We Are One

A film by: Adam Chagani, Nafisa Kassam, and Madiha Vallani

Our planet comprises many countries, ethnic groups, religions, and cultures, creating a vast number of differences amongst its inhabitants. As students currently working in three very different countries of the world - Ghana, Nepal, and Vietnam - we decided to conduct a social experiment of our own. We learned that there is more to our similarities than meets the eye. As such, we believe it’s about time we celebrate these similarities and unite in our diversity.

 https://www.youtube.com/my_videos_edit?video_id=92AHYjXCzIg&ns=1

The Need for Perspective: Sandy Hook

News travels fast, especially if its heart-wrenching disaster news. So naturally, even in Nepal, all I’ve been hearing about is the unfortunate series of events in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. First things first, I want to send my sincerest of condolences to everyone involved and/or affected by the shootings.

The tragedy has been a lot to process for everyone, and it seems like just yesterday I was reading about Columbine in the news. You wonder how something could have gotten so out of hand; some of us are even more troubled because we didn’t think something like that could happen in our community, our neighbourhood, our society. The reality is that these things can happen anywhere, that they are happening elsewhere.

Let’s not forget the other children of the world, the other tragedies that kill millions annually. There are child soldiers in many developing countries, others face sex trafficking, some are condemned to a life of poverty and malnutrition, and so on. There are children dying every day because of yet another injustice to which we turn a blind eye.

I’m not trying to at all take away from what happened – it’s horrible and it’s sad, and it deserves our attention. It highlights the need for change in many aspects of our society. What I’m suggesting is that we put it into perspective. There are a lot of similar horrible, sad things occurring in many other parts of the world, and they deserve our attention as well. They deserve our prayers, our consideration, our hard work or, at minimum, your Facebook posts. These various other issues need to be addressed and awareness needs to be raised if anything is every going to change.

So what I’m asking of you today is simple; feel remorse for these victims and their families, pray for them – do all that you are already doing, and then one step more. Channel your sadness and shock into something positive – advocacy. Advocate for all the children around the world, all the girls and boys that deserve to live their lives to the fullest. Do your research; learn about the other hardships plaguing our world today. If along the way, you find a cause that inspires you, share what you’ve learned, and raise awareness. If not, that’s ok. But at least educate yourself so that something positive can come of this recent tragedy.

It's that Time of Year Again!

I’ve been reading so many Facebook statuses about exams lately… and I’m oddly homesick. No, I’m not crazy – I know I shouldn’t miss school. But my favourite thing about December exam time was that it meant the holidays were creeping up on you.

And as multicultural as Canada may be, you always know when Christmas is around the corner – the pretty lights, the retail “sales”, the mall rush, the music playing everywhere. Though not an official celebrator of Christmas (the non-Christian part sort of prevents that), the December holidays meant a lot of fun things to me – family bonding, good food, games of Secret Santa… And Kushali!

Nepal has about a million and one festivals to celebrate, but Christmas isn’t one of them; and quite naturally, this is the time of year when expats and volunteers are most homesick. We’re doing whatever we can to embrace the holiday spirit and celebrate away from home; we have an ugly Christmas sweater party planned, potlucks, and our very own Secret Santa. That’s more Christmas than I celebrate at home!
But there isn’t exactly anything to make up for my Kushali withdrawal…. I just want some sherbat! With zero Ismailis and no JK, it’s sort of hard to celebrate the special occasion. And I know it’s ridiculous, who would’ve thought I’d actually miss it? I've always equated the two - December means Kushali and Christmas are around the corner. Kushmas is easily my favourite time of the year (summer is a close runner-up with the sun, beaches, and all); it’s a combo of both holidays, which means gift exchanges and seeing family, and getting dressed up too!

So to all my friends at home, in the least corny way possible, I’m thinking of you during these holidays. To any Ismailis reading this, Kushali Mubarak! Now please eat some extra meat pie and drink lots of sherbat for me!

Missing you all.

What to Look for in your Field Placement

Oh third years, this is such a climatic time for you all, with applications due later this week! I remember being in your position just over a year ago – the excitement, the nail biting, the constantly changing rankings, and the discussions of who's going where.

First things first, don’t let this be a decision that stresses you out too much; each and every country, and each and every job, has something different to offer. I remember attending an info session and Grainne saying “Choose based on country” and Larry following with “Choose based on the organization”. Both had great points, but which would I recommend to you a year later, and after 3 months of experience on my shoulder? Oddly enough, it depends so much so on the person and what you’re looking for most out of this field placement.

If you find an organization that completely resonates with you, whose mandate makes your heart skip a beat, then by all means tailor your choices and application to that job.

However, if you’re like most of us – you sort of have an idea of what you like, but are largely unsure of what you’ll pursue within development – focus more on the country in which you’d like to work. This field placement is an opportunity to explore, to learn about yourself, and to gain some experience within the field.

Don’t be mistaken in thinking that your job isn’t a big part of your life here – you work for 5 days a week (or 6 if you’re lucky enough to be at certain Nepali NGOs). With that being said, your job IS in fact just your job; and so much, if not most of your learning, is outside of this job. The experiences you take away from this placement will be from your daily interactions with the vegetable vendor, the time you had to jump off of a moving bus, the local parade you joined, and the weekend trips you may take with your classmates. Your assimilation into the culture will teach you just as much about INDEV as your work experiences will.

