tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-249444952012-01-26T07:24:25.153+11:00Ramblings about my adventures at home and away...Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.comBlogger661100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-42089193571495169742011-11-13T22:43:00.000+11:002011-11-13T22:43:10.751+11:00

Having spent the past few days reading Bill Bryson’s account of his travels in Australia, and finding hilarity in the details of everyday life as experienced by a foreigner, I’ve decided to re-invigorate my blog with a few tales of sporadic travels to the Pacific. The fact that I’m here for work means that I need to be a bit circumspect about which stories I tell, but I thought I’d start with a

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-15098208469777058602010-07-26T22:54:00.001+10:002010-07-27T12:43:27.949+10:00

Last night's debate pissed me off. And I'm being fair dinkum when I say that. When Tony Abbott began by mentioning his wife and kids, it didn't just feel like a dig at Julia, it felt like a dig at anyone who doesn't fit into the conventional mould. Julia herself isn't much better, taking any opportunity to be photographed with children, presumably in the hope that she will appear "family-friendly

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-72309200589363441752010-05-05T13:10:00.001+10:002010-05-06T17:37:45.466+10:00

I visited the Vegan Expo last Sunday, and I have to say I was a little disappointed. I had expected that a vegan expo would be a shining example of ethical living on all fronts. Yet, I managed to walk away eating a meal served on a styrofoam plate with a plastic fork, and clutching a vegan cookbook that isn't made from recycled paper, and having heard no mention of locally grown produce. Maybe I

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-5129601434910732442010-05-05T10:36:00.000+10:002010-05-05T10:36:23.357+10:00

A recent campaign involving 2010 Australian of the year Patrick McGorry highlighted the fact that suicide is the number one killer of Australians under the age of 45. The figure is roughly double the number of people killed on the roads each year, and yet is rarely talked about in public. In the two years since my friend's death to suicide, I have been disappointed by the lack of concern about

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-22825985096377289202010-03-03T21:15:00.001+11:002010-03-03T21:18:31.318+11:00

I was at the dinner table the other night when somebody started on a rant about how irritating it is when homeless people ask for money. "Four dollars, he wanted. Who asks for four dollars these days? I mean, how dare he come along and hassle me like that. So I told him to get lost". There seemed to be nods of agreement around the table. Just a few days earlier I had my own little brush with

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-12968791977939583212010-02-24T08:11:00.000+11:002010-02-24T08:11:44.638+11:00

I finally got around to watching Samson and Delilah a little while ago and I'm not sorry I did. The movie follows a young couple on their journey from a remote town to the city and back again as they face death, homelessness, addiction and disability. Having spent time in remote Australia, I felt that the film accurately captured everyday life in a sleepy town not far from Alice Springs. I liked

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-26372578892401930002010-01-23T18:51:00.000+11:002010-01-23T18:51:41.848+11:00

I've always had mixed feelings about Australia Day. I already feel ashamed that while non-Indigenous Australians celebrate our ability to conquer new horizons and set up camp in an unforgiving land, our Indigenous brothers and sisters mourn the loss of their land, language and traditions and celebrate their survival for more than 200 years in the face of great adversity. This year there is

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-65495502093074805942009-09-27T17:40:00.009+10:002009-10-27T11:13:38.266+11:00

I read an interesting article in the SMH the other day about public transport. Ken Livingstone, former Mayor of London, was in Sydney to give a public address on how to fix our public transport system. What interested me was not so much the congestion charge that he was famous for introducing in London, but the fact that he managed to change public perception from the "Thatcherian" view that

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-77742049055098949262009-09-13T19:52:00.007+10:002009-10-27T11:14:03.644+11:00

This weekend was pretty inspiring for me. Sunday was sustainable house day all around Australia. A whole bunch of houses that had either been retrofitted with sustainable design or designed from scratch were open to the public. We managed to slot in to our busy schedule two inner west houses and it was pretty awesome to see what they had achieved. One had built an entirely new living structure

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-34827266182492839912009-08-11T22:15:00.014+10:002009-10-27T11:14:36.046+11:00

