. We went to a craft/ artisan market where you can find crafts from all over India. It really shows the diversity of the country, and it was just full of beautiful things. I bought some inexpensive earrings made of clay and a small painting of lotus (I love lotus motif anything). We also went to a night market near her apartment where they sell incredibly cheap things. I bought a set of 6 coffee cups that cost something like 2 dollars....

Not so much on a sightseeing, but I at least saw the India Gate and the parliament building as well as some old victorian buildings from the colonial time (2nd photo). I will post more photos. I just had such a good time and already am planning a next trip. Delhi is large, has wide roads and seem very organized (at least the area that I saw).

リチャージ

今週は遊んでばかり。

家でご飯食べたかな〜。残業をあまりしなかったため、仕事がかなりビハインドになってしまったような気がする。しかも月曜は有休を取るため、来週はちょっと心配。仕事を休むベストなタイミングってなかなかないですね。そのせいでデリー行きも決めるまで１年もかかってしまい、あげくの果てに３日のみの旅程になってしまった。上司に良いわね〜と心底羨ましそうに言われた。

明日からデリーに行ってきます。初めてのインドなので、しかも大都会なので楽しみ。リチャージしてきます。

Making decisions in life

I had a chance to speak to my sister over the weekend. She was trying to make up her mind on a career change and going back to school. Life is full of difficult decisions. If you choose one, you have to give up or discard something else. That something could be what you are used to, is within the comfort zone or feel too scared to lose. There are certain things that you could redo or correct a path if the decision was not right, and there are others can't be undone unfortunately. We never know until we make the decision and live that life, but that decision could come with pain or certain costs as well. Life is just a series of small decisions as well as big life choices that could totally change our life. We have to be responsible and own up to what you decide.... I (and we all) face this challenge many times, and it is never easy. At the end of the day, we have to follow what makes us happy, which requires knowing ourselves well.

I am so proud that she is doing what she thinks right for her and I admire her courage.

Planning for holidays

I have been feeling a bit down lately. BUT today I got a visa to India (after 30 mins at a travel agency when they tried to use the manual credit card machine... don't think you have seen this low tech credit card hand swipe thingy...). Yes, I am going to Delhi this weekend to see a dear friend of mine that I have not seen for about 5-6 years. We planned our 3 days for eating, shopping and gossiping. That's all what girls need, isn't it?! ;) I am so excited. I have never been to India, so it will be great. She is cooking my favorite Indian dishes and we will go shopping for cute kuruti (Indian female shirt).

I am also planning a short trip over the new year probably within the country. I just need to fill my life with good happy things and wait till a storm pass....sigh. Dear friends, I will be here only another year, so you better start planning your trip!

現地ファッション事情 Fashion File

注文していたお洋服達ができてきたのでお披露目します。ピンクのは冬用のクルタスルワール。

胸の刺繍がきれいで、足首にも刺繍が使ってある。ウエストもゴムでパジャマみたいで快適な服です。体型が出ないようにできているのです。

出張の時や外部での会議があるときに着ていくと、ナショナルドレスは好評。上だけジーンズの上に着ても可愛い。

２枚目は元々持っているブラウスをまねて作ったもの。柄の入り方がいまいち均等じゃないけど良しとしよう。

他にスカートもできてきました。こんなの欲しい方は安く作れるので、言ってくれたら注文してさしあげますよ。

These two items are among several things that I have tailored made locally.

Gourmet from the field 2

シリーズ第２弾のフィールドグルメです。

道中のレストランで朝ご飯を食べた時。なぜかうちのドライバーさんが手伝っている。作っているのは豆を香ばしく炒めて野菜、ショウガ、ニンニクを入れたものとサモサを同時に温めている。このサモサに激辛チリが入っていてひどい目にあった（涙）。

道ばたで落花生を煎っているところ。あつあつを同僚が買ってくれて、胡椒入りのお茶と頂きました。殻を割って食べるのが楽しんだよね。

焼きそばと並んで私のフィールド食おなじみのチャーハン。野菜がたくさん入っていてまあまあのお味でした。

衛生が思わしくないものも食べたけど一度もお腹こわさなかった！

Field mission report

I had a fantastic time!!

My flight was delayed on the first day, so I could not reach the final destination. We (me and the driver) stayed in a small town on the way. The district where I went is some 4.5 hours drive from the nearest airport. I wa

s able to monitor the GBV training. It was good to get to talk to the facilitators and get their views on how the overall training (this was the 4th one) has been going. Every time I go to the field I learned new things. I was (almost) clueless when I came here for the first time, but I feel that I have come a long way. The participants of the workshop were sharing some cultural practices (harmful and considered as gender based violence) in the far west area. For instance, it is still quite preval

ent to send women who are menstruatin

g or after a child birth to a cowshed, as they are regarded "polluted". Some communities practice "bride price" (yes take out your cultural anthropology 101 textbook), which promotes a child marriage. Girls are kidnaped to be married off etc etc. It is really infuriating to see women are treated in so many many dehumanizing ways.

