It has been a year since I last prepared to go overseas and
as I do so again the familiar feelings and routines kick back in. The initial
excitement and anticipation is replaced with apprehension and activity. It feels
‘right’ to be embarking on this next contract but in many ways it is a step
into the unknown so it is also a time of mixed emotions.
Although it is my 11th overseas assignment
there is still a lot to do in order to be ready to go and for a few weeks my
life consists of e-mails, lists, visits and packing. There are multiple e-mails
back and forth with Head Office making sure all the required documents are read
and signed and all the practical arrangements (like flight bookings, insurance,
etc.) are in place. I make lists of things I need to do (tell my bank I will be using my debit card overseas, get my haircut, check my vaccinations are
up-to-date, etc.) and lists of things I need to buy (an international driving
permit, US Dollars, toiletries, etc.). I try to see as many friends as possible
before I go. I start ‘gathering’ – gradually putting more things in the corner of my
bedroom that I want to take with me and I go over and over in my
head the clothes I will pack. This also requires some research about
what the climate is going to be like and what is culturally acceptable and
usually results in things being added to the 'to buy' list. The
actually packing happens the day before I leave when everything I want
to take is laid out on my bed and things are added and taken away until I am
happy that nothing has been forgotten and everything can be justified. I try
and fit it all into one suitcase and even though I think I have kept things
to a bare minimum I inevitably find there are things I take that I never use or
wear.
This time I am preparing to go to Jordan for three months to
work with Medair in one of their four programmes in the Middle East responding
to the humanitarian fallout from the crises in Syria and Iraq (the other
programmes are in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon). It’s a part of the world I haven’t
been to before and I will be living and working in the capital Amman. There are
an estimated 600,000 refugees living in Jordan, mostly from Syria (although
some reports suggest this could now be as many as 1 million) amongst a
population of around 7 million people. Most of these refugees are living
outside of formal refugee camps in sub-standard accommodation with limited
access to water and healthcare and Medair is working to improve the lives of
some of the most vulnerable. You can read more about Medair’s work in Jordan
here. I will be working in the office in Amman supporting the project
activities both in Jordan and the surrounding countries through the strengthening
of the logistics, finance and HR functions.
I will endeavour to update this blog on a regular basis over
the next three months with reflections, anecdotes and photos of things I see
and do. So thanks for stopping by…
