Halo tinan

I’m back.  Sarah and I moved into a new house.  It is a bit smaller than our last place which is a good thing.  Our new place is perfect for the two of us with no wasted space.  We had some significant upgrades in lifestyle as well.  We have a hot water shower now which I is nicer than I originally thought.  We also share the building with a Timorese family that owns the rental so we have our own Timorese security detail.  The location is also great and I have only a 2 minute commute to work each day.

 

The election is coming up and is only a couple days away now on the 30^th.  It is still highly contested with a couple possible outcomes.  Security has been ok although there seems to be an increase in violence in some parts of the country causing some new IDP camps to form.  One in Dili although the people came from out of town and one in Ermera district.  Life in Dili is calm and fairly normal.  

 

Work is good and I am settling into my new position.  It interesting to be involved directly with the processes that affect so many.  The vulnerabilities and complications of the government are not simple.  For now I am trying to patient and learn as much as possible.

 

 

Jesse Shapiro

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IDP Technical Support & Service Advisor to

Direccao Nacional Aguas e Sanemento (DNAS) Timor Leste 

Oxfam Australia

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jesses@oxfam.org.au

(+670) 732-6275

 

 

Roda Kuak

On Tuesday I went out to my car to find it had a flat tire.  Whether the work of a trouble maker or just all the multiple sharp objects I encounter everyday this was a common occurrence.   Before I could do anything I had two Timorese there asking, really almost begging to give me a hand.  As I had just showered and was clean I took them up on their offer.  When I tried to help they just shooed me away.  They made quick work of the change although as usual they had a bit of trouble getting the jack in the right place to get the car high enough.  They had to run off and get some random hunk of metal which added to the jacks height.  I tried to tell them they were putting the jack in the wrong place but they didn’t listen.  They finished and I was off.  I offered thanks and to buy them cigarettes but they were already satisfied and had their own. 

 

 

Jesse Shapiro

-----------------

IDP Technical Support & Service Advisor to

Direccao Nacional Aguas e Sanemento (DNAS) Timor Leste 

Oxfam Australia

-----------------

jesses@oxfam.org.au

(+670) 732-6275

 

 

Timor fali

Monday morning I packed my bags had lunch with some friends and made it to the Albuquerque airport for my return to Timor.  When I tried to check-in I was informed my ticket had been cancelled that morning at 4am.  Well,  I was at Albuquerque airport, I had no cell phone, all my friends were at work, what was one to do?  Who was responsible?  I grabbed my bags and huffed it about 200m across the street to the nearest hotel with Internet (ABQ airport has no Internet).  From there I found out that my ticket had been cancelled due to some confusion over payment.  I was stuck in ABQ.  I called a friend and got back to my brother's house where I got on the Internet and purchased new ticket.  Unfortunately I was only able to get on the wait list for the flight from LAX to Hong Kong.  When I got to LAX the next day the decision proved itself.  The flight was overbooked so I lost another day and was stuck in LA.  Because of the the flight timing I didn't do much but hang in the hotel and use the hot tub over and over. Not too bad actually. Wednesday I finally got on a flight for Asia.  With another night in Bali I screeched into Timor on Saturday morning in just under 6 days.  Woo.  Back at last.