I can't believe how fast time is going... and it's been a while since I've given a proper update on what's been going on over here, so it's time to share!
First of all, check out Cox's Bazar from the air:
... not a bad place hey?
Anyways...
A few days after I returned from my R&R we had a visit from our CEO. Everyone was really excited for the visit and the team had planned a big dinner party at a fancy hotel outside the city. Everyone was invited - all the national and international staff from every one of our programs, and it was all people were talking about in the days leading up to the event - people even went out and got new party outfits! So after work that day we all got dressed up, did our hair and make-up (I even found a straightener and straightened my hair for the first time in 3 months), and loaded up into buses and vans and made the hour drive along the ocean-front to the hotel. It was amazing to see how many people comprise our team here. There were easily 200 people all gathered into the banquet hall for a delicious dinner - nutrition teams, health teams, logistics teams, shelter teams, drivers, translators, HR and finance teams, support workers, etc... just so incredible to see our whole family together and really appreciate how many of us are united in this effort to serve the Rohingya. And with that many people, you can't even imagine how many selfies were taken... the Bangledeshi really love their selfies! Sadly the speaker system wasn't cooperating, so much to the dismay of every single Bangadeshi staff, the dancing portion of the evening didn't happen... but one of my coworkers and I may have disappeared to go play in the arcade. I mean, come on, how do you say no to motorcycle racing?!?!
A week after I got back, I was once again delegated as the holder of 3 phones. My line manager had to leave the country to attend a workshop, which means I was holding down the "health team fort" again. But I think things went better this time around... and by that I mean I didn't find myself having panic attacks on the roof at any point over those 12 days. I think I'm slowly starting to get the hang of things here. I mean, I still have moments and days when I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing and not sure how to proceed, but at least I know how to keep things flowing day after day.
Although, there has unfortunately been something floating around the office over the last month, attacking our team one by one. My turn happened last week, and it hit me hard for at least 48 hours. I was down and out last Friday - fever, sore throat, congested, achy... just rough. I think I spent the whole day in bed sleeping, watching movies, and praying that my team in the field didn't run into any issues or need me for anything
urgent.
We had to conduct some interviews in the camp around the same time, and let me tell you, walking through camp in the heat is less than ideal when you're sick. But it was definitely a humbling experience thinking about all the sick Rohingya who have no choice but to suffer through that on a daily basis. It's not a fun experience, and my heart hurts for those who struggle with health issues in the camp. I'm so thankful to be part of a team that's helping to provide much needed health care services in those hard-to-reach areas of the camp. Easy access to health care, doctors, nurses, and even a clean, comfy bed are things we so often take for granted. It's a good reminder to appreciate those luxuries and be thankful for all that we have.
The heat seems to be fading here. Monsoon season is over, winter is approaching, and the cyclone season is now upon us. The temperatures are dropping, if only by a few degrees, yet I still find that there are times when I need a jacket; and just last night I sat shivering during dinner on the rooftop even though I was wearing leggings and a long sleeve dress. It was a beautiful view though, so I "suffered" through and watched the waves roll in:
Things are ramping up here in terms of cyclone preparedness - more meetings, more plans, more discussions, and more e-mails on the topic. Bangladesh is apparently ranked 13th in the world for risk of natural disasters, with flooding and cyclones being the most likely occurence.
This past week there was the threat of a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal - Cyclone Titli. We've been watching it closley, and thankfully it's not likely to venture towards us. Unfortunately, we're still watching the media coverage on the damage it's causing as it made landfall on India yesterday, making it's way northeast along the coastline, and hopefully dissapating as it reaches western Bangladesh. We seem to be safely tucked away down south for now, but 2.5 more months of cyclone season remain. In 2017, Cox's Bazar area was struck by Cyclone Mora, a devastating storm that affected 3.3 million people, so the liklihood of another storm is all too real.
For now we are feeling the tail winds and rains of Cyclone Titli, but the kids in camp seem to be enjoying the winds. You can look up almost anywhere in camp and you're sure to see at least 1 kite riding the wind. Kids are gathering everywhere, standing in large groups, or running through the camp screaming and giggling with a kite in tow, trying to get it to take off.
It's like Dumbledore said: "Happiness can be found in even the darkest of places, if one only remembers to turn on the light."
I think this speaks loudly on so many levels. There is so much devastation here. The conditions people live in, and the horrors that the Rohingya survived as they fled Myanmar are truly unspeakable. The camp is a dark place to be in, yet there are so many ways that we can help "turn on the light" for these people - a smile, sharing a laugh, helping to provide essential medical and nutrition services, building up their capacity and skills. I'm beyond blessed to be a part of that bigger picture, to be a part of an organization that provides light and hope in times of darkness. And to see these kids rise up against all the darkness they have around them, and fly those kites high in the sky - that's the most amazing.
Comments