errr.... it is said that i have a blood of padangnese in my vein. so... i went there for an emergency response :p naahhh.... i was there for an assignment. got nothing to do with my inheritence. here's a bit about it. oh yaa.. i wasnt able to login to blogger so i wrote the story in a forum. i'll post some pictures later
Finally I got assigned to an emergency response project. Two days ago (felt like yesterday) suddenly I got called and informed that I would help the emergency response team in Padang. Whew!!! It was excited. I've been waiting for an opportunity like this like forever!!! I hurriedly transferred my work (I just returned to my post two days before), packed my bags (got few clean shirts, underwears & no jeans ), stuffed files I thought I might need, then got on a rented Kijang with Pak Akhmad who will manage the warehouse & transport.Ozzy the GRT (global response team) member already flew to Banda to catch a flight to Padang earlier in the morning. We spent a few hours in Medan (errr.... transit hotel but no woman allowed, the night manager said ) At 7 we board Batavia Air to Padang. hueheuheuh It is well known that recently there is no safe airline in Indonesia. Seems the story affected Pak Akhmad (he gripped tight the armrest during take off and hard landing). We met a doctor from Slave.. I mean Save the Children at the airport. We just found out that the emergency team is actually a joint team of several NGOs. 9 o clock we gathered in the small meeting room at Padang office. The briefing was brief with some concerns and warnings (no warning should go outside the meeting room to avoid panic ) Then off the assesment teams. Logistics team were left behind to prepare and procure all materials and goods to be distributed. After Friday prayer I and my team accompanied by local general trader left for a quick market survey. I thought we would just do that. The emergency team leader said that he didn't have any authority or even the all powerful emergency statement. It meant that I would do all things according the procedure. However, when we returned we were informed that we would start the distribution on Sunday!! Good God!! All vendors require cash payment in advance and tomorrow no bank is open! Jakarta office closes on Saturday and they hard on decision that all payment will be made by bank transfer. Ugh!!! The negotiations were tough, internally and externally. Gotta convince Jakarta to issue the LoA and emergency statement. Gotta persuade and trick the vendors to accept bank transfer payment methode. whew.... we did that
Tomorrow... or today... will be a longer day. I just finished the report and documentation and justification (of course) This is the event I've been waiting. Though very tired I am really enjoying this. err.... yahh... not that I am excited that my countrymen are in trouble. But this is the reason why I stay in this field.
that was on the early days. i tried to spare sometime to write but i just couldnt. emergency required 24 hours of your time. well... i spent at least 6 hours everyday in a car. i got my dopod but i couldnt risk got sick for trying to type in the zig-zagging-fast-moving car.
