Field Trip

So up in G-Town. It is not as bad as I thought it would be. Sometimes you can’t tell that you are in the middle of 20 year old civil war, it’s just a poor city in the developing world. Other times you are reminded that there’s a war going on, usually by the numbers of soldiers around and the stories people tell. I’m living at base camp here with two other ladies who are just joining the team for the Mine Action programme and a new reproductive health programme that is just starting up. I don’t get stared at very much here because of the high numbers of aid workers plus I’ve started to adapt and don’t notice as much. The drive up was interesting, 7 people in a land rover type thing for about 4 hours over what I now call decent roads but would rival anything a logging company has made on the island. Saw some baboons on the side of the road!!!! Now there’s only 3 of us from the main office up here and I’ll be staying here for at least a week for mine action training, then when I get back I can move into my apartment. So up here I’m helping them get the 2nd year report done for this mine action project the funny/frustrating thing is that I was give last year’s report to update but I have no idea what has been done in the past year. At the moment I’m writing in a word document b/c this laptop isn’t currently connected to the internet while waiting for like four different people to come and tell me what to change. Annoying!!!!

Yesterday I went out in the field. It was very interesting, the only word I think I can use was jarring. Physically and mentally jarring. Someone had reported some UXO near one of the camps to the office so we had to go make sure that the army dealt with it properly. Bet you’re all loving to read this. So we went out to a camp about an hour away. So there’s me, Douglas the MRE coordinator, Cathy (one of the other people from the main office), Alfred the driver and a military engineer who has to sit in the middle because he’s in uniform and therefore cannot be seen in our car because it would make us a target. We drove along some of the most bone jarring roads I’ve ever experienced at relatively high speeds for security’s sake. Pretty proud of myself for only smacking my head on the window twice. Wasn’t that concerned about the rebels as all the roads were busy with people walking, biking and other vehicles, would have been worried if we were the only people around. Arrived at the IDP camp and was introduced to the leader of the camp and the lead community counselor who we have been working with. I cannot describe the camp, it was like those World Vision/Christian Children’s Fund ads but it was reality. Then we were taken to the local army barracks (each camp as a military detachment to protect them from the rebels) to meet with the commander. So surreal sitting on a little chair in a low thatched hut with half mud walls listening to Douglas and this commander discuss the UXO in a language I didn’t understand and the community counselor translating for me while the radio blared Shania Twain with the occasional chicken or turkey wandering through my line of vision. Then a number of soldiers (well-armed soldiers – saw my first real AK-47) got into the back of the truck and we drove as near as possible to the UXO site. (This just keeps getting better and better doesn’t it Mom?). I stayed at the car with Cathy and Alfred while the rest went to examine the shell. It was determined that it was harmless because it’s fuse was gone so it was brought back to the barracks. While waiting at the barracks before going back to G-Town, two little kids came to see what this big white truck was doing in their neighbourhood. It appears as though I was a bit of a curiosity as they tried to watch me from the other side before coming around the car to my side but staying as far away as they could. I just smiled and waved a bunch. It was actually pretty common that kids would wave at the car when we drove by so I spent much of the drive home waving back. The countryside was gorgeous – the stereotypical big African sky with tons of greenery and everything.

Went out for dinner with some of the other people from the office. Have become rather accustomed to some aspects of the local food but I tried millet last night…. Looks like fudge, tasted like dirt – will be staying away from it from now on. It was weird walking around at night with Richard and Cathy as there are no street lights and yet there are people everywhere, walking, biking, or scootering (only a few cars) and the oddest establishments are open and blaring music – like a grocery store or a tire store. So G-Town is home to the mosquitoe I've determined - it reminds me of many a childhood camping trip only now I huddle under my mosquito net for much of the evening instead of in the tent/eating tent. Oh, I have been trying to text message people but it’s not working so I’ll work on it once I get back down south. Don’t know what I am going to do tomorrow without work, maybe I’ll attempt the market…..