Anyhow, I really appreciate such an opportunity to interact with people and observe workshops etc.

On the 2nd day, I tag along with my colleague to monitor some activities in villages. We drove about 40 mins and got off the car. I was told "we will be walking for 30 mins or so" which was fine with me until finding out later that I had to cross a river on bare feet! I realized that my colleague was not joking when him and other man (chairperson of a NGO) started taking off their shoes.... The water came up to my knee on some spots and the water was chilly!! I had to say "this was not on the ToR!!!"

We arrived in the village and I was welcome by a group of people with marigold flower garlands. I felt so out of place as I had no idea that this was such a big deal. I was in jeans that were wet and had dirt marks all over. We interacted with women who are taking part in reproductive health class (learning about pregnancies, HIV/AIDs, personal hygiene among other things) watched a street drama on HIV/AIDs. Another village visited was a dalit (low caste and so-called "untouchables") community.

Of course, I always enjoyed other aspects of going to the field. I had no shower for 3 long days, was too cold (ah~!), seretly wearing my pajama pants under my jeans, had tea with black pepper, was invited for breakfast at my colleague's, bought local walnuts and oranges, took an evening walk and finally had a small accident with a samosa which had a big chunk of chilly!*! Many small adventures....

Mission to the Far West

I am going on a field trip tomorrow for four days. This is the area that I visited in April, which was my first field trip. I have already gone on 6 trips so far (other than international trip). It will be much higher altitude than the capital, so it will be probably much colder. I am going to bring a sleeping bag this time, and one of my colleagues kindly offered me her electronic kettle to bring along.

It is almost harder to find a person who is not sick in the office at the moment. It has gotten much colder in the past few weeks, and a flu is going around. I have to be careful as we are approaching the busiest time of the year (apparently....)!

Will be back on Sunday! 行ってきまーす！

FNVC

最近、毎週のように同僚の女の子達と４人で、金曜の夜（FN）ウオッカクラブ（VC）と称して、モモ（餃子のこと）と野菜焼きそばを食べつつ飲みながら憂さ晴らししている。ナショナルスタッフの子二人ともう一人外国人スタッフと私。お酒が弱い私は、皆にからかわれながらごく少量のウオッカとグヮバジュース。愚痴を言いつつも（三毒追放はどこにいってしまったのだろう？笑）歳の近い同僚達と悩みを話し合ったりするのはかなり楽しい。週末へのdecompressingプロセスには不可欠。

今、事務所内で大きな動きがあり、皆の心配と不満とがかなり渦巻いている。私も取り敢えずのところは後１年の職はほぼ保証されているのだけど、そろそろ次のステップについて考えないといけないと思い始めた。今日の朝は海の中、高い波がいっぱいきてるところを必死で泳いでいる夢を見てしまった。はて、私の心理状況を反映しているるのか？

今日の土曜日はお休みだけど、コンピュータの前に座り、レジュメの更新をしてみた。ここ２年ほどは珍しく（！）職探ししていないので、この前の仕事と今の仕事の項目を書き込んだり、新たに志望動機書を書くのにすごーく時間がかかってしまった。今の仕事の状況に甘んじているだけではなくて、この先のこと真剣に考えないとなと身にしみて思う。

来週は忙しくなりそう。木曜日に前にも行った山の方の郡にモニタリングに行ってきます。その前に面接官もしないといけないし会議も詰まっている。人の面接術盗んで自分のときの為に備えなければ！

Work Life Balance

is an eternal theme for the working life in the UN.

I left the work almost on time today! I am working on it.

I went to a classic music concert. I didn't realize how much I missed going to classic music concerts, which I used to do a lot.

This is what I can see

almost every day these days. I really feel lucky to be in this country when I can see this. They were taken from the hotel where we held the strategic meeting last week. Is this convincing enough for you guys to come for a visit?? ;)

Shopping

I went textile shopping today, which is one of my most favorite activities in this country. There are not many stores where we can buy pret-a-porte clothes, so buying materials and custom ordering is better and more fun option. Previously I made 2 sets of traditional south asian outfit, silk blouse and 3 pajama pants (for me and my sisters), and they all turned out very nice.

This time I bought nice wool (sort of mixture of gray and dark blue) to be made into a skirt and white with grey subtle flower print silk and synthetic mix into a blouse. I also ordered another material which is transparent and will look really nice as a blouse as well. This one, I could choose a color and the store will dye it to the color of my selection (navy blue)! I already took the materials to a tailor today and can't wait to see them done in a week! Photos to come,

What I am holding is a shawl made of yak wool. It is so soft and warm. I saw it at a street vendor in a market and I had to "shoudou Gai"get it. It was only about 7 dollars!!

