Team Life

It's been good to be on a team again. This project is a big one, and may not be typical, but enjoyable in many ways. Technically the international staff (like me) is about 15, but in my 5 weeks here we have seen a lot of transition. Three staff finished their term here, two went on vacation, one got sick and is recovering at home, and another got sent to an outlying town where we are seeing literally over half a thousand clients each day and there was a need to open an intensive care unit there for the sickest malnourished children. Normally they are referred here to our town, but that is over 100 Km by rough road and it was not feasible for many families. So that has made our team feel suddenly small and gives chances to connect with randomly assorted combinations of the group.

We each have our own rooms among three houses, two on one property. The main area is where two meals a day are cooked for us and our stock of food and drinks are. There's a TV here, which is annoying, but enjoyed by some. The front porch is a comfortable hang out place, usually in the relative dark, to avoid too many bugs. Most people eat at 1pm for lunch and they make a plate for those of us who are out at the health centers to eat when we get back in town. Supper is then at 8pm and usually shared by most everyone.

There are dynamics that change and ebb as people come and go. In general, the new blood is always good. We also frequently have visitors from the coordination team or other consultants who come to the project for several days.

All in all, its pretty tranquil and easy to get along. One can participate in the team life or recourse to one's room or go out and find friends in the neighbourhood.
In the milieu of our work, it's a positive sense of teamwork despite our differences and inequalities and languages.