Missing More Than the Turkey

Habari,

I apologize for skipping a beat last week, but I think I was already mourning the fact that I wouldn’t be with my family on Thanksgiving.  This is the first time in over a decade that I missed Thanksgiving at my Mom’s house.  I actually worked on that day so it pretty much felt like any other day until I went back to my apartment and called home.  My niece Charisse answered the phone.  Those of you who really know me, know that my niece and nephew are a source of such pride for me. 

My niece is in her final year of college (Purdue) and I have to brag a little about the fact that she already has 3 job offers from top consulting firms.  Yes, we are very proudJ.  And, she did it all while pledging Delta Sigma Theta and enjoying to full college experience.  Once we were done chatting, she passed the phone to my nephew Greg. 

He’s in his second year of college (University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign) majoring in environmental engineering.  He’s such a little man…well, I should say big man.  Greg is bigger than his dad and you all know, none of my brothers are small men.  I always love talking to Greg because he’s very inquisitive and has interesting opinions about the world around him.  He can hold a decent conversation for a 19 year old. 

However, he can be amusing.  As he was telling me about his current course load, you could hear in his voice how annoyed he was that the courses were hard.  Now, mind you, he is taking some crazy things like Calculus 14 (okay I’m exaggerating a bit, I think it was Calc 4) something called Magnetics and a whole bunch of other scientific jargon that would make my head hurt.   I couldn’t help but to burst out laughing about him being annoyed.  I told him college was supposed to be hard. 

He said, “I know,” but you could hear the, “but still” lingering in his voice.  I asked him if he was still getting out to party and there was this resounding, “of course, you gotta do that.” There was no doubt in my mind that he wasn’t missing too many parties…he is his father’s son.  There’s also no doubt that his GPA is intact in order for him to maintain his full scholarship…yes, I’m still bragging. 

My brother Allen got on the phone next.  The tables always turn when I talk to my brother.  He asked me about how things are going here.  He’s always been my sounding board and mentor about anything in business.  I do believe he thinks I’m crazy by being here doing my thing in Kenya.  He always gets a good laugh about the craziness I have to deal with here.  He gets to hear many of the ‘Things I Can’t Say.” I told him about my recent trip to South Africa.  Yes, I went to Johannesburg from November 16^th through November 20^th. 

I went there to address an urgent situation we have at work, but Master Pu believes I just went there to party and visit wineries.  There were no trips to visit wineries, but there was some partying.  Even I was surprised by that. LOL.  Our South African counterparts know how to have a good time, but there were some late nights working as well.  

There were five of us who hung out.  A South African, Australian, Kenyan, Irishmen and me.  We had a ball…and there was lots of dancing.  Apparently the bathrooms in clubs need more visual direction than I’m use to in the States.  I had to take a picture of these signs.  LOL. 

Ladies Room

Men's Room

On Saturday we went to the Lion Park during the day.  I wasn’t the least bit nervous about checking out the lions.  I guess my threshold for adventure has risen a little bit.  We drove through the park in this caged truck.  They animals roamed freely, but it was early in the afternoon and a little hot so they just barely tolerated us. 

I was telling my brother about the guy in the park whose job it is to chase the lions back into their area when they try to escape.  We both got a kick out of that.   The guy travelled on foot and didn’t have a big rifle, but a pistol.  As I tried to take the guy’s picture, I felt like I was capturing the image of a dead man.

Really?

Not little enough

Once we made it through the park, they took us to a section that they called the “Cub Park.”  Before I got there, I was looking forward to snapping some pictures with baby cubs.  Then I saw the sign to the right and the cubs on the left. 

I changed my mind very quickly.  Some of those crazy people actually took their kids in to pet the cubs.  Some of those kids weren’t as big as the cubs.  That was an experience that I happily missed out on.  I’m not that adventurous or crazy, yet.  LOL. 

All and all, we had a wonderful time in South Africa.  I don’t know how we are going to outdo them when the team comes to visit Nairobi.  But, the “WORK” we did will help our team in Nairobi tremendously!!  Right Master Pu?

I will see you all back here next week.  The countdown to Christmas has begun!

Asante,

Della Rochelle

Copyright © 2011 by Della Rochelle Williams

The Things I Can't Say

Habari,

I know when Master Pu reads that title, he will have an OMG moment.  You see he directs me on what I can and cannot discuss in my blog as it relates to the business.  I understand the concern considering the fact that I do work for IBM.  I get it.  No worries Master Pu, I haven’t completely lost my mind. J I’m not sure I’ve talked in-depth about what I’m doing in Africa and I have no intentions of doing it now…I would like people to continue to tune into the blog.  LOL.

Seriously though, as the Africa Shared Services Manager, I’m responsible for all of those areas of the business that every department needs to operate.  So, HR, Finance, Procurement, Quality Assurance, Risk Management, Program Management Office, Contract Management, Business Controls and Communication all fall under my area of responsibility.

Let me just say, Master Pu came up with this job description.  I’m always up for a bit of a challenge, but some would say I’m not wrapped too tight to take on this level of responsibility.  I thought it would be an amazing experience to build the structure to support this account in 17 countries in Africa.  The reach and possibilities go way beyond IBM.  But, then there are those things that I can’t say. J

You see, there is an area within my realm of responsibility called the Program Management Office or as it is affectionately known, PMO.  The PMO is a relatively structured organization that handles everything from managing deliverables to our client, to managing the plan for projects for the year.  What it tends to become is a catch all for all the problems on the account.  Don’t get me wrong, I love a challenge, but c’mon!!

