For nine months I have believed only in the most abstract of ways that this day—the final day of my fellowship—would actually arrive. Now that it’s here, I want to travel back to the glory days of my stay and do it all again. A few weeks ago, you indulged me as I [...]
Posts Tagged as ‘Kiva Fellowship’
February 4, 2009
Another Look at Training Staff
I recently posted to the general Kiva Fellows’ Blog about some of my experiences as a trainer over the past 6 months. I know that I have already covered (quite thoroughly, some would say) my work as a trainer at BRAC Tanzania, but if you’re aching for more, check it out here.
Stay tuned for [...]
January 30, 2009
It’s Not All Fun and Games
Some people say that my blog is amusing. That makes me smile and I thank those of you willing to stroke my ego. I am, however, aware of one of the blog’s major shortcomings: I habitually fail to inform my readers about the specifics of the work I am doing. Looking [...]
December 12, 2008
And During the 19th Hour, I Was Electrocuted
I have completed my first 24 hours in Rwanda. While I know that if I try to truly document the nuances of the day I just had, this blog post will be my longest yet (and that’s saying something because you all know I am verbose), I tried to write the abridged version but [...]
November 23, 2008
Bidding Adieu to BRAC Tanzania (and the never-ending bus ride)
11 Nov. 2008
To tell the story of my last day at BRAC Tanzania, I have to start with the preceding evening. Because my work permit is set to expire on Thursday, 13 Nov, I have to leave the country by Wednesday. If anything goes wrong (which, frankly, it tends to do), I don’t want to [...]
October 29, 2008
My Morning Routine
I used to arrive at the Country Office of BRAC Tanzania, sit down at my desk, and proceed to be massacred by mosquitoes until late morning. Inevitably I would spend the remainder of every day either scratching my countless bites until they were raw or trying to trick myself into forgetting how much they itched.
No [...]
October 27, 2008
Africa Made Me Do It
After three months in Tanzania, I have done some things I never thought I’d do. Here, a list of a few of those things. Consider it a work in progress:
Eat cow stomach
See a spider and not scream in terror and/or murder it viciously
Consider a $2 beer expensive
Be good at swimming compared to an entire population
Enjoy having [...]
October 23, 2008
Victory is Mine! . . . or is it?
I’m going to make a bold statement: microfinance is the land of minute incremental change and joy resulting from massive professional achievement is rare here. Afterall, one loan of $125 does not take a family from impoverished to middle-class, and three months in the field does not illuminate the solution to eradicating global poverty. As a result, any goal [...]
September 17, 2008
21 Days on the Road (Part 2)
Day 12 (Warning: slightly disgusting content. Do not attempt to read while eating):
I just finished rubbing my heels with sandpaper for the last hour. It’s a long story how I got to this point, but it involves exclusively flip-flops/sandals and very dirty/dusty/sandy roads for 6 weeks. Basically, I gave up trying to [...]
