Week 4 - Random Thoughts

<<prev next>>

I think it was a combination of working too many hours last week and then going away for the weekend has meant that I haven't really been on top of things this week. The programme's off at the printers and that's a great relief.

This week the objective has been to get the website "singing and dancing". We have had an "IT Consultant" here working with our "IT Coordinator" with a view to retaining knowledge of how the systems work and in particular how the website has been built. I have been clear on vision and quite pushy but also very respectful not to tread on toes. All the same I was disappointed today when the consultant took me and Seif aside and admitted that he was on the edge his knowledge and he wasn't sure how best to spend the remaining few days. Damn. wish I had not been so hands off - it's quite feasible and Seif is quite capable.

The weeks are slipping away and regardless of time past it's the thought that next week is the last week before the festival (I'm anticipating all sorts of unforeseen last minute tasks) and then we'll be into it - highlighter pens at the ready. So all in all it feels like there are only a few more days before I'm on the home straight. Ideas like popping across to Dar or doing a PADI course are obviously not going to happen.

There's a fun run tomorrow and I'm tempted to go in for it... I know there is one because there's a banner across the road... however I'm still short of a few vital pieces of information like start location and time, and also it would be nice to know how far. We'll see.

"Trapped in ZIFF"? This thing about feeling trapped is something to do with a role where mandatory compliance is minimal and therefore further efforts are discretionary. In other words I could do very little and get away with it but feel that things would not be as good as they could be. How much better depends on how much effort one puts in. More than anything it's a self-fulfilling drive to achieve something more or better... and more to the point there's helplessness from saying that's enough. I think these are personality traits that contribute to me always being late, being miserly with sleep, trying to do 3x social things in the same evening - never making time to read, cook, enjoy music and hobbies. "Trapped in ZIFF"? - because so much could be done.

I made a point of seeing Salim last Friday. We had a pleasant half an hour, relaxed and chatting. Once again he invited me to eat with his family, which I would love to do but I explained I was waiting to hear if I could go to Pemba. Another time? Anyway he said the malaria either hadn't happened or the drugs had kept it down. He seems happy and busy.

I have tended to avoid expats... the lifestyle tends to mean they are living in a nice house out of town, they drive, they drink a lot and not always in that order. Some have an attitude to the locals and to Africa that while no doubt is based on experience is not consistent with my romanticised idea. Of course it is wrong to generalise, they're all individuals and some I'm sure are really nice.


Week 4 - Random Thoughts

<<prev next>>