Adolescence can be a painful time. While everyone else's voices go down an octive practically overnight, the late developers are still singing boy soprano. Well, that's what it's been like for my broccoli. I was visiting a friend's house the other day when reality hit. There it was in her garden - an early flowering broccoli plant - sitting there mocking me. "Oh, that" my friend said casually, "

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-63449850622392036732009-07-27T21:42:00.003+10:002009-10-27T11:14:54.677+11:00

Marriage is a wonderful thing - if you happen to be straight, that is. If not, well, you're simply "not allowed". I don't understand why straight people hold the monopoly on marriage, given that 1 in 3 of our nuptials end in divorce. So I was pleased to hear that Sydney's gay community is gearing up for a mass illegal gay wedding on 1st August to protest these laws. Making a stand against

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-75328597591984882032009-07-22T14:24:00.010+10:002009-10-27T11:15:15.255+11:00

I love it when a new vegetarian restaurant is born. And it's even more exciting when that new dining venue is a hop, skip and a jump from my home. So, one Wednesday at lunchtime I skipped over to Loving Eden in Glebe, and gave it a try. I have to admit that it is a dining experience not dis-similar to being at your grandma's place, as recipes do not follow any rule book or even the menu for

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-30197726845209608582009-07-19T19:56:00.010+10:002009-08-15T20:11:35.416+10:00

One of the things I decided to do while Pete was away was to build my own worm farm, or rather - my own worm community. While I am very grateful that there are two large compost bins and two worm farms within our unit block, I had become weary of carrying my compost downstairs every week or so, and then making an additional trip downstairs to my neighbour's worm farm to collect the all-important

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-60639875807758727502009-07-10T21:39:00.024+10:002009-10-16T22:41:58.247+11:00

My brother and I are training for the City to Surf this year. In addition to raising money for charity, we will also proudly carry on a family tradition. You see, my grandfather ran it a few years ago and got onto the evening news for being one of the oldest competitors. He was so chuffed he decided to run again the following year. Sadly he won't be competing this year - he just turned 89 and has

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-17918727631244416542009-07-03T20:32:00.013+10:002010-05-06T17:53:21.064+10:00

When the news broke that Michael Jackson was dead, I was eating breakfast at a small town café in the middle of nowhere. Or, perhaps I should say that my head and heart were in the middle of nowhere. My body was halfway between the Aboriginal community I had been visiting in rural Queensland, and my home in Sydney. I was literally between two worlds, and feeling overwhelmed by the challenge of

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-40215209155287294722009-06-17T21:21:00.005+10:002009-07-16T22:04:00.338+10:00

While faux fish, sweet and sour tofu “chicken” and vegetarian Peking duck might sound like an odd choice for somebody who has sworn off meat, I am one of those vegetarians who enjoy the variety of dishes that a pretend meat menu has to offer.So here I am, staring at the menu without knowing quite where to begin. It’s difficult to choose between the fish, sweet and sour chicken and the Peking duck

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-53856530691335381552009-04-01T07:16:00.017+11:002009-07-19T12:40:11.237+10:00

It's getting colder now. Time for winter pyjamas, doonas and the heater. People have told me that the change of season makes feelings of grief stronger, and now I understand why. The onset of Autumn this time last year coincided with my friend David's death, and I have found that the cold weather has brought back some of the strange feelings of helplessness, shock and confusion that I felt last

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-30430052347454265882009-03-25T18:01:00.006+11:002009-07-19T12:40:32.363+10:00

The bicycle may have been around for centuries, but as a popular means of transport it is starting to stand on its own two, um, wheels. As petrol prices sky-rocket and commuters are increasingly finding themselves in frustrating traffic jams, it seems that in the battle for survival of the fittest, cyclists are finding themselves streets ahead. So I have decided to take the path less travelled

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-78487291269958997722008-12-30T19:25:00.008+11:002010-05-06T17:53:55.476+10:00