First thoughts

So been here for a couple of days now. Haven’t really seen the city – they sort of wanted me to hit the ground running as they say. The office staff is really nice and funny, I share an office with Keith who is in charge of the medical programmes and the office has a window where every so often I get a lovely warm breeze coming through. My supervisor Evelyn is a lot younger than I thought and super fun. I do have to get used to the rhythm of life here it's much different from the scheduled and structured work I'm used to - sometimes causes me stress but I'm learning to get over it and go with the flow - everything will happen eventually. My apartment is not ready yet so I’ve been staying at the youth hostel which is nothing like any other hostel I’ve ever stayed at there is a high percentage of nuns and other members of the religious community (I think it is connected to the Catholic parish here) can’t say it’s a ton of fun but then again I haven’t made much of an effort to talk to the other guests, only staying there for one more night because I’m heading up north for about a week of training and orientation around the IDP camps (so don’t expect any postings for a while I’m not sure about internet access). Just figured out that I didn’t really pack any shirts for the field so I’m not sure what I’m going to be wearing…… just pants I guess ha ha ha.
It like a 20 minute walk to work along a paved but very dusty road that is crazy busy, cars, minibuses crammed full of people, boda-bodas (scooter taxis) the later two often offering me rides – apparently it’s weird that I like to walk. Besides the walking I look strange too - everywhere I go I get stared at!!!! The best had to be the kid on the way to work today who stopped dead in his tracks, stared at me and then just as I was almost completely past him he say hi how are you? He was like 8 or so – it was pretty funny. I’ve been told I’ll get used to the staring. The traffic is terrifying, no lanes, little rules, lots of people and they drive on the other side of the road from us at home.
Ah the big question food: so far I’ve eaten matooke (mashed plantains – can’t say I’m a fan but will have to learn to like it) as well as some sort of sweet potatoes, groundnut sauce and some pea sauce thing. It’s been interesting because we all have lunch together at the office (pay once a month and get lunch for the month super cheap!!) so it’s definitely let’s see how the Canadian likes our food and Mom you’d be proud I’ve eaten everything on the table both days though there was talk of grasshoppers which I may decline as apparently the heads remain on……
It is a huge change from life in Canada but I think I’m doing ok – it’s better when I’m around other people the nights at the hostel have been kinda lonely but up country I’m sharing a seriously tiny room with another new staff member at the base camp in G-town so I don’t think loneliness will be a problem then when I get back I can move into my apartment and get settled. Plus Jessica will be arriving then too so lots of excitement. I do miss you all though and enjoy your comments and emails so keep them coming even if I can’t check them while I’m in G-town. Will hopefully have pictures to show you when I get back. Love ya tons!

Arrived

so i've arrived but not settled as my apartment isn't ready yet and i'm heading up to the field in a couple of days for a week - might not get to write much then but will try to post something before i head up country.....
everyone at the office is really great

london

no matter how hard i try i just cannot like london - off to dubai now haven't slept much think it's nap time the floor is looking really good now flight in 3 hours

Ottawa

Had some major difficulties with internet and being able to post stuff so this is from Friday at 1pm.......

So thoughts on Ottawa. The other YPs are awesome, we bonded really quickly and now it seems weird that we aren’t all going to be working together. It’s surreal that the routine we created in Ottawa almost instantly isn’t actually our jobs. But I think we’re all going to stay in touch over the web etc and some people might get to see each other (especially me and Jessica living in the same city and then there’s a possibility that Allie who was going to Lebanon will be going to Geneva like Sarah as a replacement position). The staff in Ottawa are totally cool and it’s amazing how young everyone is in mine action. So we had a ton of really great guest speakers including Anna the woman who interviewed me so it was really good that we got to chat and she told me all about the office and the people I am going to be working with. We all finished the week of training totally excited about our new jobs and all the things related to the campaign. Crazy to think that I’m actually going to be putting international law and all that stuff I studied into practice, (implementing the Ottawa treaty) while some people are working to universalize the Mine ban treaty – Dr. Cutler would be so proud – I’ll have to email her! There’s also a lot of pressure on us – we’re the only mine action internships on the planet and there are super high expectations so hopefully we can live up to it all. At some points this week it was definitely like oh shit I’m so in over my head – what do I know about writing funding proposals or designing survivor assistance programs???? But we have a ton of support from pretty much the whole campaign, had a chat with Paul the director last night at the BBQ and we had a teleconference with one of the international directors in Rome – she knows who we are and where we’re going like most of the campaign apparently we are really sought after. Crazy!!!! It’s been really nice that everyone keeps saying how great an organization I’ll be joining.
So about stuff other than work. We determined that staying at the UofO res was a plan to aclimatize us to our host countries because we were on the 7th floor of a building without AC on days when the humidity made it over 35degrees!!! Can’t say I slept well…… clammy! Besides the heat Ottawa is a very livable city – you can walk all over etc but I’ll let you know what I think after I see it in January on the way home.
Funniest thing ever Liz’s office is across the street from the building where we had training! Got to hang out with Liz the other night and we’re going to hang out some more tonight when I sleep on her floor and tomorrow before I fly out. We tried to hang out more but we both have stuff going on plus I didn’t really have a phone to get in contact with her – felt so bad one night when we had plans because I didn’t get through before we all headed out then I had to no way to call and tell her where I was so I pretty much ditched her. Sorry again Liz (because I’m assuming you will one day read this)!!! Not having a phone to receive calls on (not even a landline) is ridiculous……
Flying out tomorrow via London and Dubai. Not too keen on the spending 10 hours in London I just hope I can leave the airport. So it turns out my apartment won’t be ready til the end of the month so I’ll have to find a hotel room or something for a week or so…….. The long and short of it is at the moment I have no where to sleep on Monday when I arrive. I’m hoping to hear soon about some suggestions. At least someone is picking me up at the airport – man am I going to look pretty after two red eye flights and then an early morning flight. Ok this has gone on too long plus I have to go do some laundry so I have clean clothes for work next week……