A lot of your experiences during your field placement depend, quite frankly, on your surroundings. And for those of you that don’t think the weather matters, it does! When making your decision, think about all such factors. Do you prefer constant heat or changing seasons? Do you mind living in a rural area, with limited internet? Or do you prefer the noise and bustle of a busy city? Do you hope to do a lot of travelling outside of the country? Are you okay spending a lot of time on your own or do you prefer having company a lot of the time? Do you have any medical conditions that may make some placements more difficult to manage?

When looking through organizations, similar questions can help you narrow down your choices as well. Do you prefer a desk job or constant field visits? Do you want to work with a bigger, more established NGO or a smaller one? When looking through mandates, remember to look more so at the organization and not as much on the job. Your mandate can and will probably change once you arrive anyway.

And, most importantly, keep in mind that these are just factors to consider, they don’t control the quality of your experience; the true outcome of the placement depends on your attitude. No matter where you go, there will be things that are different and outside of your comfort zone; it’s about you adapting. Don’t look for something that’s exactly the same as what you’re familiar with; the purpose of this is to try something different, to struggle, and to adapt.

Think Twice Before Complaining... You Have More Than You Realize!

This was discovered by my friend and classmate, Saida! This was actually developed by Marc and Angel, in a post called "You're Better Than You Think".

This is not done by me, but I've pasted it here because I think it's a worthwhile read. It's a good reminder that, despite the negative, there is so much positive in each of our lives. So much to be thankful for, and some much more to look forward to.

Enjoy!

1. You are alive. 
2. You are able to see the sunrise and the sunset.
3. You are able to hear birds sing and waves crash.
4. You can walk outside and feel the breeze through your hair and the sun’s warmth on your skin.
5. You have tasted the sweetness of chocolate cake.
6. You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night.
7. You awoke this morning with a roof over your head.
8. You had a choice of what clothes to wear.
9. You haven’t feared for your life today.
10. You have overcome some considerable obstacles, and you have learned and survived.
11. You often worry about what you’re going to do with your life – your career, your family, the next step, etc. – which means you have ambition, passion, drive, and the freedom to make your own decisions.
12. You live in a country that protects your basic human rights and civil liberties.
13. You are reasonably strong and healthy – if you got sick today, you could recover.
14. You have a friend or relative who misses you and looks forward to your next visit.
15. You have someone with whom to reminisce about ‘the good old days.’
16. You have access to clean drinking water.
17. You have access to medical care.
18. You have access to the Internet.
19. You can read.

The truth is, you’re doing better than a lot of people in this world. So remember to be grateful for all the things you do have.

Living in Darkness

I've gotten a good amount of scolding (especially from dear ol' dad) about not having posted in quite some time. So to those of you who have remained loyal, visiting the site without any sign of updates, I am so sorry! I'm back and ready to rock and roll!

Though I haven't posted on the website in quite some time, I have in fact been writing. As this field placement is in itself part of my school curricula, I am required to produce bi-weekly reports about my learning experiences, progress in the workplace, and changing views on development.

Due to the academic nature of these reports, they are written in a more formal tone than is generally used in this blog. Nevertheless, I hope they prove to be insightful!

INDEV 401: Bi-weekly Report

Every day last week, I spent a good chunk of my work time reading a novel called “Start Where You Are”; and as fascinating as the book is, that wasn’t why I read for so long. I spent many such hours reading because, without electricity, there isn’t much else to do at work. These power outages can last an average of four to five hours, two of during which I am productive before my laptop dies. My current project (website development) is entirely computer-based so once my laptop is dead, there is little I can do. Furthermore, without permission to leave the workplace, and with personal conversation being frowned upon, one’s options are even more so limited.

These blackouts are better known in Nepal as load shedding, and occur based on a loosely followed schedule wherein city zones face rotating power outages. Load shedding is essentially a band-aid solution to the government’s inability to meet the country’s electricity demands. The Kathmandu Post (a local newspaper) stated that the Nepal Electric Authority (NEA) currently generates 300 megawatts of electricity against a demand of 800 megawatts, which is rising by 10 percent annually. Furthermore, due to a decade-long Maoist insurgency, no major hydroelectric plants have been built in the past decade. While the NEA generates nearly half of Nepal’s electricity needs, the amount of power it imports from India is not enough to make up the shortfall. As such, the Asian Economic Institute has explained that, as demand for electricity tightens during the winter, Nepal’s state-run power monopoly will increase daily power cuts from 12 hours daily to between 16 and 18.

Though I’ve been facing such power outages since my arrival in Nepal since September, I hadn’t quite felt the impact on the workplace until last week. Once the power is out, our workplace comes to a complete standstill; coworkers are aimlessly roaming the building or sitting at their desks with a blank stare. It is clear that the power outages severely limit productivity and thwart morale. Additional back-up generators could be a solution but, funding is generally limited within NGOs, thereby preventing such purchases.

Dinner by Candelight

This got me thinking about other external factors that can affect the work/progress of NGOs, some of which include natural disasters, health epidemics, politics, civil strife, and so on. While an NGO may be doing great work within its particular field, its overall success can often be dependent on the environmental backdrop within which it’s being implemented. For example, IDS Nepal can be making a lot of headway in the fields of water and sanitation, but if the Maoist rebel forces regain power, it could potentially put all that hard work into jeopardy.

In looking at the bigger picture of international development, this reminded me instantly of the importance of studying the surrounding environment of any which project – that being the social environment, the physical, the political, and so forth. We’ve learned in INDEV 202: Problem Solving for Development that everything is interrelated and therefore relevant to the success of a project. Agricultural income generating activities can suddenly become fruitless if they don’t prepare for the possibility of a changing climate, or if they don’t take into consideration its high levels of a female labour force, for example. Similarly, despite the dedication and admirable efforts of IDS employees, the organization is in no way invincible to the other issues facing Nepal.

