Life in general
Wow, January is over already. I am now well into the 4th month of my year here. In many ways I have been lucky with my assignment:
- great gaff
- working at an established organisation with loads going on
- good climate (if you don't mind sweating a bit)
- lots to do outside working hours, and good few volunteers close by
- ample quiet time for reading, writing and general faffing about
All in all, Life is good.
Bombolulu History
As the weeks pass I am forming a deeper understanding of the history of Bombolulu and of VSO's connection with them. In the mid to late 90's the place was booming. Over 300 people were employed and tourism was increasing every year. Then El Nino hit. The flooding nearly detroyed the place, ruined the showroom and all the stock. As well as this Election clashes and
both embassy and hotel bombings by terrorists affected the numbers of tourists visiting Kenya. The place nearly shut down. The workforce was downsized. Only strong donor support and loyal customers saved the place. Since then Bombolulu has struggled with limited tourism numbers, exasperated recently by the election clashes. The fact that there is a worldwide recession will really hit us in 2009. But Bombolulu has survived so far, and there are loads of initiatives ongoing that will hopefully make the organisation leaner and more secure.
So, Bombolulu has been around a long time an has seen many VSO volunteer come and go, I'm still working on the list:
Dates- Name- Nationality- Role
Bill Robison Scottish Project Manager
Monica - Swiss
Rolands and wife
Moji -British (Nigeria) Textile Designer
Masaki Chinese Designer
Some Italian Girl
Maria Kemp Scandanavian Designer - Textile & Jewlery
2004-6 Tom Cravens UK Marketing
2007 *Cindy and Jeff USA APDK and IT
*They only stayed a short while (6 weeks) due to the serious illness of one of their parents.
2008-2009 Mike Duggan Irish IT Specialist (that's me!)
The Tom Cravens guy; I am very like him apparently. Explains why some people in Bombolulu even now call me Tom. At least nobody thinks I'm Dutch anymore.
What else?
- Had a visit from Alan, an Irish Lad, from Limerick. He is working in a hospital as a 'freelance' volunteer amoung other things. He is trying to get an assignment with VSO.
- Was working Saturday morning; Management meeting. Despite a false start it was pretty productive. Lots for doing next week.
- Went to Haller Park again. Very peaceful place. Saw the Hippos this time.
- Local hotel at home, Castletroy park is closing down.
Everywhere I go this week they seem to be playing flippin' Enrique Iglesias. I'll tell you this, he's no Joe Dolan.
Later,
M.
Cultural Learning
When watching Hippo's eat always check first that you are not standing in the middle of an ant colony.
Wow, January is over already. I am now well into the 4th month of my year here. In many ways I have been lucky with my assignment:
- great gaff
- working at an established organisation with loads going on
- good climate (if you don't mind sweating a bit)
- lots to do outside working hours, and good few volunteers close by
- ample quiet time for reading, writing and general faffing about
All in all, Life is good.
Bombolulu History
As the weeks pass I am forming a deeper understanding of the history of Bombolulu and of VSO's connection with them. In the mid to late 90's the place was booming. Over 300 people were employed and tourism was increasing every year. Then El Nino hit. The flooding nearly detroyed the place, ruined the showroom and all the stock. As well as this Election clashes and
both embassy and hotel bombings by terrorists affected the numbers of tourists visiting Kenya. The place nearly shut down. The workforce was downsized. Only strong donor support and loyal customers saved the place. Since then Bombolulu has struggled with limited tourism numbers, exasperated recently by the election clashes. The fact that there is a worldwide recession will really hit us in 2009. But Bombolulu has survived so far, and there are loads of initiatives ongoing that will hopefully make the organisation leaner and more secure.
So, Bombolulu has been around a long time an has seen many VSO volunteer come and go, I'm still working on the list:
Dates- Name- Nationality- Role
Bill Robison Scottish Project Manager
Monica - Swiss
Rolands and wife
Moji -British (Nigeria) Textile Designer
Masaki Chinese Designer
Some Italian Girl
Maria Kemp Scandanavian Designer - Textile & Jewlery
2004-6 Tom Cravens UK Marketing
2007 *Cindy and Jeff USA APDK and IT
*They only stayed a short while (6 weeks) due to the serious illness of one of their parents.
2008-2009 Mike Duggan Irish IT Specialist (that's me!)
The Tom Cravens guy; I am very like him apparently. Explains why some people in Bombolulu even now call me Tom. At least nobody thinks I'm Dutch anymore.
What else?
- Had a visit from Alan, an Irish Lad, from Limerick. He is working in a hospital as a 'freelance' volunteer amoung other things. He is trying to get an assignment with VSO.
- Was working Saturday morning; Management meeting. Despite a false start it was pretty productive. Lots for doing next week.
- Went to Haller Park again. Very peaceful place. Saw the Hippos this time.
- Local hotel at home, Castletroy park is closing down.
Everywhere I go this week they seem to be playing flippin' Enrique Iglesias. I'll tell you this, he's no Joe Dolan.
Later,
M.
Cultural Learning
When watching Hippo's eat always check first that you are not standing in the middle of an ant colony.
3 comments:
Sound advice Tom, ants are like sand, they get EVERYWHERE! Reminds me of a time I was trekking in the Upper Penyang Valley, it was summer and ....
Narrowly lost to the scum yesterday (18-10 and Corinthians not the Tans), the closest result in years by all accounts.
I've good news and bad news. The good news is I've a had a chat with the lads and we all think you're a legend.
The bad news is we think the quality of your blogging is on the decline. Now I don't know whether it's the sunshine, or the recent Obamarama or what but the long and short of it is that it's unacceptable and you'll have to improve productivity or become a vital part of the streamlining process, Ok? Good man.
Not sure if I told you but the other day Denise gave me all the ammo I need to rip the piss out of her for being a Ballina knacker. She was asking me why I wasn't wearing my new "het". Drives her loopy it does!
p.s. HAVE YOU READ MY BOOK ON SHOUTING?
A little joke for ye:
An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the world. So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to Orlando , thinking that he would start by working his way across the USA from South to North.
On his first day he was inside a church taking photographs when he noticed a golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read '$10,000 per call'.
The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what the telephone was used for. The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 you could talk to God. The American thanked the priest and went along his way.
Next stop was in Atlanta . There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same looking golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in Orlando and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 he could talk to God. 'O.K., thank you,' said the American .
He then travelled all across America, Europe, England, Japan, New Zealand.
In every church he saw the same looking golden telephone with the same '$US10,000 per call' sign under it.
The American decided to travel to Wales to see if the Welsh had the same phone. He arrived at Llanelli in Carmarthenshire, Wales and again, in the first church he entered, there was the same looking golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read '40p per call.'
The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign. 'Father, I've travelled all over the world and I've seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to Heaven, but in all of them price was $10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?'
The priest smiled and answered, 'You're in Wales now boy - it's a local call'.
Keep smiling
Sorry to hear about the defeat boyo, sure at least ye are getting closer!
Sorry about the decline in the quantity and quality here. I have been letting myself be distracted by work and...eh...more work. Will try to sep up my game for the next blog. Thanks for keeping me honest anyways ;-)
Tell Denise, I love 'hets'! Careful you toy with these Mayo wimmin at your peril.
Thanks for the joke. They all though it was hilarious in the office. Not the joke, but the fact that there is a place called Wales!
Don't work too hard.
Mike.
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