Staying on for another year...

So I finally made the decision to stay on with IRC for at least until June. Thankfully, they've agreed to give me some time off (1 month!) and to pay for my airplane ticket ($3,000+ so far, crazy!). I can't believe I'll be going home in about 17 days... it's exciting, but there's so much to do!

So, what prompted me to make this decision, especially when I look back, the first 10 months were hard! Well, I have to agree that the work has not been the most fun, but I've gained so many skills in management, budget planning, program planning, evaluation and monitoring... it's really crazy! Also, been put on the spot so many times and attended meetings with head of organizations and the UN... it's a lot of progress. But really, what pushed me to make this final decision was my visit to Goma and DOCS HEAL. Just to see the counselors and the beneficiaries and to see the impact that IRC's capacity-building activities have had. Yeah, we talk a lot about partnership and reinforcing local organization's abilities to meet emerging needs, but I really saw it in my conversations. Some of the organization leaders couldn't even collect data, manage staff, and write reports and budgets. It's really great to see that, somehow, there'll be some sustainability. I used to be so critical of IRC's work and of course other NGOs, but I have to say that we are doing some positive work. The beneficiaries were so amazing, strong women, where I can't even imagine if I could ever be that strong. Bukavu has come to feel like a home, although being away from family has been the hardest. I've made a lot of great friends, especially some that I would probably have never associated with, but circumstances brought us all together.

I've moved to the smaller house now and it feels somewhat like a home, more private. I am starting to get a bit tired of all the complaining and how people tend to come to me with all the problems they have... i'm not Dr. Phil... and when I'm busy, it's really not fun having to sit there for 20 minutes listening to all the complaints.

But yes, there's so much work left to be done and especially improvement in our plannification and management mechanisms. I'm excited but for now, I need a break. I hope I can attend my friend's wedding in France, and Kim and Vanna might be there too. It'll be just the time off I need to recuperate and come back energized.

I shall post some pics...