This taught me a lot about myself, and the work I aspire to do in the field of development. When problem-solving, one must see the big picture; problems cannot be studied in silo, they must be looked at as a web of correlated conditions. One must screen every relevant factor, and each potential scenario. Participatory approaches involving extensive work with stakeholders are necessary. It’s all related, so it all matters – and this is something no development practitioner should lose sight of if when trying to bring about meaningful change.

Honey, I'm Home!

Nepal is celebrated for its amazing scenery and breathtaking views, but that is no depiction of Kathmandu. Undergoing heavy construction, most roads in the city are filled with loose bricks and potholes so every step you take must be done so with caution. In Kathmandu, dust, stray dogs, questionable smells and absolute chaos surround you. In fact, they swallow you.

And somehow, amidst this chaos, I’ve begun to feel a sense of belonging. For three weeks I’ve lived in my place and for two and a half weeks I’ve worked at IDS. While I won’t rush to say that I’ve yet developed a routine, I have become somewhat comfortable with my surroundings.

I now know where to find the best momos, which tailors to trust, and where to buy the freshest vegetables. I recognize most, if not all, items on a restaurant menu and I’ve even joined a local gym. I’ve found a shortcut from work to the bakery and I can haggle for a reasonable cab fare to a nearby district.

I can share the sidewalk with stray dogs without fearing eternal rabies. I can cross a busy street in confidence and I trust (no matter how small the space) that the bus/car won’t run me over. I can somehow also fall asleep despite the incessant barking of dogs, yelling of roamers, or singing of my neighbour.

Though I have nowhere near mastered the language of Nepali, I can speak enough to survive – I can ask the shopkeeper across the street for a calling card and I know enough to follow most conversations at my workplace.

And that’s how it hit me. Kathmandu is loud. It’s messy. It’s chaotic. Often it’s exhausting. And it’s Home.

Despite all there is to dislike about this city, I’ve fallen in love. Kathmandu is alive. Its pulse is vibrant and its activity is dynamic. From the fruit vendors roaming the streets yelling for sales, to the little boy who sings the days of the week from his room window every morning, to the city’s rich history and jaw-dropping architecture, there is so much to appreciate about Kathmandu.

And it’s because of this same appreciation that I’ve begun to feel a sense of belonging. Though Canada and Nepal could not be any more different, I see myself adapting and changing to the ways of the country. As things become familiar, I’ve begun to fully grasp the extent of my stay in Nepal. It’s both exhilarating and unbelievably nerve-wracking.

Amidst the madness, I’ve found refuge. I’ve found home.

Meet my Travel Companions!

One month down, and seven to go. It’s been exactly a month since I arrived in Nepal, which is definitely cause for celebration.  I know I've been a little lazy with my posting so far, but its about time I introduced you to my wonderful travel companions or, as they’re more commonly known, my ghar ketis (loosely translated as home girls in Nepali).



Fatima: First, we have my housemate and the one and only Sassy Fatty. Being the only Hindi speaker, she is our group’s main spokesperson and it’s often her we depend on when needing to haggle for a taxi. Fatima is also the one I turn to when confirming whether or not something is culturally appropriate (ripped jeans = a big no no). Rumour also has it that she’s a Pakistani pop star with a new single coming out later this year, so keep your eyes out for that!






Lucy: AKA Louis (some also know her as Beth Hinti). She’s the one who you want to have around when you’re lost. She’s a trained pilot and pro at deciphering a map. She also occasionally refers to herself as the window master (we know, she’s a quirky one). She’s working for ANSAAB, an organization that focuses on biodiversity conservation and economic development through enterprise development.





Cassondra: We like to call her the group’s very own BFG (ie. Big Friendly Giant in case you're not familiar with Roald Dahl). This 6’foot ginger loves fashion and will probably make all the Nepali jewelry shopkeepers very rich men. She’s also one of the very very few people I know that actually likes plain soda! Cassondra is working for the Himalayan Bio-Trade Limited (HBTL), in an area we which took us about 3 weeks to locate on a map!





Saida: This is our "lone wolf" because she will be living in Dholaka, 120km outside of Kathmandu… which somehow turns out to be 6-8hrs of travel time when you take into account Nepal's poorly maintained roads (I’m loosely using the word "road" because they're not much more than dirt paths). Though far in distance, Saida will be greatly missed by the Waterloo girls, and we hope to visit a few times!  Saida brings great entertainment when constantly trying to compare Kathmandu to Nairobi. It should also be noted that her favourite food in Nepal thus far is pizza… yeah, pizza; we were as confused as you are!


Marie-Pier and Clem: These are our two darling Frenchies here in Nepal for 3 months from the University of Ottawa. Marie-Pier is a pseudo-hippie that has a unique pronunciation for just about every word; our favourites so far being moonsun (monsoon) and nut (knot).
Clem is the blonde sweetheart from France that may or may not be a germaphobe. There’s also a lot she doesn’t like (papayas, potato salad, pop, fennel seeds, mangoes, mustard, pepper, rice pudding… you get the point). We all stayed at Hotel Shakti together and did language class so, quite naturally, we became good friends and travel companions.



I've spent most of my time here with these girls, but it should also be noted that we’ve met many, many other amazing people and volunteers thus far. I should also give a special shout-out to my two temporary roommates: Lindsay, who used her charm and raving red hair to snag us our very own Nepali tour guide, and Greg, who has courageously been the only guy at a few too many of our excursions!

