Finally, some work!

Sunday was a lazy day, but because it was sooooo hot, I was grateful for just visiting people's homes and getting an idea about the impact of installing and having easy access to fresh water. The village overall is very pleased and I keep getting duas (blessing and prayers). This is a typical Pakistani tradition, to bless the givers of positive things, but I felt a tad guilty for receiving all these blessings given it not anything to do with me!! So, I've decided to keep some and give the rest back to the charity. Gosh, I'm so noble and fair :-s

I met some of my host's friends and managed a bit more knitting. It was a really nice, leisurely-paced day. I thing tomorrow will be harder because I plan to do some information gathering.

Heard about the Islamabad bombing – very sad and stupid. I also heard about BA's decision to halt flights in/out of Islamabad temporarily. Bummer, as Zahid, my brother's flying in on 3 October… we'll see what happens there. Not to mention that I'd quite like to cme home at some point, too :-s

Today, Monday, I went into the city to speak to a random slection of various NGOs to get a sense of what they're doing and what they think still needs to be done. So, I picked a few of the little ones, namely UNDP and World Bank ;-) and was invited to a UNDP meeting. I have no idea how that happened, but I thought I'd go anyway because it's a meeting where many NGOs eg Save the Children, UNICEF etc go. Maybe I'll meet some more people and they can give me some valuable information. And the meeting's in English – rock on!!

I did meet a local outfit which receives international funding and felt incredibly smug when the Deputy Director offered to hold a meeting for me and another related charity to help me determine where and how to install another water project. Surely, if this happens and it productive, my assessment work is essentially done?? Or am I getting ahead of myself. My host thinks I am because her 6 years of NGO experience in this area says that it's wise to listen, but not hope for too much. I shan't hold my breath then.

What else happened today? Oh yes, I saw 2 motor bikes crash into one another (thankfully, no-one was hurt and it couldn't have been more comical: I mean, it couldn't have been engineered any better), a man dressed up as a woman (a pretty one at that) and I saw a chicken get slaughtered as I sat in the courtyard of my host house (it's ok, I knew it was going to happen because the chicken sat next to me in the rickshaw taxi on the way home and was bought in my honour, somehow making it alright!?!).

Life goes on in Pakistan, slowly, but surely. I hope all's well at your end, too x