Today, riding home from meeting with one of the local partners, I recognized a feeling that must certainly be contentment. Even though I am still settling in, hardly know any Thai or Burmese, am still learning our partners and programs, and still feel like I am fumbling around half the time, I am really glad to be here. Sad, of course, to be away from my family and friends, but really looking forward to living here. Its a place in which it is easy to feel comfortable. In many ways it is a simple life, but not so simple as to be unrelatable. In many ways my days are filled with the same things, work, friends, study, shopping, cooking, reading, exercise, but with most of the crap cut out. No traffic, no commute, no taxes, no crime, no corporations, no advertisements, no high fructose corn syrup.
I am slowly taking over as Field Director. The current FD is here until the end of August, which is a much appreciated transition period. Its a bit overwhelming at times, so many projects, partners, donors... having a feel for the entire landscape while still being in touch with the details of each project, and particularly considering the security situation where the partners work. Fortunately, this org is much smaller than DOW, but then again, that means that many procedures/policies/etc. haven't been formalized, and a lot of things happen haphazardly (at least currently. In my trying to streamline some things, I am drawing on some of the better workings of DOW, and better appreciating some of my former boss's particularness). To be good at this job, I will have to work harder than I have ever worked, but I believe so much in what we are doing here, in its importance, both immediately and in a larger sense, it really does feel like a privelege to be doing it.
I am slowly taking over as Field Director. The current FD is here until the end of August, which is a much appreciated transition period. Its a bit overwhelming at times, so many projects, partners, donors... having a feel for the entire landscape while still being in touch with the details of each project, and particularly considering the security situation where the partners work. Fortunately, this org is much smaller than DOW, but then again, that means that many procedures/policies/etc. haven't been formalized, and a lot of things happen haphazardly (at least currently. In my trying to streamline some things, I am drawing on some of the better workings of DOW, and better appreciating some of my former boss's particularness). To be good at this job, I will have to work harder than I have ever worked, but I believe so much in what we are doing here, in its importance, both immediately and in a larger sense, it really does feel like a privelege to be doing it.
It is really nice to hear that you are settling in so well. No high fructose corn syrup sounds good! (Seriously though, no crime?) Of course we do miss you here in the States. But it sounds like Thailand is going to be a nice place to live for awhile.
ReplyDelete