One month down, and seven to go. The trip so far has been nothing short of a roller coaster. I’ve had many tough experiences such as spending whole evenings and nights in pitch black due to extended power outages, being chased by angry stray dogs, and being so flustered by the language barrier that I ran out of a shop mid-conversation. But I’ve also had some of my life highs here as well, and so much of that is due to these very same travel companions. The heartfelt moments, the laughing so hard my stomach hurt, the friendship bracelets… It’s all been amazing. Nepal is a country beautiful in so many ways – its culture, its landscapes, its people – and I’m so glad to be experiencing it all.

One month down, and seven to go. I can’t wait for what’s to come next.

Travel Musings as of Week #2

Interesting turn of events so far:

• Mero naam Nafisa ho, ra ma IDS Nepalmaa kaam garchhu. Impressed?
  I have been taking Nepali language classes for 2 weeks, ending this Friday. So far, the locals do respond well to our sincere efforts to learn the language but, more than anything, I think they like it because it provides them a whole lot of comedic relief.
• On Saturday, Fatima and I crossed our first big intersection. This is a pretty big deal because no one uses traffic lights in Nepal and the street chaos is NUTS. Other than the claw marks she imprinted onto my arm, I'd say it went pretty well!
• No one in this country seems to believe I’m from Canada; everyone says I'm brown so I must be from India. When I try to explain that though I do have Indian ancestry, I was born in Canada, they don’t believe me. Apparently you have to be white to be from Canada, and your parents must be black if they’re from East Africa. Someone needs to teach them about immigration and globalization!
• On Sunday morning, Fatima and I moved into our new place and we both have nice, big rooms. Unfortunately enough, good sleep is still lacking because our neighbour is a dog breeder (11 dogs counted so far) and the barking continues into the wee hours of the morning.
• The LARGE majority of Nepal’s streets are unnamed so getting directions is just about impossible. Shopkeepers will either not recognize the place you’re looking for, or they’ll point you in completely different directions. Instead, addresses are based on main points of interest; for example, someone would say they live two rights and a left from the Trendy Café, behind the blue gates.
• Saida, a fellow INDEVOUR, finally arrived to Nepal late last night. We’re very excited to finally have her here!
• Nepal has rolling blackouts that happen 2-3 times a day, up to 5 hours at a time. This can be a bit of a pain in the butt, and its best to plan your schedule around the outages. If you’re lucky enough, your house will have inverters (similar to generators), which gets you through the outage. Storing food is much more difficult because fridges require too much power and can’t stay on during the outages; you essentially need to buy what you’ll eat and cook that day or that week.
• Lucy, Cassondra, Fatima and I have been witnesses to two accidents thus far, both involving our own car. The term accident is loosely used as they were minor, but the first involved the other car being severely dented and the second was with our SUV and a motorcycle (enough said.) At this rate, we will have been involved in 32 accidents by the end of our stay!

Thamel: Culturally Trapped and Confused?

It’s been a little less than two weeks since I arrived in Nepal and it has so far been nothing short of an interesting ride! Surprisingly enough, I haven’t dealt with as much culture shock as one would expect. My current theory attributes this wholly to me being in Thamel.

Though we have of course ventured out of the district in our time here so far, most of our stay has definitely been spent in Thamel. The Thamel district can best be described as the primary tourist hub of Nepal. The area includes everything from hotels, to bookstores, to restaurants of every cuisine, to gift shops.

Within the two weeks, we’ve eaten at some restaurants serving local food, two Italian restaurants, a New Orleans-style restaurant, a Mexican restaurant, and several cafés. Each of the cafés, and most of the restaurants, have WiFi services readily available for their customers. Every restaurant menu is in English and in stores you can easily find brands you’re familiar with for things such as shampoo, chocolate, detergent, and so on. And let’s not forget, everyone from local shopkeepers to your waiter speaks English.

As you can tell, you can find just about anything you need and you don’t even need to search very far. Sounds like heaven right?

Nope. It’s borderline frustrating actually.

As great as the convenience can be, I don’t find it to be practical; and its therefore this same convenience that bothers me. As awful as it is to say, I’m in a developing country and somehow so far still living a similar life to one I would back home. Other than the complete lack of traffic signals, the obscene honking, and the rolling blackouts, there’s little to be culture shocked about in Thamel because there isn’t much that is actually different. The entire district is so wholly centered on foreigners and a western mindset that it leaves little space for anything sincerely Nepali.

The clothing sold in most shops are harem pants or patterned skirts that a local would NEVER wear. The shops that don’t sell clothing are selling some sort of bracelet, necklace, or souvenir only prized to someone living outside of the country. And while I’m well aware that we’re living in a technological era, I’m still apprehensive to the idea that this is a service that is equally used by locals and foreigners. Coffee shops that provide WiFi is a western concept and its availability in Thamel is based on tourism-related aims.

That doesn’t mean the Thamel district doesn’t serve its purposes – I am sure it is an important source of revenue and income in Nepal’s tourism sector. And don’t get me wrong, I've still had a great two weeks thus far; I've met great people, done some sightseeing, and also taken a jab at learning Nepali. There’s a lot to be excited about in Thamel – I’ve loved the various cuisines I’ve tried here, the numerous shops selling pashminas and beautiful skirts, the stands selling smoking Bhuddas and knives, and the iced mochas from the Himalayan Java café – but I refuse to believe it’s real Nepal. In fact, the district reminds me too much of a bubble that shields tourists from anything that may make Nepal too different… or too real.

