Nervous

Tomorrow I walk into my new office for the first time at UNDP Yemen. I have been thinking about my first days at all my other jobs, and I must say I have never EVER been this nervous. My last two jobs were in Amman and being in my city, surrounded with family and friends made the first day not easy but easier. The job in Bahrain was different as in I was in a foreign country and didn't know anymore, however I didn't care as much about that job...but this one...its my dream job finally entering the United Nations!

This time, I know absolutely NOONE!!!! How will I react? How will they view me? More importantly what should I wear?!?!?! (just kidding) Fingers crossed all will go well, and I shall let you all know how it felt.

As for today, my second day in Sana'a I spent it in bed watching tv and then taking a drive around, where I found a shimmer of hope, as now I know where I shall be eating at least 2 times a week :)






Good Night and Good Luck

Farewell Amman

Leaving Amman was a bittersweet...I didn't realise that I was going to be leaving my family and friends behind until I stood at the door of my house hugging my mother and father. I felt my heart break and realised that I was leaving them behind, that I was leaving the comfort of my home, my friends who I have become so attached to and to my lovely parents who I took for granted until I had to say bye.

I arrived in Queen Alia airport, with my 3 suitcases and my 50 KG excess baggage (won't go into how much I had to pay for that) and my depression hit rock bottom, if my friend LR who was driving hadn't already driven off I would have gotten back onto her car and gone back home. I had my last Mocha Frappi and ciggie before heading to the gate. Things started to look up when I was informed that since they had overbooked the flight, I was being upgraded.

I keep looking around at the people on the plane, seeing what they were wearing, what they were doing... eavesdropping on conversations that I shouldn't be listening to, trying to make myself more accustomed to the Yemeni accent, to their gestures and to the way women acted.

My mom had sent me an email that listed cities that were friendly to women, Sana'a wasn't one of them...as I am sure you all guessed...what will that mean for me????

We shall discover that together....

Introduction: Sana'a and Lulwa

So today was my first day in Sana'a. I slept most of the day as I arrived quite late last night from Amman.

Arriving in Sana'a was an experience in itself, my bags were the last to come off the plane, and the amount of people who jumped over my things or literally moved me to the side as I waited was entertaining if not that little bit annoying. I had a UN driver waiting for me, and I got to my hotel and checked in.

Today, friend's of my parents picked me up for lunch, and my introduction to Sana'a and Yemeni food began.

One of the bad habits my father gave me is that I am quite a picky eater, and sitting at the 'restaurant' with these great people I realised that this was going to be the first habit I will have to abandon. They eat with their hands-even the salad-and its such a mess. I don't mean to sound like a spoilt child (even thought I think the more you read my blog the more you will come to the conclusion that I am one)...so I folded my shirt and dug in. I had the most amazing meat soup I have ever tasted (I ended up order 3 cups of it) the rice was yummlious the meat to tender. The desert just made it all that much better, with some bananas and honey to dip them in. The tea that came after was just syrup in a cup and I J'adored it :D

I then got introduced to a qat session...I was taught how to pick the right leaves, how to chew it and even better how to drink pepsi without swallowing any of it. I didn't chew for that long, as I didn't want to act out in front of my parents friends (not knowing how the qat will effect me). I was informed that if I was to survive for two years in Yemen I will have to get used to chewing and enjoying chewing.

So for a first day, I would say that I still missed my home, and sitting with a close friend of my mother's made me realise even more how much I really miss her and my dad. I kept looking around to share a joke with this friend or that...but I am sure I will get over that.

As for Sana'a, I haven't fallen in love with it yet, but I haven't walked in the old city yet, and I haven't found my flat yet, and I haven't started work yet, so to monitor & evaluate my first day I would say it was scary but successful.

Keep reminding myself

I have been doing online research on Yemen, moving there and so forth...and I find myself loosing myself in blogs written about how great a country it is and what an experience it will be. I can't wait to go, however I have to keep reminding myself that I'm not going to a place that is so different from my own country Jordan.

Reading blogs written by non-arabs about going there (Yemen) makes me forget that this is an Arab country, that I understand it, that I know it, that I will be ok.

I know this might seem like an obvious thought, no need to blog about it...but I keep finding myself panicking and then realising the obvious...I think part of the panic is also reading about what I will be doing there...it is a huge responsibility-great challenge-I hope that I will be successful.

Good Day and Good Luck

A new start

I am the new Programme Officer (PO) for the United Nation's Volunteers (UNV) in Yemen. I will be moving in a months time, and starting a 2 year contract. I am very excited about this new phase in my life and career, and have decided to document the whole thing using this blog.

I started celebrating this new post last night with some friends, and I have spent all of today dealing with the repercussions of those celebrations!!!!

I also started looking online at the expat community in Yemen, expecting to find more blogs being written about people going there. I have found one so far: Living in Yemen (Sana'a) If you know of any other blogs/websites I would be very grateful to see them.

I will be living in Sana'a, and will have to find a flat, hopefully I will find it in a nice old Yemenie style house, like the one on the left...on a hill just like that! Wonder how people get up there.

So my next step, is to get my medical examination, and then I will be put in touch with people in Yemen I will be working with who will help me find a flat (I hope).

So yeah...a new and drastic change is happening...what makes it more exciting is that fact that I have less then a month to process it all.

Good Luck and Good Night

2 years

Its been over two years since I posted anything on my blog...and thing have changed in my life a lot.

I am going back to being a student which is something I am very excited about. Will finally be studying something that I love and hopefully starting a new career. I leave my job in three days and will hopefully enjoy a few weeks of unemployment.

I actually now will have quite a bit of time to blog...and since a friend of mine has just started his career as a blogger I am excited about it again.

Check his blog out: LesMerde

So expect more of the lovely Lulwa's Logic in the upcoming weeks.

Gender Equality Campaign TV Spot

This was the video that was used as part of our campaign being launched. It was shown on Jordan TV. Make the volume load and listen to the voice.

We are very proud of this :)

Draft Societies Law Threatens Freedom in Jordan

Freedom House is deeply concerned about a bill under consideration by the Jordanian Parliament that would increase government supervision of nongovernmental organizations and severely limit their ability to work in the country.

Civil society groups in Jordan fear that, if passed, the so-called Societies Law would effectively turn independent organizations into an extension of the Jordanian government. The draft law seeks to bar Jordanian nongovernmental organizations from accepting foreign funding without first receiving government approval, as well as require them to submit annual plans and activities for government approval. It also demands that all nongovernmental organizations have at least one government representative on its board of directors.

Freedom House Executive Jennifer Windsor said the draft law is particularly worrisome to see in Jordan, a country considered to be one of the most open in the Middle East

"Passage of this law would be a clear step back for Jordanian democracy,” said Windsor. “It would not only curtail the ability of NGOs to act independently, but it would also send the message that Jordan places a higher value on government control than on freedom of association.”

A growing number of repressive regimes, including Russia, Egypt and Zimbabwe, have sought to silence opposition voices with legislation that weakens civil society with legal restrictions and limits on their ability to receive foreign funding.

Jordan is ranked Partly Free in the 2008 edition of Freedom in the World, Freedom House's survey of political rights and civil liberties, and Not Free in the 2008 version of Freedom of the Press.

For more information on Jordan, visit:

Freedom in the World 2008: Jordan
Freedom of the Press 2008: Jordan

Freedom House, an independent nongovernmental organization that supports the expansion of freedom in the world, has been monitoring political rights and civil liberties in Jordan since 1972.

Freedom matters.
Freedom House makes a difference.
www.freedomhouse.org