Now have already stayed at Liz's and we're just doing some touristy stuff eg. tour of parliament before I head off to London etc.

In Ottawa

In Ottawa. The other interns are super cool but it is hot and clamy super humid apparently like 40 degrees with humidity.... yikes i'm looking forward to africa b/c it'll be cooler there!!!

Less than 3 days to go

It's late on Wednesday and I leave for Ottawa on Saturday aka less than 3 days from now. Starting to panic a little bit. So actually started packing and realized I want to/have to bring some random things. Current packing list includes quick dry underpants and 'unholey socks' (thanks to my amazing friends), a number of ridiculous photos that people will be horrified to learn that strangers will be seeing, a picture of a heron I saw at the beach today (Canadian wildlife!!), a mosquito net (makes me feel like I'm going somewhere exotic), a Swahili phrasebook and an Italian one too (I'm optimistic about the proposal to the EU), the largest bottle of Costco brand tylenol I've ever seen, Foucault's the Order of Things, what Brett calls my safari hat, a 2kg jar of peanut butter and a purse I bought from a table when the former PM of Afghanistan came to speak last semester. Am I losing my mind? Perhaps!

One Week to Ottawa

So I leave for Ottawa a week tomorrow and I am not even close to packed. What the hell does one bring for six months in East Africa???? Every so often I kinda think that I must be crazy to be doing this but then I reassure myself and remember that it's going to be a great experience and I can't even begin to imagine. I just have to remember not to listen to people like that patronizing Californian/Texan(?) at work the other day who pretty much implied I was a stupid and naive little girl who doesn't know what she is getting herself into when Painted Tongue and I were discussing my inpending departure.
I'm done work now so it's just the independent study stuff and packing and socializing to fill my ever-shrinking amount of time left in town - ps don't be shocked if you see me in the library as I have a crap-load of reading to do before Ottawa.............. Weird not working at TBG anymore but it was fun. No more asking if seeds are going to the united states or if canadian change is alright!!! Crazy eh?
Working on putting my music collection on to an ipod - yes I cracked and became one of those ipod-owning people I mock constantly - while reading all this independent study stuff which needs to get done asap so I have time to have some family time and some fun time before I go thus I should get back to that!

Credit where credit is due

I have to give credit to my friends Lisa and Sam whose travel and exchange blogs gave me this idea and to Black Eyed Susan, Lobelia/Toadflax and Painted Tongue for the name inspiration.

What you need to know

On the slim possiblity people besides my family and friends are reading this, I should give a little bit of background. You don't need to know much though just that I'm heading to East Africa for a five month internship doing mine action (also known as landmine advocacy) with an NGO. I am living proof that it is possible to get a job in your field with a 'useless' degree in the social sciences - got the phone call the day after Convocation! Yes I will admit that I had a starbucks application on my desk at the time but don't worry I shredded that. I have created this blog as a travel journal, a place to rant/rave and post my thoughts to the world and a way to keep family and friends at home in the loop. These are my thoughts only and have absolutely nothing to do with any of the organizations I am working with.

That being said, I don't leave for Ottawa (for pre-departure training) for another two weeks so I won't have much to say til then. Wanted to get this up and running before I left because I'm not the brightest when it comes to technology. At the moment my life is full of planning, packing and tying up loose ends, plus cramming as much socializing and family bonding as possible into the time I have left in town. I now have a visa so I'm officially allowed in the country!!! I can't say all the vaccinations were fun and I still have one to go......plus there are the malaria pills that I'm testing out to make sure they don't make me crazy (ok crazier than I am- so far so good) . I have plane tickets and a Lonely Planet too! I'm starting to get really excited and a little nervous - like seriously what am I doing? What does a little girl from Victoria (Oak Bay of all places) know about living in a huge city in Africa??? Ah well that what makes it so exciting.
That's all for now, I've gotta go tend to my cupcakes for Food Fest!