Today I move into the CECI volunteer house in Baluwatar, a few districts away from Thamel. Though the house I’ll be living in is cozy, the surrounding area is nothing like Thamel. I expect it to be an interesting change, but not necessarily an easy one. I’m nevertheless looking forward to exploring the streets and having a more representative experience of Nepal.

All said and done, my stay in Thamel may have provided me with an ideal transition into what Nepal is really like, thereby limiting my culture shock. Who knows! I guess I’ll have to wait and see.

P.S. I'm not crazy. I don't want to drown in culture shock, or super struggle with it - I do however believe it's often a natural part of the experience, especially when traveling internationally. And it's for this reason I was surprised and chose to make note of it in a post.

How It All Began...

Today’s post will be a bit more like a traveling journal for those of you that have been messaging and curious as per my travels so far!

So my journey started off at none other than YYZ, i.e. Pearson Airport. I was lucky enough to have more than 20 amazing friends and family bid me farewell, which was probably one of the nicest ways I could have been seen off.

The 15h20min plane ride to Hong Kong was evidently a long and brutal one. I must say though, Cathay Pacific really knows how to spoil a woman. The couple to whom I was seated besides are a whole different story; the wife spent most of the flight sleeping on the floor and somewhat under my legs while her husband made it a point to walk over me and on my seat any time he needed to move.

Hong Kong 

We landed in the big HK (funny cause its not big at all) at about 530am and our flight to Bangladesh wasn’t until 620pm that evening, so we decided to make the best of those 12 hours and go exploring (extra stamp in my passport… booyah!).

Our tour guide was this cute old man named Willie (not a name you hear too often haha), and the tour we did was designed especially for people in transit. We went to an observation deck, rode a ferry, and saw Bruce Lee’s statue, among other things. We also had some dim sum, which was deeeeeelicious. The day was overall well spent but I didn’t feel like we saw any of the really authentic HK sights; HK is one of the most highly densely populated places in the world and everywhere we visited was fairly empty. Neverthless, we made the best of our situation and I really enjoyed it. Hopefully, during our return flight/travels to Toronto in April, I’ll get to check out a local HK market… now that would be living the dream.

Arrival in Nepal

When we arrived to the airport, getting our bags wasn't a problem, but finding our ride definitely was. It was pitch black outside and pouring rain with people running in all directions, so finding the driver took forever. Once we did though, things were a lot better. He greeted us well and gave each of us a scarf to welcome us to Nepal.

After our 36+ hours of travelling, all I wanted to do was shower once we got to the hotel. As always, I do things in style and I somehow managed to break the showerhead within my first 5 minutes of arrival to the hotel. For those of you that think I’m exaggerating, think again… I literally broke off the entire showerhead causing water to spray across the entire bathroom. Every surface was completely soaked and my shower was not at all what I was expecting haha!

Tomorrow there’s a strike, referred to as bandhs, happening and no one is allowed to drive, unless they have a blue-plated vehicle (allocated mostly to Diplomats). It’s a strike organized by all student unions across the country concerning the recent fuel price hikes implemented by the government. We’ve haven’t decided yet the extent to which this will impede on our Orientation, but it’s looking a lot like the day’s events will be cancelled or postponed. I’m curious to see what the effects of the strike will look like, but I know better than to go wandering (see Mom.. I know how to be safe!).

There are two girls here with Uniterra from the UofOttawa, so that’s awesome as well! The more, the merrier, right? They’re short-term volunteers, meaning they’re here for 3 months instead of the whooping 8 we’ve signed up for.

CECI Nepal + Uniterra
CECI and Uniterra are the organizations through which we are completing this field placement, so the orientation has been organized by them. Things are overall pretty organized with orientation and I’m quite pleased. Everyone is so friendly and we’ve already learned a lot. Today’s orientation was helpful and we got to meet all the who’s-who’s of CECI. They also organized a welcome lunch where we met all CECI staff as well as several of the other volunteers working with the organization. The food was delicious and I don’t feel sick yet, so that’s a great sign!

We also made a visit to the Nepal International Clinic, where we had an info session with a doctor about safe health practices. Apparently Fatima and I missed the memo about needing Japanese Encephalitis (or syphilis according to Madiha), so we’ll be getting that shot this week. We also found out that Rabies is a super important vaccine to have in Kathmandu (you won’t believe the number of stray dogs); luckily, the vaccinations are unbelievably cheaper here in Nepal than at home… instead of $700 for the Rabies shot, it costs US$35 here.


Alright... that's more than enough for you to read about! Hope that wasn't too much!

Thank You

Tomorrow is my 22nd birthday, and in 8 days I shall be on my way to Nepal. Yesterday, I was lucky enough to celebrate both.

Though some parts of the “surprise” party weren’t exactly a surprise, the night was still perfect. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone that came; it was amazing to see all of your faces. Most importantly, I want to say the dearest of thank yous to those of you that were actually involved in the planning of the night. I hope it wasn’t too stressful or difficult to organize.

I especially want to say thank you for the gifts that you gave me. I have to say, the life-size cheque was probably the funniest and sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me. The fact that you all pooled together to help me out is honestly so damn touching. About a month or two back, I wrote a post about the power of kindness. Yesterday, you guys bestowed on me an act of kindness I will never forget. What you all did was so unbelievably thoughtful and I’m lucky to have you all as friends. And like all great acts of kindness, your actions have motivated me to pay it forward. Now, more than ever before, I am determined and driven to bring about meaningful change in the work that I do. Though I will miss you all incredibly, you’ve dismissed most of my fears and anxieties about the trip and all I can really feel is hope.

