Second year of graduate school includes my practicum/internship/field component. Last year I independently volunteered at the refugee clinic providing legal services for refugees seeking resettlement, this year I will gain field experience for my secondary diploma in Psycho-social interventions in forced migration studies.
My diploma program (distinct from my MA in International Human Rights Law) is an intimate program of about 10 people and a very involved director, Dr. Nancy. It’s like a family that feeds off of and supports each others passions to work with and assist marginalized populations create and access community and social systems. This year this part of my Cairo family includes five other females: Americans, Egyptians, Europeans and Africans from all walks of life and Dr. Nancy, a psychologist who works and consults in emergency and conflict situations all over the world.
In such an intimate program Dr. Nancy got to know each one of us and our strengths, goals and weaknesses. In this way, we were able to dialogue and find individual field location that met all of the above needs. Recognizing my motivating and management skills, I will work directly, under the supervision of Dr. Nancy, in developing the Psycho-Social Training Institute (PSTIC) in Cairo. Dr. Nancy trained and graduated the first class of psycho-social workers this past May and in doing so grew the presence and need of psycho-social workers in Cairo. This year we will take on a new class of psychosocial workers, mostly refugee community leaders from Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, and Somalia, In addition we continue to grow our networks in Cairo and with international organizations such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Office of Migration (IOM), Catholic Relief Services (CRS), and the Red Cross, to name a few.
Unlike some of my colleagues who were placed in established agencies as caseworkers, my responsibilities, along with my two wonderful partners Eklilu, Eritrean and Ali, Somalian, these past few weeks was to get things going: find office space, make budgets for office furniture, find painters, help coordinate interviews of perspective students and participate in the interview process. Quite different from last year at the refugee clinic, with Dr. Nancy we have a budget! and I won’t have to consume a whole weekend painting the office with my own volunteer team!!
What I’m most excited for however, is Dr. Nancy’s open-mindedness. This means that after I expressed that I’m interested in disability law and rights she told me that she would find funding for me to start a program for persons’ with disabilities in the refugee community! A week later, I’m now sitting in a waiting room for an appointment with three of the top (and most politically powerful) doctors for refugees in Cairo and later this week I will meet with two other international organizations to start my program assessment!
Needless to say I’m excited! I am contracted to approximately 30hrs a week for the practicum; however lives in crises rarely adhere to time schedules. So, this semester I’ll balance these new opportunities with three classes: Human Rights in Africa, Human Rights in the European System and a Psycho-social “problems” course. And for a bit more fun on the side I have 1 8-year old violin student who will only stand during his lesson if I get him a soda before class, and three English students looking to improve their conversation skills- I get paid to talk! Life is moving along!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, September 12, 2010
First week back.
On my way back to Cairo I realized that this was the first time I was going back to live in a country. I have visited a few of the other countries where I have resided but I have not yet gone back to live in one. This definitely has its advantages.
This time, I didn’t have to learn my Arabic numbers to walk through foreign streets to find a “home” but I had an apartment waiting for me. I have friends excited about my return. I know prices and where is the grocery store. I have a phone with local numbers. I know how to cross the street. I know how to tell off a rude man on the street. I know what to wear—or more importantly, what not to wear. It was almost a déjà vu moment; I quickly felt at ease.
The transition was ideal! Cairo, time change, transition in general, can be overwhelming. Last school year ended in an unhealthy way and four days after my return to the States I was working full time researching national criminal and immigration issues at a law firm in Chicago. I was super blessed to have such a great job and the support of friends and family all summer however to go right back to school without a slight mental break could have been disastrous! So, with a good week before school started, a good friend and I decided to spend some time on the Mediterranean.
We did nothing but sleep, eat and chit-chat for SIX whole days! Really, I felt spoiled! The polluted fog of Cairo was nowhere to be seen. I didn’t have to be covered but wore sundresses or just my bikini the whole week…we couldn’t escape Ramadan however, so seaside alcoholic beverages were a no go…either way we returned sincerely excited to be in Cairo with healthy, new energy and ready to start a new school year!
This time, I didn’t have to learn my Arabic numbers to walk through foreign streets to find a “home” but I had an apartment waiting for me. I have friends excited about my return. I know prices and where is the grocery store. I have a phone with local numbers. I know how to cross the street. I know how to tell off a rude man on the street. I know what to wear—or more importantly, what not to wear. It was almost a déjà vu moment; I quickly felt at ease.
The transition was ideal! Cairo, time change, transition in general, can be overwhelming. Last school year ended in an unhealthy way and four days after my return to the States I was working full time researching national criminal and immigration issues at a law firm in Chicago. I was super blessed to have such a great job and the support of friends and family all summer however to go right back to school without a slight mental break could have been disastrous! So, with a good week before school started, a good friend and I decided to spend some time on the Mediterranean.
We did nothing but sleep, eat and chit-chat for SIX whole days! Really, I felt spoiled! The polluted fog of Cairo was nowhere to be seen. I didn’t have to be covered but wore sundresses or just my bikini the whole week…we couldn’t escape Ramadan however, so seaside alcoholic beverages were a no go…either way we returned sincerely excited to be in Cairo with healthy, new energy and ready to start a new school year!
