Wow, this has been a crazy week. For starters, we have been spectacularly busy here at Diamondback. Audits, training, and inspections; the usual sort of thing, just a shit ton more of it. When I first signed on the dotted line to come over here, we all thought I would be bored stupid and we brainstormed ideas for how to stay busy. The reality turned out to be that we work, and we work, a lot. Downtime is hard to come by and normally its filled with taking care of the essentials of daily life. But, I came here to work every day for year so I could not work every day of the following year, so Im cool with this, even if it is exhausting.
Second, I find out a close friend of mine has a brain tumor…or more accurately, had a brain tumor. Its out, it not cancer, she will live. She’s a warm, thoughtful, deep soul that I care about immensely and I have no doubt that this will only impact her life in a positive way. If someone can turn brain surgery into a positive thing, she can. This news still cuts like a laser when you are 6000 miles away and treading water in a job and place that at this point is serving little purpose other than filling up the piggy bank.
Third, in 10 days I start travel to Nepal. If you have managed to cut through the news of the Times Square bomb, the hemorrhaging oil line in the Gulf, the devastation in Tennessee and some little thing happening in Greece, then you have seen that things in Nepal are well, challenged? Im going to try to not use subjective descriptors here because I really don’t have all the facts, but short story: Major Maoist strike for most of the week bringing all industry, tourism, and commerce to a stand still. No public transportation, tourists confined to their hotels, limited fuel and supplies. Their Constitution expires on May 28, while I’m there, and a new one has yet to be drafted. As of today, the strike has been lifted and I’m being reassured by my contacts in country that things are returning to something resembling normal. Whatever normal looks like in a country like Nepal.
I’ll admit, following the news out of Nepal I initially considered changing my plans. Who would have thought that going anywhere from Iraq would or could actually be more dangerous? But, after reviewing more of the facts and getting information from sources in the country, I’ve decided to see this trip now as an even greater opportunity. If there is a chance for historical tourism than this is it.
More on all of this to come, but the crazy week continues.
No comments:
Post a Comment