Packing... Oh the Anxiety!

Current Countdown: 12 days until Nepal!!

With the trip fast approaching, people keep asking me if I’m excited, and of course I am. But I’m nervous too, and sort of a little scared. There’s a lot to wrap your head around when you’re leaving the country and going somewhere so very far outside of your comfort zone. I have a million questions that have yet to be answered, no idea where I’m actually living, and I’m still unsure of what to expect.

With all that being said, I finally acknowledged today that I may be avoiding how real and how soon this is all happening. The countdown has until now been nothing but a blur of numbers. I came to realization of my avoidance today when I looked at the two very empty suitcases sitting in my room;
these suitcases have been sitting in my room for about two weeks and I haven’t even taken the plastic wrap off of one. To those last-minute packers, this may seem like no big deal… but, you see, I am the opposite. I like packing for weekend trips a week or two in advance... which makes me about 3 months behind in my packing for Nepal haha!

I think a lot of my nervousness stems from this being something that I’ve been working towards for the last three and a half years; my extreme levels of excitement for this trip are in part why I’m so nervous. I’m also nervous for all that I leave behind. I am so excited to live this adventure but I will of course miss home, my friends, and my family. They will all be experiencing new things and living great adventures as well so, naturally, I have FOMO. And that’s okay. I’ve finally come to terms with all of this and, though I’ve had some people tell me that you shouldn’t think about the “bad” stuff, I disagree. I think it’s important to acknowledge and accept the anxiety; it doesn’t at all take away from my enthusiasm or anticipation for the trip. I know it’s going to be an absolutely amazing, and eye-opening experience. By thinking about some of the “bad”, I find myself mentally preparing myself for all that is to come. Each experience – as small as it may be, good or bad – is a life lesson. Each of these lessons enhances your self-awareness and, ideally, helps you become a better version of yourself. So today, I embrace the moments to come these next 8 months – the difficult, the sad, the lonely, the exhilarating, the funny, the confusing, the heart-warming, and the eye-opening.

Folks, for those of you confused by what just happened above, you’ve been fortunate enough to witness me using my blog to deal with and overcome my personal issues. I hope you enjoyed the sneak peek into the workings of my head.

In light of my new realizations, its about time I get it together. I am going to get the ball rolling, and tomorrow I shall start packing!!!

Undergrad, I Bid Thee Farewell

Disclosure: the piece below is filled with numerous unnecessarily corny clichés.

Before I get started... 21 days till Nepal. Oh gosh. I can't wait!!!!!

As you can fairly assume, my thoughts have been consumed by anything and everything related to the trip. In fact, I’ve been so excited for Nepal and my upcoming adventures that I haven’t had a chance to really conclude the undergrad chapter of my life. For those of you that may be confused as per the arrangements surrounding my field placement, it is in fact part of my undergrad – so, no, I am not yet a graduate. However, once I’m done the placement, I’m back in Waterloo for two weeks to debrief (i.e. nothing undergrady)… and then I’m done forever.
As of right now, I’ve written my last paper, completed my last exam, attended my last class, taken my grad photos, and handed in my intent to graduate… which essentially means I’m very much so done with everything that makes your undergrad an undergrad. With all that being said, it’s about time I gave this chapter of my life the closing that it deserves..

Fall of 2009: I remember moving into North One Village One like it was yesterday. I arrived to residence excited, eager, and with three suitcases of clothing more than any of my closets could fit. Four years later, some things have stayed the same – I still intend to take the maximum allowed luggage to Nepal – and others have changed. All in all, my undergraduate experience has been an unforgettable one, culminating into a life lesson about personal growth, trying new things, testing your limits, and learning to love.

I’m still blown away sometimes when I think about how I enrolled in Waterloo expecting to someday pursue a career involving Math and French… boy oh boy was I mistaken. Lucky for me, I discovered my calling pretty early on into my undergrad, and it’s been enlightening ever since. The classes I’ve taken, as inapplicable as some may appear to be (*cough #ohindev cough*), have instilled in me a passion to learn, and to learn, and to keep learning.

Although the field of international development, and some of the unfortunate realities of today’s world provide us with many opportunities to be cynical, I truly believe that someday good will prevail. Through multiple efforts, on all levels of scale, I believe that there is potential to break the vicious cycles of poverty in which so many people are currently entrapped. The people I’ve met and the things I’ve learned during my undergrad have made me a believer in the power of kindness. I haven’t quite figured out through which avenue I will go about bridging the gap, but I’m confident that my future life experiences will bring to figuring it out/finding the answer.

My undergrad experience, of course, hasn’t been all about classes (wouldn’t that be a shame!); the people I’ve met, and the memories we’ve created, are without a doubt central to me being who I am today.

To my Waterloo family (and Zubair, to whom I’m not officially related), I love you all incredibly and the last four years have been an absolute adventure. From the bubble tea dates in first year (Alyyah = permanent chor), to the countless barbecues, to your unhealthy gambling, to the secret underground escapades – we’ve had way too much fun and it’s been an unforgettable experience. Thanks for everything you have done to love and support me,  I'm truly blessed to have shared so many of life's milestones with you. You are my family like no other and I can't wait to grow old with all of you haha.