Arrival: Round Two
I would be a liar if I denied that my heart sank upon arrival in Cairo. Blue skies were suddenly replaced by haze of pollution and heat. Whereas Paris was a bustle of organized and efficient smiling men and women, the Cairo airport hosted only clusters of worn-out looking men who simply stared. My first thought: of all the places in the world, why am I here?
I quickly stifled that thought because I am here. I chose to be here. I’m here for a reason (even if it’s not always clear.) Life is what we make of it. I learned a lot last year and I have another opportunity to avoid the same mistakes and to embrace new opportunities. I am the only one who can control my reactions and my actions—its gonna be a great year!
I quickly stifled that thought because I am here. I chose to be here. I’m here for a reason (even if it’s not always clear.) Life is what we make of it. I learned a lot last year and I have another opportunity to avoid the same mistakes and to embrace new opportunities. I am the only one who can control my reactions and my actions—its gonna be a great year!
French
“Would you care for red wine, white wine, Champaign or water?” is the way I started my trip back to Cairo. Air France is the way to go! (I chose red wine for the first leg of the journey and Champaign for the connecting flight.) While some may think that alcohol is bad for jet leg I think going to a Muslim country during Ramadan after a summer of great wine is worse!
Chicago to Paris is an easy flight- if for no other reason than the anticipation of arriving in Paris!! I arrived around 8am Paris time, 1am Chicago time and I had five hours until my next flight. I had to act fast to make the most of my time.
I relatively quickly passed through Customs— the first stamp in my renewed passport! I found the Centre de Tourisme and quickly tried my French. The lady kindly responded in English— ouch. She explained the transportation options that arrive in the city center and return to the airport. Then with a smile and a wink also quickly informed me that there was bus that the locals used-- for half price!-- if I was willing to walk a few blocks. Who wouldn’t love to walk a few blocks through Paris!
At that moment I caught myself in a giggle: I could have easily taken about an hour before leaving to plan out- or look at a map of the windy city—to know how to best spend these hours but of course, I didn’t. So, I jumped on the random bus that a random man said would pass by le Avenue des Champs-Élysées and headed into Paris with an only-American-would-carry-ridiculously-stuffed “purse” and carry-on suitcase. Only a moment of anxiety crossed ma tete that I have to make it back from downtown, through security and find my gate which could be in a totally different terminal in less than four hours. Pourquoi pas?!
The supposedly 45 min ride took an hour ten minutes so I closely kept track of time for my return bus. While I couldn’t possibly skip up cobblestone, windy streets w/ my luggage there must have been at least a twinkle in my eye. Really, there is nothing like exploring and enjoying a foreign city—by yourself! Such liberty!
I took a few pics of the Arc de Triomphe before heading back down the labrynth of streets. In the morning, the streets were just stretching awake however the markets were standing ready: truly, one of my favorite places in the world— a small, outdoor market on the streets of Paris. In quite an “Eat, Pray, Love” fashion I smelled every flower that I passed and bought an overly expensive carton of raspberries! I spoke French with the smiley lady in the bakery. I even squealed an “ou la la” as I sidestepped away from the man pushing a cart with stinky cheese! My 53 minutes of freedom in Paris was bliss!
Upon return to the airport I quickly found the terminal and passed through security—a tall, black French speaking man! And finally, as I waited in the terminal for my Champaign filled flight, I gave myself a French manicure!
Chicago to Paris is an easy flight- if for no other reason than the anticipation of arriving in Paris!! I arrived around 8am Paris time, 1am Chicago time and I had five hours until my next flight. I had to act fast to make the most of my time.
I relatively quickly passed through Customs— the first stamp in my renewed passport! I found the Centre de Tourisme and quickly tried my French. The lady kindly responded in English— ouch. She explained the transportation options that arrive in the city center and return to the airport. Then with a smile and a wink also quickly informed me that there was bus that the locals used-- for half price!-- if I was willing to walk a few blocks. Who wouldn’t love to walk a few blocks through Paris!
At that moment I caught myself in a giggle: I could have easily taken about an hour before leaving to plan out- or look at a map of the windy city—to know how to best spend these hours but of course, I didn’t. So, I jumped on the random bus that a random man said would pass by le Avenue des Champs-Élysées and headed into Paris with an only-American-would-carry-ridiculously-stuffed “purse” and carry-on suitcase. Only a moment of anxiety crossed ma tete that I have to make it back from downtown, through security and find my gate which could be in a totally different terminal in less than four hours. Pourquoi pas?!
The supposedly 45 min ride took an hour ten minutes so I closely kept track of time for my return bus. While I couldn’t possibly skip up cobblestone, windy streets w/ my luggage there must have been at least a twinkle in my eye. Really, there is nothing like exploring and enjoying a foreign city—by yourself! Such liberty!
I took a few pics of the Arc de Triomphe before heading back down the labrynth of streets. In the morning, the streets were just stretching awake however the markets were standing ready: truly, one of my favorite places in the world— a small, outdoor market on the streets of Paris. In quite an “Eat, Pray, Love” fashion I smelled every flower that I passed and bought an overly expensive carton of raspberries! I spoke French with the smiley lady in the bakery. I even squealed an “ou la la” as I sidestepped away from the man pushing a cart with stinky cheese! My 53 minutes of freedom in Paris was bliss!
Upon return to the airport I quickly found the terminal and passed through security—a tall, black French speaking man! And finally, as I waited in the terminal for my Champaign filled flight, I gave myself a French manicure!
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