Christmas cards might seem like an old-fashioned habit in this electronic age, but for me they are a wonderful reminder of my ecclectic mix of friends scattered all over the world. At the end of each year I find myself remembering old aquaintances, fun times and past kindnesses. One person on the Christmas card list is my dear friend from Germany who plans to visit me in March. We met by chance

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-44967462531938670032008-12-27T21:19:00.008+11:002009-07-19T12:41:15.683+10:00

Today I reached a significant milestone. I bought my first truly sensible Quakerly pair of shoes. The large buckles are remarkably reminiscent of those on my first ever pair of sandals, but on the plus side they are comfy and close to the ground and I am sure I will be able to ride a bike or walk for hours in them.I do believe you can tell a lot about a person by the shoes that they wear. Quakers

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-13803759727848231622008-12-10T09:56:00.006+11:002009-07-19T12:41:36.892+10:00

Now that we're based in Sydney and there aren't really any overseas adventures planned, we have had to resort to travelling vicariously through our overseas visitors. Since we joined the couchsurfing network we've had a steady flow of "new friends" to hang out with, share photos and stories with, and introduce to our friends. When these cultures are in our home, we feel like we're travelling

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-61848609517814332362008-10-10T21:53:00.017+11:002009-08-15T20:09:17.774+10:00

The women in my family are gardeners. My grandmother's garden was every child's heaven, with pickable fruit, little hideyholes, a mini-train track, and a table and chairs made out of a dead tree trunk. When my grandmother died, my mother took up the habit, and our backyard slowly morphed from a potential cricket ground to an oasis of calm.With the financial market the way it is and of course

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-64175884435593530042008-10-01T17:10:00.013+10:002009-07-19T16:53:50.592+10:00

Nepal has had such a profound effect on me. I don't know if it was the early morning yoga, the meditative circling around the stupa, the vegetarian momos (dumplings) or the workshops themselves, but as I departed I had a feeling that a part of me was left behind in a country full of rich colours and gentle smiles.On 19th August five Alternatives to Violence (AVP) facilitators arrived in Kathmandu

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-6484443209695612952008-08-26T10:57:00.010+10:002009-07-16T22:35:48.715+10:00

As I sat in my favourite cafe in Kathmandu, sipping Masala tea and watching people circle the stupa, I started to wonder about my role here in Nepal. While I've come here to train people in nonviolence, I know just enough about development to be quite hesitant about what I can offer.There an old saying that westerners who come to places like Nepal are either missionaries, mercinaries or misfits.

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-22214339241360488702008-08-08T21:02:00.005+10:002009-07-16T22:36:19.699+10:00

When I recently re-joined the development sector, I was faced yet again with the issue of how much I should be paid. While eager to have some sense of self worth attached to my salary, a voice in my head reminded me that my friends in Kenya, Nepal or Rwanda would be grateful for half my wage.I am not the only one faced with this dilemma. As a colleague once put it - why should those of us who

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-87992533951570626432008-06-23T21:39:00.007+10:002009-07-19T12:42:43.143+10:00

“Guess what?” the text message said, “At 8pm on Wednesday Sydney will experience its highest tide in, like, ever. Would you like to see it after dinner in Bondi?” While the dinner had previously been arranged, viewing Sydney’s highest tide in decades was an addition to the plan.How could I refuse? My friend Jono has a knack for involving me in the most unusual of events. I was definitely curious,

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-76506357193085780482008-04-30T11:04:00.010+10:002009-07-19T12:43:04.032+10:00

While this month’s elections seem to signal a victory for the Maoists in Nepal, it is the victory of nonviolence amongst the youth that has my heart singing.Although the votes of last week’s elections are still being counted, it is now almost certain that the Maoists will win an overall majority. According to the Maoist chairman and the likely new president of Nepal, this was the week to turn

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-35910245059182901382008-03-16T17:32:00.007+11:002009-07-19T12:43:22.416+10:00

There is such a great sense of achievement associated with riding a bike. I was lucky enough to upgrade recently to an adults bike, and with the addition of some lights and a basket have been finding it very useful, and exhilerating. I have been able to test myself mentally and physically over the past few weeks, and found that - yes, I can ride on the road, yes I can ride to work and yes I can