And Indevours, oh my dearest Indevours, you are all a part of this sick, twisted, and yet, wonderful family that I will truly cherish forever. Our undergrad has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, but I’ve enjoyed the ride. Each of you is so unique, so special, and I’ve learned so much through every single one of you. From the common adversaries, to the endless term papers, to the nights at Bomber, to all the hilarious memories (Get on my level!), we've all had so much fun together. I’ve enjoyed every part of this undergrad and feel so damn lucky to be studying with you at the University of Waterloo. With all of our varying interests and unparalleled passion, I can’t wait to see what our futures hold and all that we accomplish. We will work for change!

So to my Undergrad, I bid Thee farewell – I can’t believe how quickly time has flown by. The lessons I’ve learned during my undergrad experience are ones I intend to carry with me through life. The passion instilled in me for a more just world is a driving force in my efforts to bring meaningful change in all the work that I do. As this chapter of my life comes to a close, so many new things have just gotten underway. For starters, I’m saying goodbye to Waterloo and hello to Nepal. I can’t wait to see what life has in store for me; if it’s anything like my undergrad, I’m in for the experience of a lifetime!

Good Intentions Don't Cut It

Three years ago, I was sure I understood development. The more I’ve learned, the more problems I’ve come across. There are an infinite number of cases where the practitioners were well-intentioned but the project failed because there was not an accurate understanding of what sort help was needed.

I find that one of the hardest things in development (besides the temptation of cynicism) is ensuring that the change you’re aiming to achieve is both sought and welcomed by stakeholders. I strongly believe that change must be DESIRED before it is okay for any development practitioners get involved. Stakeholders must be aware of the choices they have in the matter, and they must CHOOSE to acquire external assistance. Anything outside of that is an intervention, and should not be classified in the name of development. That is not to say you can’t present them with options, but that’s just it – they’re options – and the local communities should have every right to refuse them if that’s what they prefer.

What people unfamiliar to the field do not always recognize is the thin line exiting in development moving from empowering, enabling and capacity-building to the imposition of our belief systems. We can’t go into someone else’s country, someone else’s home, and tell them everything they are doing is wrong – who are we to say that? Development is not a linear spectrum and we as Westerners are NOT the end goal. Development can exist in a multitude of different forms and should not be assess with a narrow mindset. Living on less than a dollar a day is not an adequate criterion to individually determine the status of a nation. Economic standing is not an accurate depiction of a country’s development because it ignores important things such as a community’s incredible spiritual and cultural wealth.

This involves a lot of thinking and preparation before arriving in Nepal. I want to go to Nepal, and I want to help, I want to be useful. But I need to be critical of the work I do, always ensuring that there is a demand for the work I’m doing and the change I’m trying to bring about.

The Dark Side of Nationalism

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of enjoying my Canada Day in the country’s capital! It was an exciting weekend, filled with more red and white than I’ve ever seen in my life.

Before I continue, I’d like to give a small shout out to my fellow INDEVOUR and friend, Gina, who is a native Ottawian – okay, she’s sort of an immigrant, but she’s lived most of her life in Ottawa; she spent most of Saturday touring the city with me, teaching me little facts along the way! It was a blast.

In my 21 (almost 22!) years of being a Canadian and a resident of the planet Earth, this was my first time celebrating Canada Day, as well as my first Canada Day in Ottawa. My previous July 1sts have consisted of nothing more than my day-to-day routines and maybe catching a glimpse of the fireworks from my backyard if I'm lucky. This year was different; everything about it made me feel proud to be Canadian and it was the first time I could express this pride without it having to be associated with Olympics or hockey!

Being programmed to relate everything back to development (also known as permanent geek mode), the day’s high levels of Canadian nationalism lead me to ponder about the effects of one's pride and whether there is more to nationalism than chants and colourful flags. Could it be that nationalism has a dark side?

Some theorists believe that violence, war, and certain hate crimes are a by-product of people getting wrapped up in nationality as an integral part of their identity. Associated with nationalism are ideas
such as:
     - My country and its people are the best in the world;
     - My country is better than other countries;
     - I have a duty to my country;
     - And, I have a duty to protect my country, its people, and its
       interests.
If you look at these phrases carefully, they denote a sense of superiority and may even be potential sources of conflict if misguided.

In such cases, nationalism can also foster danger and animosity when brought through, “patriotism,” and “fighting for your country.” By uniting people around a common identity, nationalism is simultaneously creating, “the others,” as an identity for those who do not fall into the national bond group.

Throughout centuries, wars have been magnified by differences in national identity. Even today issues arise around differences in nationalism. For example, one blogger argues that Quebec nationalism, as envisioned by its founders in the 50s and 60s, was set on making French Canadians equal partners in Canada. The blogger goes on to say, “Somewhere along the line, the concept of equality has been lost - replaced with the notion of separate and better.” Similarly, differences in national pride led to violent protests and conflict between the Chinese government and Tibetans prior to the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Don’t get me wrong – I love being Canadian. I think nationalism is a great thing because it can promote unity and a common identity WHEN USED in positive contexts. Moreover, having national pride and feeling a sense of community has been shown to be an essential condition for the existence of democracy.

The key concept within nationalism is to then promote equality between groups versus superiority to one or any other group. Pride in one’s country is great as long as we steer away from labeling it as better than others. An extension of that train of thought may be to also avoid terms such as developed and developing countries due to the association that being developed means to imitate Western countries as an end goal.

I take pride in calling Canada my home. The question to ask is when does that pride get too far? When does nationalism become a threat?

We are INDEVOURS

Keep hearing about the organization INDEVOURS? Want to know more?