The PMO handles everything from building issues, to accommodations for employees, to transportation for the account.  If someone arrives in the middle of the night and their transportation doesn’t show up at the airport, guess whose phone rings?  If another member of my team can’t be found…MINE!  Now, those of you who have known me for some time know I am not the one to be disturbed in the middle of the night or first thing in the morning.  You all would be proud of the way I have handled myself, so far.  Okay, there have been a few causalities along the way, but you’ve gotta give me something. 

Nevertheless, I am enjoying my role and the challenge it presents.  But, the things I can’t say would be material for a great book someday.  If only I could write it. SMH.  I’m heading off to South Africa tomorrow to meet another challenge.  I hope Nelson Mandela is home, I may pay him a visit. LOL

See you here next week everybody.

Asante Sana,

Della Rochelle

Copyright © 2011 by Della Rochelle Williams

My London Hangover

Habari,

I apologize for missing the mark this week and not publishing on Monday, but it completely skipped my mind.  Last week was a bit of a bust.  When I got back from London I was feeling a little run down.  As soon as the scratchy throat started I knew I was doomed.  This sickness was more around my sinuses than down in my chest or up in my head.  I made it to work Tuesday, but I didn’t feel like myself.  I felt like I was swimming through sludge.  That statement would actually mean more if I could actually swim. LOL.  I know, I know…43 years old and I can’t swim.  It really wasn’t a priority growing up in the inner city of Philadelphia.  Forgive me. 

As the day went on and I started playing catch-up, (you know the drill… 50 million emails, everyone staying at your desk with all of the nonsense they’ve been holding onto the entire time you were gone), my head started to feel like a balloon.  Something told me the dreaded sinus cold was coming.  At first my reaction was one of a little panic.  The idea of being sick in Kenya made me nervous.  Even when my pressure medicine was being held hostage in Kenya Customs, there was a quiet panic going on behind the scenes.  At this point I still had hope it would pass.  I made it through the rest of the day, but things were not looking good.

I barely slept a wink that night and the balloon around my sinuses grew.  I made it into work that day, but I knew it would be the last time that week.  The dreaded drip started.  I was using tissue provided by my employees like crazy.  By the way, these women have tissues and baby wipes available at a moment’s notice.  I questioned it when I first got here, but now that I see the amount of dust and dirt that flies around, I don’t say a word.  Their tissues were a lifesaver at that point.  But, you know it’s time to go home when you want to roll up the tissue and stick it in the nostril you can no longer breathe through.   LOL.

I decided I would not gross my employees or coworkers out by returning to the office the next day.  EVERYBODY SHOULD BE SO CONSIDERATE.  That’s for all of you people who drag into work, sneezing, sniffling and dripping all over you colleagues.  It’s nasty!  Stay home!  No one thinks of your dedication when you sneeze all over them spreading your germs.  They think of how trifling you are for bringing your behind to work while you are sick.  Okay, I have always wanted to say that to an audience, because I think people in the business world need to hear it.  We have the Internet now and most employers will allow you to connect from home, so give us a break and keep your germs at home. J Whew!! I feel better that I got that off my chest.

Anyway, I dragged myself home that day determined to stay in the house until the cold passed.  On the way home I had a moment of panic when I thought I didn’t have any Nyquil.  Now you know Nyquil is the best cold medicine ever invented.  A good night sleep is all but guaranteed once you take it.  Well, there’s no Nyquil in Kenya!!  Luckily, I was thrilled to find that I had one package of Nyquil in my pharmacy stash in the apartment.  It was just enough to see me through this cold. 

Okay, our muling isn't this bad. LOL

I realized I would have to have someone ‘mule’ more Nyquil across the border once I got better.  Yes, I used the term ‘mule.’  It is a term I learned from Master Pu that describes what ex pats have others do to get unavailable contraband (Nyquil) into third world countries where it’s not available.  It is similar to its cousin in the drug trafficking world, but the consequences are not as dire. LOL

Contraband can be can be a number of things, Excedrin, American Sweet Potatoes/Yams, Aunt Jemina Pancake mix, Sensodyne toothpaste and roll-on deodorant.  Now the last item just doesn’t sit well with me, I can’t see myself muling deodorant for someone.  It’s amazing what people will ask you to mule when they find out you are going to a western country.  After a while, expats find themselves asking people what they need when they are going back to ‘civilization.’  Oh man, I could have written a whole blog on muling!  LOL. 

Guess who the BIGGEST muler is?  Master Pu of course!  He is indignant about his muling.  His wife has him bringing all kinds of stuff across borders including full meals. LOL.  He is at the point where he dares the border official to say anything.  LOL.  They know him now.  Okay, I’m done.  But, if anybody can find a way to get American Sweet Potatoes or Yams into Nairobi for me, please do.  You all will become mulers if you come to visit me, so put your game face on.  LOL.

Anywho, I’m back at work now and feeling well.  Thanks for continuing to tune in each week.  Don’t forget to sign up as a follower!  I’m having the time of my life even when I’m sick.  God is good, all of the time!

Asante Sana,

Della Rochelle

Copyright © 2011 by Della Rochelle Williams