18/12/07

I have had an absolutely manic week. I was running a three day workshop for 25 people about the advocacy process. Even though I was prepared for it, I found that I was extremely nervous feeling that I had to make a good first impression with all my colleagues both as a facilitator and as a competent individual. I was so stressed about it the first day, however after the first day I found that it wasn’t as daunting as I thought it would be and actually I found it quite nice to talk and discuss with an eager audience( who would have thought I would been comfortable just talking to people!). Today is my last day of work, but I will probably be coming in a couple more times before Christmas, even if it is just to use the generator to charge my phone!

There are many people going home for Christmas, and for the first time yesterday I really wanted to be home. I spoke to all my close friends who were together having Christmas dinner ( a tradition we have had for many years now) while I was at home recovering from the last day of training. I also spoke to my friend Frank. I haven’t been able to speak to my parents properly for a couple of weeks now, every time they call the connection is bad or the time is inconvenient. I feel really quite out of touch with them.

I have finally realised in a very real sense that if you want something done and done how you want it you have to do it yourself. I have been waiting for a dining table for at least a few weeks and because someone else id meant to be arranging it for me, I have not really been able to follow it up myself except to ask BJ (the person meant to be taking care of it for me) why it isn’t ready and to push it a little. This week I am having guests both stay with me and a party of Friday and finally had reached the end of my tether and in desperation begged literally begged on my knees to BJ hoping to shame him into action, it didn’t work , he said it would be here by 2 pm. I have literally just gone to the carpenter asked for my table (which has apparently been ready for weeks!!) taken it with my own hands and brought it to the office, where I asked a friend to meet me with his vehicle and took it straight to the house. It has taken me about 1 hour to do something I would probably have waited weeks at least to get done. I feel such a sense of accomplishment I cannot wait to sit down and have dinner at my table!

6/12/07

Yesterday was international volunteer day and we had various programmes to celebrate the contribution of volunteers and to promote the culture of volunteerism. I had to give a statement in front of a crowd representing VSO, I was terrified, I’m not a big fan of public speaking. In the evening I did a live show on radio with a couple of colleagues to discuss issues around volunteerism. That experience was much more interesting and a little easier, even though most of it was in krio

Ps. James my housemate has malaria again! Poor guy… 3rd time in 7 weeks. I really feel for him.


5/12/07
I can’t believe it is so close to Christmas, it doesn’t feel it at all. Firstly it is extremely hot here (although not as hot as its going to get by far) and secondly I don’t see signs of Christmas everywhere I look! If I was home now no doubt I would be seeing adverts about what to buy my children/ pressure my parents for, how not to get into debt next Christmas and every possible card, chocolate, food you can imagine. I have made plans to go to Banana Island (which is known for its beautiful beaches) for Christmas with three friends and then somewhere else for new years. This will be the first year that I am not only away from a home and any family/friends for Christmas. I don’t mind at all, looking forward to the break and seeing a new place I wouldn’t otherwise get the chance to see.

Yesterday our generator worked for the first time in the house, I had never seen our house lit up. I am actually finding that bright unnatural light really freaks me out, I never have the lights on when we use the generator. I only use it to charge my laptop, phone iPod etc. Its very exciting because our house looks more and more like home all the time, yesterday I put up curtains and today (fingers crossed) I should be getting my dining table)