First Day at Work

THE HISTORY: So I had lined up work with an organization for post-graduation about 6 months ago. I had 2 phone interviews, spoke with them regularly before leaving, coordinated travel and health details with the logisitics director. I was very much looking forward to it, and got an excellent vibe from the organization. Sure enough, literally 3 days before I was supposed to leave, there was turmoil within the organization. The executive director wanted to come back, and had a falling out with the national director. The national director, and the entire staff she hired, quit. And so the organization fell apart the day before i left. But i was still planning on going, meeting up with a friend, and figured i would see what happened. So I got here, traveled as planned, and after talking it out with my dear friend night after night, looked for another opportunity online. I found one that fit me to a tea, sent my cover letter, CV and writing sample. Called the next day. Had an interview the day after and here I am starting the next Monday!

THE ORGANIZATION: My first day was yesterday with an organization called ACDI/VOCA. My head was swimming in acronyms by the end of the days, especially since everything is in Spanish and English, and so the acronym for the same thing may be entirely different because it is in another language! ACDI/VOCA stands for - Agricultural Cooperative Development International (ACDI) ... which merged with .. Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance (VOCA). Turns out it is in 38 countries worldwide. Who knew? And it is grounded in "expanding opportunities worldwide" through enabling microenterpries and greater economic opportunity to improve health, decrease poverty, and all that good stuff. It is pronounced Akdeevoca.. fast.

Now, in this particular case- ACDI/VOCA-Bolivia is almost entirely a framework of USAID projects. It has $42 million to implement a project in the jungle/forest of Bolivia called Integrated Community Development over the next 5 years with the goal of stopping or decreasing the illegal production of coca in the region. So pretty much.. USAID (US Agency of International Development) provides the money and mission statement, and ACDI/VOCA implements the projects. And everything is 'branded and marked' with the USAID label.. from the letterhead to the microwave. It is peculiar working for an organization that is so absorbed by and dependent on another institution. For example, a couple months ago there was a 30% cut in funding because of political reasons between US and Bolivia.. so people were laid off in the office. (which means I get my own desk!) The primary projects they implement are building new bathrooms, potable water systems, new schools, give new desks to schools, improving delapidated fields or classrooms. Lots of school building. Very PC. There are also volunteer experts that come in to teach them how to efficiently grow tea (rather than coca) etc. Leave it to me the first day to ask.. now do you think that actually works? 'it is part of a process, providing alternatives' was my answer.
It is productive, efficient, rich organization that has 40 staff in this office, 20 staff across the street that are the architects and engineers for the projects, and two local offices in the jungle.

ZONA SUR: So, La Paz is in a crater. And there is el Centro, which is the hub, where I had been staying... always busy with people, minibuses, at all times of day. Different beighborhoods ballon from there. The poorer neighborhood, El Alto, is up at the top of the crater, and is practically its own city. It is the way of getting into and out of the city as well, so if very congested. About a week ago it snowed for the first time in recent history in La Paz, and El Alto got 20 c of snow! Similarly, Zona Sur is the rich neighborhood, with the embassies, etc, and it is know for having more pleasant temperature year round. It is tucked into the valle, out of the way unless it is your destination. It is also practically its own city. And boy... is it another world. You know how i said that the streets are lined with minivans and taxis.. that noone ones their own car? well, here everyone has their very own fancy car to pick their well dress kids up from school. In Sorata I felt out of place in my Western clothes.... here, the women with the traditional colorful fabric bolsa on her bag is the one out of place. the overall complexion of residents is lighter.

THE GUESTHOUSE: is great. The upstairs floors are used during the day by architects andengieers of ACDI/VOCA, but the downstairs HUGE bedroom, with two double beds (i will be sharing with another girl in a week), the bathroom.. equipped with towels, soap, shampoo and even conditioner, a television with cable, a refrigerador and several closets... is ALL mine. The kitchen is upstair and equipped with everything but pots. So my first day I was on a mission: do we have any pots? people thought I was crazy... you are going to cook? but i was successful and finagled myself 3 pots. One is soaking lentils as we speak. There is also a maid, who cleans my room and makes my bed, and a guard 24 hours a day. The streets here are lined with gated houses and offices with guards out front. It is very safe.

MY FIRST DAY: I arrived (in my airplane outfit, mom) with my backpack to move into the guest house at 9:00 am sharp. I got set to work reading up on the organization I realized I knew little about, and read and read. Before lunch I moved into the guesthouse, only a block away. And after lunch I was set to work writing policy papers on microfinance. Substantive work! And since I am only going to be here a month, they will put me to work writing, in both spanish and english, evaluations, project reports, and policy statements on the various projects. There is another friendly intern who also recently graduated, and she is working on revamping the website, etc. I feel very comfortable in the office, with everyone saying 'buen dia, buen dia' to every single person every morning as you walk up the stairs. I even went to the grocery store yesterday. My big splurge was peanut butter.. it nearly double my purchases... 4 dollars! Last night I lead a life of luxury, as I ate pizza in bed and watched Grease (vasolina. en espanol). Not bad for a first day, id say.

Letting life take the lead.. and coming down to Bolivia for an internship turned out to not be half bad. The most serendipitous, I thought, is that they offered me the guesthouse as a place to stay, but their lease there ends at the end of August.. right when I was planning on coming home. Funny how things work out sometimes isnt it?