Cambodia: Day 30

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Child Health and Nutrition Unit

11:22 AM

Yesterday was just another typical day at the office.

Eww. I hate saying that. I never want to work in an office.

It's not like this internship has made me begin to think that way; I've always known that about myself. It's just that this internship is beginning to reinforce that belief.

I'm not bashing on RACHA at all; they're actually an amazing organization that has made an invaluable difference to the women and children of Cambodia. I would even go so far as to say that they're the best organized NGO that I've ever seen, not to mention one of the largest. But I seriously can't sit in this desk for eight hours every day and not begin to go a little crazy, especially when I have such a small amount of work to do.

Things should improve next week, though. I'm heading out to the provinces, my main goal (other than collecting precious data) being to get as far away from a desk as possible.

So what do I do to help me get through my days that sometimes seem to move at a glacial pace? I work on my survey ... I revise my survey ... I sometimes get a chance to talk to Dr. Ketsana about my survey ... I chat online with Tuni ... I daydream about riding my bike … I revise my survey (again) while simultaneously looking up articles online about outdoorsy things … I write in my journal ... I contemplate medical school, which inevitably evolves into stressing about medical school ... I check my email far more often than is necessary … I plan out my calendar ... I fantasize about eating a bowl of cereal with ice cold milk … I revise my survey for the eleventy billionth time …

Sometimes I even use the restroom.

I know that I probably sound like the worst intern ever right now, because that's kind of how I feel. However, I know that once I actually get my research going I'll be back to normal (whatever "normal" is). It's been a slow start, but I have no doubt that things are going to pick up. Three straight weeks out in the provinces, a month of writing a kick-butt report, and then a final presentation.

Maybe it's a difference in cultural norms that is causing me to feel this way. Things in Cambodia move at a much slower rate, as opposed to America where "time is money." I remember the first day that I talked to Dr. Ketsana about getting my survey written. I asked her when she wanted to have a rough draft of the survey and she seemed a little confused.

"When would you like a rough draft?"

"… Uhh …"

"… Uhh … What day do you want my survey to be done?"

"Oh, oh … Uhh … Wednesday …"

Maybe having a set deadline for things like this isn't what they're used to around here. I had my survey to her the day she wanted it, and after a few revisions she said, "We in no rush, we in no rush."

As much as I wish that I could have my entire survey finalized and already be out in the field, I have to recognize a few things: First, Dr. Ketsana has a lot on her plate. As the team leader for the Child Health and Nutrition unit, she is constantly going from one meeting to another, from province to province. It's impossible for her to focus all of her attention on my little project, especially when she has so many other more important things to be doing.

Secondly, I'm here on their time, not my own. I need to be more grateful for the opportunity I have to be participating in this internship. I'm here to observe and learn. These people have had extensive experience and success in the field of development, attributes which I, not surprisingly, lack.

Even though I sit behind this desk all day, I still have many opportunities to learn. Everyday I hear about a new program or project that RACHA is implementing or involved in, in one form or another. They address a multitude of topics that I didn't even realize were issues.

In addition to that, I'm also getting a more "behind-the-scenes" look at how a successful NGO operates. For some crazy reason I always had the idea in my brain that running an NGO would be a fairly simple task. Approve a few things here, sign a few papers there, and then you're good to go and change the world.

No, Andee. You must have been on crack when you thought that.

First you have to have an idea. To attempt to implement that idea, you have to have funds and people who are interested in working with/for you. To get those funds, you have to find some sort of partner or donor who is willing to invest in your cause. Oh, and those people you hired? They're not going to work for free. They need to be paid, too.

But wait, there's more!

Sometimes you have to go through this thing called the government to get approval to do anything.

Yeah. It's not that easy. Not that easy at all.