Today is my birthday. I haven’t seen someone from my family for six months, I rarely speak to them, I didn’t get to talk to any of them today. I miss them more than I thought I would.
But today was perfect.
I woke up at 6am, like I do every morning. My mind went from wondering what in the world could make that sound, because surely wasn’t an earthquake or a truck trying to pull the building down, but they are the only two things that could make that sound.
Then I thought about the big meeting I had this morning, Then I thought about meeting up with our new star recruit and what it would be like sit across from each other after skyping and emailing for months. The first person i have ever interviewed, recruited and am now meeting to fulfill a job.
Then I remembered it's my birthday!
I’ve never been big on making a fuss about my birthday, unless theirs an intent, like a night out the roller derby or a party. So it’s been great to be able to not tell anyone about it, but enjoy every moment.
But the greatest thing is I can spend a day working and it’s the best day I’ve had in ages.
Porridge mixed with chai (i swear this is going to make me millions when i sell the idea to Quaker oats), then walking the length of Kathmandu. Meeting and sharing stories with a veteran development worker who in her eccentric way showed me the other side of my job, a side that I try to steer clear of. The political side, a side that i am so glad to have a mentor to initiate me into.
We laughed, and frowned and planned and schemed, but most of all appreciated hearing from our star recruit. His stories and insights into a culture that we are both visitors to.
Then lunch with a interesting, beautiful and funny colleague, followed by a walk. Then as randomly as when we thought to turn around, the star recruit says, hey there is Centre for Rural Technology! We wander up, and find a contact he remembers from Uni, and 5 minutes later we're sitting around a desk talking about Verified Emission Credits, stove designs and possible collaborations. Now things are never this easy, but it was the stars aligning because I have done homework on CRT, and have been trying to find the file that has a contact I wanted to approach. Or maybe its just my birthday, and I love my Job.
But things get better, after learning that there are two phone networks in Nepal and you can’t text between them (and not being agitated by the failed system, i must be adjusting), I was in the same neighbourhood as an AYAD (Australian Youth Ambassador for Development) who’s place I am maybe going to look after for two weeks while she is away.
So I've been looking around Kathmandu for a month for a place. I'm not fussy, I just need company, toilet and Internet. Which are as hard to come by as a triage in Humla for someone that lives out of their backpack typically in places where tourists don’t stray (obviously , Kathmandu, actually Nepal in general is the exception). So guess what, neighbours that are mad on development theory, top floor, southern windows, views all over, lovely neighbourhood, no main streets, open plan, and direct Internet connection that won’t even go down under load shedding (Kathmandu can have 4 hours a day , or up 16 in winter without power) did I mention that at 4:45pm, we call up talk to the provider and get me all hooked up. Bam!
And best of all the crazed dog that doesn’t like tall white men, didn’t even bark. I think we might be friends sometime soon…. Didn’t I say perfect.
Now I'm here with you, a Nepal Ice beer, some tasty tomato & Tuna Pasta, and a big fat smile.
Some position descriptions to finish off, and then fall asleep to the ever addictive stories of escape and adventure from Papillion.