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-30745771452579831432008-02-16T21:41:00.008+11:002009-07-19T12:43:40.948+10:00

As Kofi Annan attempts to gain a peace agreement that will satisfy Kenya's government and "opposition", many ordinary people in Kenya are building peace in their own way - providing assistance to those who have lost homes and family members, creating space for dialogue, and planning longterm trauma healing and community re-building processes.While I was staying at Lubao, I read the memoirs of

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-11511976769457889692007-11-19T08:40:00.003+11:002009-08-30T20:16:54.648+10:00

I always hesitate when people ask me what I do, and no less so than at the airport when that piece of beaurocratic paper asks me to state my profession. Titles like "Programme Assistant" don't give any idea of what the job entails. I recently had the idea of writing "Peace Worker" and it sits nicely with me. Identifying myself as a Peace Worker gives an impression of the sort of work I tend to be

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-3509727159066321072007-11-19T07:37:00.002+11:002009-07-19T16:47:09.831+10:00

As I drifted from sleep to consciousness on my first morning back in Australia I was greeted by the familiar yet half-forgotten sound of a kookaburra laughing. It was a beautiful reminder that I was in the land of mystical creatures, sun-burnt countryside and of dreaming. There is something so comforting about Australia's wildlife and the stark contrast between the beaches, the bush and the

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-13588073006386563622007-10-11T19:48:00.002+10:002009-07-19T12:44:35.198+10:00

I can't believe that my time at Lubao Peace Centre is coming to a close. I've made so many friends in this short time, and there are so many funny memories. Certainly the endless meals of ugali and beans and rice will be remembered but not missed! Chapatti I will miss! And I can't wait to taste fresh vegetables again.I will remember my first trip in to Kakamega town all by myself and the way

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-64931936025350448872007-10-11T19:42:00.002+10:002009-07-16T22:12:03.125+10:00

One daily occurance that I still find amusing is when the matatu fills up to the brim and some people are forced to sit in the isle, somehow straddling the two seats on either side. This is uncomfortable, but better if you're a larger person as more of you fits on the two bits of seat. I asked Getry if there was a name for this situation, and she told me it's called "air time"! If you're a lucky

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-45011423879954641832007-10-09T22:16:00.003+10:002009-07-19T12:44:59.177+10:00

For those of you who love a second hand bargain, I tell you, I have found the ultimate charity shop! The markets in Kakamega (and many towns around Kenya) have streets and streets of stores selling second hand clothing at very reasonable prices.When I expressed my glee at finding so many bargains, one storeholder shook his head and laughed, saying "but these clothes are from where you're from".

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-40701457998064097772007-10-08T17:45:00.003+10:002009-08-30T20:18:09.591+10:00

I like to take a walk before sunset, just to get a bit of exercise after the heat of the day. Usually people will greet me, either in English or Swahili, which makes the whole experience very pleasant. For many local people it's quite amusing to see a muzungu (foreigner) walking along the road - usually we are expected to be driving a 4wd or at least sitting in a matatu.The other day just as I

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-87260247731962524952007-09-28T18:51:00.002+10:002009-07-19T12:45:24.813+10:00

For the past three weeks the Peace Centre where I have been staying has hosted peacebuilding workshops with people from Mount Elgon in far western Kenya. I attended the second one, and it was my first time being directly part of such a process.Mt Elgon has been experiencing violent conflict recently, to the extent that many people have lost homes, land, family members and livelihoods. While some

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-87588426289877397112007-09-15T18:52:00.001+10:002009-07-16T22:14:00.343+10:00

Just getting around Kenya has been a real adventure and we've enjoyed every minute. Nothing is quite what you expect. We decided to spend a couple of days in Kakamega National Park, and from Nairobi the journey to the forest was indeed memorable. First we took the regional bus, which was scheduled to take 7 hours, but the roads were bad, so it took closer to 10. As we got closer to Kakamega town,

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-13231335754433907472007-09-11T00:04:00.002+10:002009-07-19T12:45:57.511+10:00

