My first week at work

Sorry for not writing but this week has been exhausting! It's difficult to get back into the 9-5 (actually, the 7:30-5:30) grind after a whole school year of mid-morning, mid-afternoon, and evening naps, but back in the grind I am and loving every minute of it. I have wanted to work for UNICEF for as long as I can remember and this internship is already off to an amazing start. Everyone here is doing something incredible, and for the first time in my life I am in an office full of people that I want to emulate someday. The juvenile justice section of child protection (where I'm working) is amazing. They're doing a lot of work to help the Cambodian government keep kids out of jail, get fair and adequate legal services once they are in the system, and ensure humane treatment if they are incarcerated. It is stunning to see exactly how much work there is to do in this country and how effective UNICEF is. One thing is for sure, if you're interested in any kind of public service work at all, Cambodia has something for everyone.

The people in my office are fantastic. My supervisor is from the Philippines, there are about 7 Cambodians, a woman from Ireland, one from Australia, and two other Americans. Also, there are two people who went to Michigan, including the woman who is the head of the division!! Yaay!! I have also made a friend in a Cambodian girl named Kimsray who is an administrative assistant intern. She's awesome. She's from the provinces and has a pretty amazing story. I'm sure I'll be talking a lot more about her in the future, especially since we have weekend plans.

I also have to say that I had my security training on Wednesday and the UN security infrastructure is absolutely phenomenal. I never though about it before but once I did it seemed obvious that the UN would have to have extensive plans and resources available for their staff, considering where in the world they are sending them. Also, Mom, you'll be glad to know that Cambodia has been deemed completely safe, but even so, the security plans would ensure survival after Armageddon.

Another thing that has impressed me about this office is that the UN clearly does not put a lot of its money into aesthetics! While the evil, evil, evil World Bank is housed in an incredible colonial mansion with flowered porticos and a satellite so big that it should be encrusted with diamonds and hidden in a giant volcano, the UNICEF compound (yes, they have a compound) is neither incredible nor colonial. In fact, it is just a couple of pretty nondescript buildings with a few guards (everyone has guards here, you have to), a bunch of very cheap, very old desks, and some blue cubicle walls (I'm going to have to learn to love the colour blue if I want to work for the UN). There is nothing fancy or extravagant about the place. In fact, when I was driven to my security meeting yesterday, it was in a mid-90's white 4 Runner with UNICEF painted on the side. The other office was pretty plain as well, so I'm guessing that most of them look like this. Except, probably, where the UN Ambassador and other such important people work. Anyways, I like the fact that it's so plain. It's so hypocritical otherwise.

I also have a regular tuk-tuk driver now. Apparently this happens often, as a regular gig may be the only guarantee of steady pay, especially in a profession as competitive as professional tuk-tuk driver. My driver's name is Jack (well, that's what he says but I doubt that's what his mother calls him) and he's a day younger than me! Actually, we had sort of an awkward moment because he told me he was 26 but then said his birthday is a day after mine, year and all, and I was reluctant to put two and two together for him and tell him that he's actually a year younger than he thinks. So, I said I am 25 and remarked about how wonderful a month October is for being born and left it at that. Jack is hilarious, very curious about America, loves living in Phnom Penh, and happens to be very cute. I am determined to set him up with Kimsray, as they are both single and my only two friends in town. Jack will be driving Kimsray and I around tomorrow as we explore Phnom Penh so I'll post some pictures and keep you updated on my matchmaking progress.

I also love the drive to work because every day I get to pass a) the American Embassy, b) Wat Phnom, the founding place of Phnom Penh, and c) an elephant that apparently lives in Wat Phnom park and allows tourists to ride on its back for an obscene amount of money. Kimsray and I are going to sneak away for lunch today and try to take a picture.

So that's all. I'm sure I will be writing lots more later. For now, it's only my first week but I love my internship, love the UN, and I'm crazy about UNICEF!


Travel well,
kat

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