Me and my girlfriend walked around and ended our shopping with green tea smoothie. A fun day likes this truly makes a difference in my busy life and I feel ready for the new week!! Last week was tough, as we had a three day strategic workshop. For the first time, I had an opportunity to make a presentation in a large internal meeting (that went quite fine). Many of the topics discussed at the meeting were difficult and I was absolutely exhausted at the end. Now I feel refreshed as well as rested.

プレゼン

今日で３日間の戦略計画会議（とも訳すべきか？）が終わって、ホッと一息。郊外にあるホテルへ通いだったので毎日朝が早かった。

この仕事ももうすぐ１年。今まで２回、内部の大きな全体会議があってこれで3回目。今回初めて、内部の大きい会議、と言っても参加者は５０人位、でプレゼンをする機会があった。テーマは人権に基づく開発のアプローチについて。何となくしか理解していない分野だったので、これを機会に自分で口頭で基本的なことは説明できるようになった。これでもっと深めて勉強したいと思うし、事務所内で私のnicheとして取り組んで行けたらと思う。

これはジェンダーの仕事ではなく、在駐代表の特別アシスタントとしてのアサインメントだった。今までこちらの仕事はどちらかと言うと地味な裏方の仕事（スピーチを書いたり、ブリーフィング文書を書いたり等）が多かった。今回、Repにこれについて短いプレゼンをしてくれと言われて、やっと少し前進したような、大事な仕事を任せてもらえたような気がして嬉しかった。他の仕事が忙しくて準備が充分にできなかったけど、前の晩には練習してメモなしでも発表できるように内容を理解して覚えるられるようにした。結果、少したどたどしい所はあったし言い忘れたこともあるけどまあまあ満足のいくできだった。私の１５分程度のプレゼンとロールプレイエクササイズ、そしてディスカッションで構成された私の人権のセッションだった。終わってから、数人の人に良くやったwell doneとか good jobと言ってもらえて嬉しかった。 もっとpublic speaking を場数を踏んで向上しないとなと思うし、自分の専門分野をの伸ばさないとな。

外部external でのプレゼンはどうともないのに、内部の方が気合いが入ってしまう。何かおかしいとは思うけど、スタッフの多い事務所では、少しでも自分をアピールしなければいけない。超競争主義の国連の文化に迎合するつもりではない、でも少しでも面白い責任のある仕事を任せてもらうには、色々な形で自分を認めてもらえるようにしないといけない。特に日本人はアピールが下手。こつこつ地味に頑張る努力を評価してもらえるという側面もあるけど、それだけでは駄目な部分もある。これはどんな仕事にでも当てはまることだとは思うけど、これをしんどいと思うか、チャレンジとして頑張るかは自分次第だな。

Did you know

that there is a rule as to how you place logos of different organizations? I have designed a certificate quickly for training that we are implementing. One of the secretaries told me "M, you have put the logos wrong. You first put the government logo on the top left, then the funder (us) then finally the NGO."

I had no idea! I specifically instructed to put the logo of the government in the centre thinking it will make them look the most important.

We always learn a new thing everyday, don't we? I have gotten a bit smarter. :)

Tihar

One of the major festivals in this country- Tihar. It is also called Diwali, which I also experienced when I was in Guyana. It is a festival of lights. People decorate the ground in front of their house like this by drawing a path leading to a little shrine in the house in order to invite Laximi goddess. She brings fortune to houses. There are various patterns and colors, and it was fun to talk a stroll in the neighborhood.

Deep breathe 深呼吸

先週、仲良くさせて頂いている方のご両親が遊びに来られていて、私も１泊旅行に便乗させてもらった。私のいる首都からはたったの１時間で、静かで空気のきれいな、こんな棚田の広がる風景に囲まれた山間の村に行ける。乾期の今は天気が良くて運が良い日はヒマラヤ山脈が見える。生憎、今回はすべての山は見えなかったけど、雲が晴れると遠くの雪山が見えて美しかった。写真だときれいに見えないのが残念だけど、もし遊びに来てくれたら見えるよ！！

翌日は１０キロ少しのミニトレッキングで山を下り、執着地点の街にある山の中腹のお寺にお参りした。階段が長くて次の日はもちろん筋肉痛．．．．．。
もっとお休みをちゃんととって、こういう所に頻繁にこなければとしみじみ思った連休だった。最近、健康の為にマッサージに通い始めて、またそのことにも書きます！
Photos from the trip last weekend. Just 1 hour hour from the capital, you can get to a small village surrounded by rice paddies and fields and gorgeous scenery.

４連休

で、お友達と１泊旅行に行ってきます！今日は晴天で絶好の遠足日和。出張以外で初の国内旅行かも。