After weeks of "slumming it" in cheap hotels, Pete and I decided to spend the day at the swimming pool of a posh hotel in order to find out how the other half lives. Of course, I say this with more than a touch of irony, because we know we represent not only the richest half of the world, but probably the richest 10%. The high wall of the Mena House Hotel allowed its residents to forget about

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-90056180359603470642007-08-30T21:10:00.002+10:002009-07-19T12:46:24.595+10:00

After all these years, I still struggle with how to respond to people asking me for money. Whether it's a street child selling over-priced tissues in Luxor, Egypt or some of the local characters in Glebe needing a few bucks to visit family - I never seem to get it quite right.Pete has the benevolent benefactor approach, which argues that it's rude not to be generous when we are so lucky. The

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-41110190218664307462007-08-15T20:51:00.002+10:002009-07-19T16:50:51.178+10:00

After finishing up my time at QUNO, I have spent the past two weeks making my way down the coast of Italy to Rome. The beaches definately got priority, and were a much-needed way to wind down after the final weeks of work. One thing I found was that travelling (or backpacking more specifically) for the second time doesnt make me an expert. I am kindof learning afresh how to travel - on a

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-47665037166530969712007-07-26T04:22:00.003+10:002010-05-06T17:45:09.935+10:00

It's really difficult to believe that my time in Geneva is coming to a close. The past few months have flown by, and I'm astounded at what we've all managed to achieve. The past month has been taken up mainly with introducing a group of 25 eager and wonderfully clever young people to the UN and all its partner organisations. Seeing other people learning about this stuff has reminded me of how

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-75943023730902114822007-06-17T22:22:00.002+10:002009-07-19T12:47:28.834+10:00

It was my idea to spend my final week of leave working on an organic farm in the Loire Valley in France, but in the end it was Pete who really took to the place. We spent our time learning about organic farming, playing with the dog, donkey, ducklings and goats, mowing lawns, picking berries, weeding and going to the local food markets. We stayed in an adorable caravan, and ate delicious

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-11150343701083984312007-06-12T03:52:00.000+10:002007-08-16T19:32:49.064+10:00

Yesterday my friends asked if I would like to take the ferry with them to the beach. Being a bit of a beach-lover myself, I was ready with my togs, hat and sunscreen in less than half an hour. Although this sounds like something one might do in Sydney, there were some important differences. The ferry warf is just down the road from where I live and the trip isn't very long at all to get from town

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-33048257812927050542007-05-06T00:30:00.003+10:002009-07-19T16:31:42.189+10:00

I went and saw “Blood Diamond” the other day. Although it was a Hollywood interpretation of the horrific violence that is associated with the conflict diamond trade, it did get me thinking. At the end of the film, viewers were reminded of the Kimberly Process, enacted in 2002, which has attempted to combat the trade in conflict diamonds. Diamond buyers were encouraged to demand that their

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-80973268484126074582007-04-15T06:10:00.003+10:002009-07-19T16:52:18.179+10:00

My siblings were full of excitement as they ran to greet me at our Paris apartment. The plan was to meet in belle Paris on the morning of the 6th, and celebrate their combined 25th birthdays in the city of light. Apart from the minor glitch of embarking up the rickety elevator to the eighth floor of Batiment A instead of Batiment B and having a strange but not unpleasant conversation with an old

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-26249865247138424862007-04-15T05:47:00.002+10:002009-07-19T16:32:37.479+10:00

The first thing I noticed when I stepped out of the airport at Kigali was the green-ness of Rwanda's rainy season. I was told that the place looks completely different at other times of the year. When I commented that Rwanda lived up to its reputation as the land of a thousand hills, my host said it was known as the land of "a thousand hills, a thousand problems". It didn't seem fair to me that

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-71253074534985619942007-04-05T21:54:00.003+10:002009-07-19T16:33:47.843+10:00

Just this week the blossoms have begun to fill the trees, and daffodils are emerging, as if from nowhere. Birds are singing as they busily make their nests. Spring has arrived. This time of year always makes me feel cheerful, and full of hope.I associate hope, spring and flowers with orange shirts, flares and the peace rallies of my childhood. While these are now distant memories, nuclear weapons