We're a group of thirty-two optimistic, honest, and collaborative International Development students at the University of Waterloo who will be embarking on their 8-month placements this September. We are heading to seven different countries in search of ways to make a positive difference in the realities of international development. To help make this mission a reality INDEVOURS is fundraising the costs of our placements. Our goal is to raise $60,000 by September 2012.

Watch this short (yet awesome) video to get a better idea of what we're all about!! Here, we share our views on development issues and what we are doing about it. What are you doing about issues in development?

 

Watch here: We are INDEVOURS

Visit our website to learn more about us and our international development field placements: http://indevours.wordpress.com/

The Magic of Kindness

I was lucky enough to witness a random act of kindness today. I found it super inspiring but quickly got bummed out when I got thought about how common it is for us to underestimate the value that these small acts can have. As a society, we value attributes such as intelligence and strategic thinking, often leaving the power of kindness to go ignored.

Today reminded just how powerful kindness can be. One of my classmates, who happens to be my namesake - Nafis - had the great idea to show our one and only, Karen Robertson, some appreciation. Karen is the Academic Advisor for the International Development program at Waterloo and, in our three years of schooling, she's been nothing short of a gem!

Using sidewalk chalk, the students wrote "INDEV <3's Karen" in huge letters so that she could see the message from her third floor office window. She was surprised, to say the least! As I stood beside the message while Karen waved from above, all I could think was about how this simple act (which took my classmates no more than 15 minutes) had the potential to change someone's day. That person will now go about their day with a smile, and in a better mood. That person – moved by this small act of kindness – is also likely to pass on that good deed.

So if it's that easy, and it can have THAT great of an impact, why is it something we so often seem to look past? I can't seem to figure it out - at what point did we transition to a society that doesn’t see the value in helping others? I might be coming off a bit cynical, so let me clarify; there is A LOT of kindness in the world – for goodness sake, I have 31amazing classmates who are ready to dedicate their lives to make a positive difference in the world. We love the people we do because of their kindness and the happiness they bring into our lives. All in all, I'm not saying this kindness is non-existent, I'm just saying it doesn't happen nearly as often as it should.

There are so many opportunities for those little acts of kindness, and it's so easy to do that one small thing that makes the world a better place. I'm not suggesting you give up your career to save the world or that you suddenly become a "tree hugger", I'm saying you should take out that one extra minute to do something that may very well go unnoticed. Pick up that water bottle you see lying in the parking lot and throw it in the recycling, pay for a stranger's coffee, hold open the door for the person behind you - the options are endless!

What do you think? Do you in fact believe that the bigger initiatives are the ones that count the most? And why is it that the small acts of kindness are such a rare commodity in today's society?

I would also love to hear stories of small act of kindness that changed your day!

Faithful

Last September, my co-workers and I were given an assignment wherein we had to choose one word to describe our best selves. More specifically, we were to answer the question “What if someone said that you had to trade in your name for a word that best describes you as your ‘ideal self’? What would you choose and why?" I didn’t choose a word that best described me, but instead a word that described me in my most ideal situation. I chose the word “Time” because, in my perfect life, I would have time to accomplish, see, and experience all that I desire. There is so much I want to do in the world and I can only hope that I’ll have enough time to do so.

A lot has happened since last September and, somewhere along the way, my one word changed. Upon heavy reflection and re-assessment, though my appreciation for time remained unhinged, the importance of certain values has heightened.

As such, if I were to be asked that same question today, my one word would actually be "Faithful". By definition, faith is to have confidence, trust or belief in something that is not based on proof. For me, as opposed to having a religious reference, being faithful is a confidence in the triumph of good versus bad. More specifically, my faithful nature is exemplified vis-à-vis my expectations for both my future and the future of everyone across the globe.

Personally

Each year seems to be more eventful than the last and more memorable than any other. In spite of the various curve balls thrown my way this past year, I’ve walked away feeling more positive, confident, and faithful than ever before.

My newfound faith has set off a comfort that things will work out for the best, regardless of how rocky they may seem at one point or another. I am faithful that things will fall into place – whether it is my friendships, relationships or my career. I don’t feel as much of a need to sweat the little things because I am confident that everything happens for a reason, and whatever is happening is bringing me one step closer to my dreams. I don’t need a specific path outlined for where I will be in the next year, two years, or five years, because I am faithful that each experience is a guiding factor in my self-discovery.

Development

In my years at Waterloo, the more I learned about development, the more I perceived issues surrounding it to be an insurmountable. I saw development as an unfair battle, one of the individual against unassailable organizations such as multinational corporations or the government. My biggest hurdle on this educational path has been rooted in my efforts to not become a hopeless cynic. Fortunately, my experiences this past year have shone light on the potentials for the future and have, consequently, restored my faith in the capabilities of the human species.

I have faith that good will prevail and that development is possible. I am faithful that truly participatory development and development projects that take into consideration the views of all stakeholders and are not pipe dreams, but instead realities of the future. Most importantly, I am faithful that the work I do in my lifetime – so long as I do so both passionately and critically – can have a positive impact.

All in all, I am faithful.

This newfound faith has instilled in me a sort of calmness that I’ve never felt before. Though life isn’t clear, I’ve let go of my fear and I trust that my intentions will manifest.

And to those doubters out there, don’t be too quick too judge. My faith shouldn’t be mistaken for naivety; I don’t think it will be an easy path. I don’t think it’ll happen without a fight or without sacrifices. I am, nevertheless, faithful that the struggle will lead to positive results, and that ends achieved are worth the means. 

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith.
       -Henry Ward Beecher