Marble stairs

I promised an entry related to work (which really is the primary reason for traveling all this way). First of all the office is beautiful…very colonial with extremely high ceilings and crown molding. The layout is wonderful, beautiful curving staircase with marble steps and large open rooms with a central garden. I met with the director the other day and devised my work plan. I am actually the only “research assistant” (the only individual who’s soul purpose is to research and analyze the data and reports our office receives) so I get a variety of jobs. You know me, I like a strict plan and order and felt at first that I would prefer just working for one element researching and analyzing only primary and secondary data working from a rigid anthropological framework. But, now, I figure that this new plan is for the best. It gives me a range of experience in research that might help me find a job (even if it’s not strictly anthropology based). One task is to work with the Research and Analysis Programme Officer. I will be looking at the strategic 5 year (2005-2010) plan of IPPF SAR to find faults, analyze how we will verify that we have been successful in our activities and from there work on the baseline research required to start towards these goals & successes. Secondly, I will be working with the Safe Abortion Programme Officer doing research much like I expected – gathering info on how abortion related morbidity impacts the South Asian cultures and analyzing the information collected on this issue. I also accidentally mentioned I would like to help with the “Real Lives” (the monthly publication IPPF SAR produces). So now I have a huge stack of articles of which I am suppose to short-list, edit (which is a horrendous job…these are pretty standard Socio or Anth or Develop. like papers which I need to make precise and interesting – and, of course, commonly the English language has been butchered) while doing all this I am to think of visuals that can accompany the articles, flag articles which other colleagues might be interested in, and collect all sorts of data on ICPD. Once this is finished, I’ll be sitting down the BCC person and discussing the look and format of the publication. I have to say right now this publication is my favorite task, mostly because it is the only thing I’m positive on how to approach.

So there you have it. When I’m done here I will have some experience and Anthropological related research, some experience in baseline research and some editorial experience. I hope it works out for the best. I can change my mind and either force them to give me only the Anthropological research, give me chances to go out into the field and interview or change to another org. to do this. I’m not sure yet. I have to think of what’s best for my future and I’m not sure yet. One way or another it will not be a negative thing to have this experience…I just have to figure out how positive it will be on my future. I’m going to give it a month and then decide.

Sorry I been really busy lately and haven’t had a chance to write anyone back! I will soon I promise.

As a final note (I apologize for getting political, you know how much I hate doing that) but I’m getting pretty fed up with the walls put up by Bush’s “Global Gag Rule” (i.e. Mexico City Policy). I would like him to come to South Asia and witness a young girl that has just been raped and is now with child. The girl has no choice. She’s un-marriable now but her parents might let her stay with them (only without the child) sure she'll have the occasional beatings and severe guilt for being a “burden” on the family or second, to have the child she is pregnant with and be kicked out of her family’s house forced to live and most likely die within a year on the streets. All because the US banned funding to ANY agency which has pro-choice-like values. The town that this woman lived in didn’t benefit from education on gender equality (which might have stopped the rape in the first place) or from sexual education and reproductive health education (which might have helped reduce the stigma of a raped “used” female) or from access to safe abortion and safe health facilities. Or I would like him to talk to the woman who (as in a case I just finished reading) was instructed by a illegitimate “black market” abortion doctor to insert a stick into her uterus for 3 days, causing her to, obviously, induce a horrible and life threatening infection all because abortion is illegal or considered against religion or society. Damn-it George, abortion is going to happen one way or the other but for God’s sake let’s try not to kill, maim and sterilize women just because we wanted to turn our heads and ignore (and keep money in our pockets to fight daddy’s war).

O.k. I know you're tired of my writing. I will post pictures soon. I promise!

Love yah!