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-2746414151508004152007-03-16T03:47:00.002+11:002009-07-19T16:34:07.469+10:00

"I'm angry today" I told my colleague. "Is it women's troubles?" he asked, trying to be sympathetic. "Nooo, IT IS NOT" I screeched.But actually it was women's troubles - of the less fluctuating kind. It had hit me. The workforce isn't fair for women. Amongst most of my friends, the women are in lower paid, lower status positions than their male counterparts. I am slightly apprehensive about this

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1170960825252412942007-02-09T05:51:00.001+11:002009-07-19T16:36:00.140+10:00

Yes, it finally snowed in Geneva. The garden of the house where I work looked like Narnia - it was very beautiful, and inspired us to be quite silly as you can see.

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1170510426480773952007-02-04T00:33:00.000+11:002007-02-04T00:49:13.476+11:00

Okay, so I stole that pun from a friend's blog, but I think the winter look is becoming for both Pete and me - for him the cute hat is just so ..."Who killed Kenny?"-ish... and for me the cute hat hides the fact that I haven't had a haircut in ages due to Swiss prices, laziness and that slightly scary lady in the hairdressing school!!The Christmas markets were also a sight to see, with lots of

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1164470881030305492006-11-26T02:43:00.000+11:002006-11-27T00:08:08.450+11:00

I've had the pleasure of seeing the seasons changing both in Europe and Oz. While the cicadas are coming out in Sydney, the leaves are dropping here in Geneva. I know this because I've seen both in the last week. When I glanced out of my window on my first day back at work, I noticed how yellow the final leaves of autumn are. The autumn coloured leaves of orange and brown have already fallen, but

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1164469248738647922006-11-26T02:18:00.002+11:002009-07-19T16:36:36.304+10:00

Very few people here in Geneva can call themselves true Genevoise. Most of us are foreigners of some description, and many work in and around the UN. I've noticed that this international community has created its own unique class system, and I have managed, yet again, to find myself in the middle class.The upper class consists of diplomats. Their mode of transport is car or taxi. I have one

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1162416685442506152006-11-02T08:30:00.002+11:002009-07-19T16:37:09.998+10:00

Before I left for Geneva, a friend asked me why I wanted to work with the United Nations. It’s an interesting question. The UN is criticized for being too bureaucratic, for being a talk-fest and for achieving very little. And certainly it has its problems. The system of consensus is quite different to the Quaker model, where those with a concern are genuinely listened to and a final statement is

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1162415758053669612006-11-02T08:05:00.003+11:002009-07-19T16:38:03.141+10:00

Quaker House, where I work, is situated in the beautiful, quiet, leafy suburb of Petit-Saconnex. Some of the houses we walk past are old fashioned and cute, others are modern and quite grand. They all have impressive gardens and well-kept hedges.But all that is to change one day soon. The Geneva Government wants to compulsorily acquire an entire street in order to build social housing blocks.

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1160252804398648182006-10-08T06:22:00.003+10:002009-07-19T16:51:34.415+10:00

It's starting to get colder here, which is good, because I get to wear all my new winter gear!! The amusing thing about the Swiss heating, though, is that there is a day that it all gets turned on in Geneva (I think it's the third week in October). Every industrial or residential building is required to fall into line with this arrangement, regardless of their individual heating needs. I suspect

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1158355221673093222006-09-16T07:10:00.002+10:002009-07-19T16:37:39.065+10:00

In our training period, it was stressed that we should maintain a healthy work/life balance. In order to meet this requirement, we decided to spend our public holiday over the border in France, exploring Mont Salève. The cows with bells were a reminder that we were in the country, while the fact that we could see the jet d'eau from almost every point along the way reminded us that we weren't far

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1157481229283431632006-09-06T04:29:00.000+10:002006-09-16T07:10:23.696+10:00

The view from my colleague's apartment is far more exciting than the view from mine, but in addition to the beautiful alps, his view also contains the "Cirque sans frontieres", which apparently is not as beautiful as the Cirque du soleil, but instead includes animals and performers from around the world coming together in a symbol of unity - just like the United Nations.

