The worst of weeks

Although I am excited to finally take a vacation at the end of next week I have had a rough week.  First off I have been told that my grandfather well and is in the hospital.  My mom and brother have gone to see him and are keeping me informed.  Second due to a financial problem at work I had to fire 16 workers over night.  It is amazing how making a decision and executing it like that is really so difficult.  It was complicated by the fact that they were all good workers and were given no warning.  I really felt bad and couldn't eat much all day or sleep a wink.  These men were my friends and they used to trust me.  This is really my first time ever managing people so I guess it I have taken it a bit hard.  Being someones boss sounds all good until you have to do the dirty work.  Especially when it is someone else's.  This experience has made me look forward to my coming vacation even more than before.  I just need a bit of an escape from this world to reorient myself.  Cheers,

 

lv jesse

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Jesse Shapiro
Water and Sanitation Engineer
Plan International
jessepants@gmail.com
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flipflop...not a shoe...a lifestyle.

Vacation

After 7 months back in Timor I have arranged to finally have a small vacation.  At the end of Feb I will be going to Bali for a week.  This is a common destination for people to go to from Timor especially when they need a short holiday or a visa run.  I am so excited.  I have been so jealous after I have seen most foreigners leave once, twice, and some four times for Bali just in the last 7 months.  I don't know what I will be doing.  Probably what everyone does.  Sit on the beach and relax, have a beer, maybe go see a temple.  Anyway I need it as Timor is starting to get to me.  I will leave on feb 24th and be back in Timor on the 4th.  Join me if you can.  paz

 

lv jesse

--
Jesse Shapiro
Water and Sanitation Engineer
Plan International
jessepants@gmail.com
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flipflop...not a shoe...a lifestyle.

Look! Timor has traffic signals?

Last Thursday was the beginning of a new age in Timor.  The first traffic lights in Dili began working.  Recently everyone watched as they were erected and sat dormant for maybe a month or so.  Everyone in Dili theorized about what would happen when they turned on.  How were they to work when electricity goes on and off multiple times a day for hours at a time?  We also imagined the chaos and wrecks when some cars follow the lights and others didn't.   Well this week we all got to see.

 

Thursday morning I was driving through a central area where there is common violence problems, the Jardim.  I saw a large crowd ahead in the road and heard lots of noise.  I immediately slowed down but soon realized that it was just the new traffic lights that cars were slowing down for.  At the intersection was a large gathering of mostly youth all watching as if were a comedy show.  As everyone, even taxis, stopped on red and went on green.  The crowd pointed, shouted, and laughed.  Cars actually came to a complete stop.

 

It is now four days later and I have not seen any accidents yet.   Most people seem to actually be following the lights and the system seems to be working.  My only complaint is that the light pole was built directly at the line in the road you are supposed to stop at.  So when you stop there it is difficult to actually see the light.  If you go past by even a meter it is impossible to know when the light changes.  Anyway lets hope it continues to work.  paz

 

lv jesse 

--
Jesse Shapiro
Water and Sanitation Engineer
Plan International
jessepants@gmail.com
------------------------------------
flipflop...not a shoe...a lifestyle.