Well, looks like I wasn´t kidding around about things getting better here, they are closing my project! My last day will probably be in the 2nd week of March. Just as things were starting to get organized…oh well. There will be plenty to do between now and then as we close two offices, lay some people off, and transfer others - not to mention getting all this junk back to Bogota!
Since I´m still here, I thought I´d put up some photos and here´s a link with things to do in Ibague if you want to check it out: http://poorbuthappy.com/colombia/travel/place/ibagu/ . Not a ton out there on the place because it is just not that exciting… As I said before though, the weather is great and people are super friendly.
Here a couple of pics from the main plaza in el centro about 4 blocks from where I live. And another couple from around town – and, no, I didn´t take these.
Jeanine Salio
From L-to-R: Marga-Asst to Jefe (Colombiana), Jeanine-old boss (Francesa), Edilson-new boss (Colombiano), Gloria-pharmacist (Colombiana), y Jeaneth-house manager (Colombiana). Adios Jeanine, buen viaje!
As to what next, not quite sure at this point. I have contacted the HR people in Paris and the capital office here has their ears to the ground as well. We´ll see. Darfur has been bandied about as well as Pakistan – which would be super interesting for me but who knows!
Apparently since I signed a 6 month contract, they are bound to it and are, therefore, motivated to find me something. But, I suppose, if they want me to just have a paid vacation until July that would be ok too! As to length of new mission, etc. – no clue.
After such a long stint here (you guys know me – it´s been like 6 weeks straight of work!), trying to weasel at least a couple of weeks leave between ending here and starting elsewhere to do a little sightseeing etc. – I´m thinking Ciudad Perdida, Cartagena, and/or the islands of Providencia/San Andreas (technically Colombian but more like being on the Antilles – so, no it won´t suck!).
Hope all is well in the ´real´world. Back soon with updated info – I hope!
Ciao!
Hey Rick,
One thing is for sure, chaos always wins.
Is this closing due to the current world economic state or something else?
Am enjoying the updates. You should open a flickr, photobucket, picasa, whatever photo site also so that you can put up photos of your locations. I know that I would be interested in seeing more of what you are seeing.
tack
Tack, good idea! Which would you recommend? Free is always good for me….
The closing was due to the actual improvement of the situation in my area – not that it still isn´t bad but it is not as extreme as MSF likes…
rick
http://www.flickr.com
There’s no limit to the number of photos you can have. But if you have a free account, you’ll only see the most recent 200 photos displayed.
With a free account, you can upload up to 100MB per month.
http://www.flickr.com/help/photos/
If you upgrade to a Pro account, all the photos you add to Flickr will always be available. Don’t know what the upload limit becomes.
I have a live.com account, 25GB total, no limit upload that I know of.
Sent you a link in your e-mail.
tack