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1157308640017800242006-09-04T04:34:00.001+10:002009-07-16T22:20:49.534+10:00

My workplace is a lovely old house with a beautiful garden. It hasfour stories, including the attic (used as office space) and the cellar (used for meetings) and I am on the first floor. When I have been there a bit longer I should be pretty good at guessing whose feet are clumping up or down the stairs. One of my tasks is to arrange lunchtime meetings and I am pleased to report that my first one

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1156875305117853872006-08-30T04:09:00.001+10:002009-07-16T22:20:21.438+10:00

One of my first discoveries upon arrival in Geneva was that mycommand of the French language falls into the category of “not good enough to understand anything said by a group of school children, but sufficient to conduct simple conversations at a relaxed pace with long-suffering shop assistants”. I ended up in an interesting conversation this morning about snails when I ordered a pastry

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1155744830132988482006-08-17T01:55:00.001+10:002009-07-19T16:52:51.242+10:00

When one is engaged in serious and important activities such as training and "preparation", it is necessary to ensure that one keeps up one's fitness. I am finding that a brief turn in the gardens morning, noon and night will generally do the trick. Tucked away on the outskirts of Birmingham, Woodbrook provides an environment of tranquility and Jane Austin-esque beauty. The most impressive point

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1154655844944151092006-08-04T11:32:00.002+10:002009-07-19T16:53:28.728+10:00

I think it's important, when you're about to be a traveller somewhere else, to practice in your home town. So Pete and I have been doing a bit of travelling of our own. I spent a relaxing afternoon having a massage in easy Eastwood, followed by a day getting lost in busy Bondi Junction's multitude of malls. We also spent the weekend in magic Manly. We caught the ferry there, and spent a warm

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1152416761914916062006-07-09T12:58:00.001+10:002009-08-15T20:16:29.046+10:00

A friend recently commented that preparing for living or travelling overseas in your late twenties is very different to doing the same thing in your early twenties. I definately agree. When I was planning a year's working holiday in Britain and travel in Europe at the age of 21, it was the end of an era, and I was out to find myself. I had nothing to lose. Now, as I approach the age of 30, I know

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1149832579183617562006-06-09T15:38:00.002+10:002009-07-19T16:41:40.894+10:00

Yes, that's right. I've actually managed to land a job at the United Nations in Geneva, working for an NGO called the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO). I will be working on the Peace and Disarmament program, so will be able to put my degree to the test in a real life setting. As part of my job, I will have to write a journal, so this blog is good practice.It turned out, for various reasons,

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1144825899822282812006-04-12T16:59:00.002+10:002009-07-19T16:43:57.532+10:00

I am staying at the Gandhi-King-Mandela Farm (also known as the Garden of Peace) which is an intentional community in rural India. The founder is also one of the founding members of the Nonviolent Peaceforce, so there is a nice link there. Conditions are .... basic. They are in the process of putting the roof on the toilet block and we are in negotiations about getting some toilet paper for us

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1143600895115534292006-03-29T13:35:00.002+11:002009-07-19T16:42:35.410+10:00

Here's a photo of me, at my desk at home. My flatmate instructed me to look interesting :-) This is pretty much where I'm sitting right now, trying not to get too distracted from the task at hand - writing something about Nonviolence in Iraq before I leave for India.The purpose of the trip to India is to find out if I'm the right person, or I should say one of many suitable people, to put the

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24944495.post-1143597949316410822006-03-29T12:56:00.000+11:002006-03-29T13:05:49.323+11:00

There are many advantages to having a nerd for a boyfriend - one is that you get your own blog sight organised in approximately 2 minutes. It feels kindof self-important to have pages of the internet devoted to silly old me, but I once read that blogs are as much about a form of therapy for the blogger as they are about communicating with others. Anyhow, I thought I'd try it out as a way of

Aletiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09429123127875904461noreply@blogger.com1