Troubles?

Yesterday I was flown out of Darfur. I am now in Khartoum and we will see what is happening in the next few days. UN has raised the security level in Sudan. And staff in Darfur has to be reduced to "essential" staff. Given my age (am I old?), I was told to relocate. This is in the aftermath of last week's attack on peacekeeping troops in North Darfur leaving 7 death and 22 wounded.

On top of that, ICC (International Criminal Court) wants to indict the Sudanese president and other high Goverment officials for crimes against humanity. Now, me, I am just a small, unimportant person in this world of diplomacy, of discussions, of accusing and in no way able to be a judge. What is for sure, bad things have happened in Darfur and still are. Rebel mouvements and bandits contribute to the problems in Darfur and make things difficult. Despite all this, the international community was able to work in Darfur, more or less.

The people in Darfur need help. They got help and I hope that they still will get help. To help them, one needs good relations with the Government authoritites. We always had good relations with them. When there were difficulties, we discussed with them and we always found a solution. Now, with this indictment which ,in my opinion, is most unwelcome at this moment, will it continue to be like this? Let's face it: Things will be difficult. UN is worried about the peace process. Let them have a clear stand.

We will see.

Farewell to a boss

A farewell message, written this morning to my departing boss (in brackets and italic some clarifications for my readers):

Today might be the last day that you are looking at your computer for a long time. Me, as usual, I am up since 5 o'clock. This is always my privileged moment of the day. Drinking my coffee, surfing the internet because at this time of the day the connection is very fast. Seeing what is happening in the world and writing emails.

Andrea Bocelli, this fantastic singer, became famous with his song "Time to say Goodbye". In many senses, Goodbye is a horrible word. Because it is often connected with pain. Goodbye can be said to somebody just like that without a special feeling. But there are moments when it hurts to say Goodbye. And that is why I refuse to tell you Goodbye. I prefer the French style. They say "Adieu". Which is similar to "Goodbye". But they also say "Au Revoir". Which means that people will see each other again. One day, sometime.

I remember when we met the first time. I remember when you came to Zalingei (my first assignment in Darfur). To use this "vulgar" term: We hit it off right from the beginning. And now for two years you have been my boss.

When I got interviewed by SDC (my agency) during the recruitement process I was asked: "You are of a certain age. This means that you could have a boss which is younger than you. Would this be a problem?". I responded: "Well, as I have that certain age, you can imagine that I already had bosses that are younger then me". Then they asked: "And what if the boss is a woman?". I answered: "Does it matter? If she is the boss, this means she is qualified to be it". And indeed, I think it is stupid to worry about if a man or a woman is the "chief". It is the human being that counts.

As I said you have been my boss. But I don't like the word "boss" very much. The "leader"? No, not nice either. My Superior? To official. The one running the show? To American. So, I really don't know what I should call you. Oh yes, a friend.

But you have been my boss. I worked for many bosses in my long career. And recently, in an email I wrote to my agency people, I said the last ten years of my working life were the best ones and the apotheosis of what I did in my life. And this includes you. Four years in Darfur is tough. And one needs to be motivated all the time. And indeed, after this long time here, I am still motivated like the first day. There are many reasons for this. But the major one is you. You always have trusted me, you have encouraged me, you have given me special tasks and sometimes (How pretentious I am) you made me feel that if I were not here, things would not work. Which, of course, is not true. I am just a member of a team. A team that will continue to work without me.



A team that has been led by you in a way I have never experienced before. By a person with a huge warmth. By a person with a heart of gold. It makes me smile when I think that, at the Wali's (Governor of South Darfur State) farewell party, you said: "I came here as a woman, I came here as an African". What a woman, what an African!! It was the perfect combination to succeed. Because succeed you did. Because (sorry for some American thing again) you have guts. And you have charm. You did, indeed, charm people. If it is me who says that, it might have not much weight. But if the people from my agency say that, it weighs tons. For them, you are an extraordinary person. For us too.

And so tomorrow you will leave these fields, you will go for new discoveries and they will be exiting. You will leave us behind. But only physically. Because in our minds and hearts you will stay behind.

I would like to thank you for everything. You were a great boss. I owe you a lot. And I wish all the best for your future. Which will be bright.

And I refuse to say "Goodbye". It hurts. But with joy I say "Au Revoir".

Jazz on the 5th, Nr. 2

I never will forget May 1, 1962. It was the time I was studying very hard and listened exclusively to jazz music. My buddies had their first dates and affairs. Me, I had no time. Because I was also member of the "New Jazz Club" in Zurich. We had weekly meetings at the "Weisse Wind" Restaurant. And I came with a movie projector and jazz movies which where graciously put for my use by the United States Embassy's cultural department.

On the day above, with some friends, we were at Zurich Airport to welcome Count Basie and his orchestra (I wrote about it last year in my U2 post). Whenever an artist gave a concert we were there. And we tried all the time to go backstage and meet the musicians. And believe me, we succeeded. Most of the time. And we found out that these people loved to come to Switzerland. They gave our country "top medals" for receptive audiences.

Now that I am living in Montreux, with probably the greatest jazz festival on earth, I was able to talk to many of the great names. And they confirmed that they love coming to Europe. It seems that besides Switzerland keen audiences are also in France and Germany. They also said that they are very happy to perform in Japan.

And indeed, I have many CD's with life concerts recorded in Japan. And you feel the audience vibrating. Japanese love jazz. And have some extraordinary musicians. The video your are going to see is a beautiful exemple.



Woody Herman's famous "Woodchopper's Ball is here performed by the Fun Time Big Band of Tokyo. It really swings. Watch the lady with her solo on the tenor sax.

I think that jazz has contributed to make this world a global village.

Oh, by the way. You will, of course, see a video of my favorite Woody Herman and his orchestra soon.

Oscar's and others

Movie actors, screenplay writers, soundtrack composers and directors receive awards for their work. And we have the Nobel prizes for many things. And the Max Reinhard ring for stage actors. And awards for bloggers.



The “Arte y Pico” award was created and to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creative energy and their talents, whether it be writing and/or artwork in all Medias. When you receive this award it is considered a “special honor”.

Susanne has given this award to me. I feel "specially honored" because I would not have thought that I inspire others. The rule wants that the receiver of the award passes it on to 5 other bloggers. I will now proceed with this and the choice was difficult and easy at the same time.

I name 4 people at once: Dr. John, Bill, Anji and Tawnya.

The Four of you have been following me since long and this is mutual. Every single one of you is giving me joy and pleasure and inspires me.

Dr. John, your "Saying's of the day" are creative energy.

As for you, Anji, all three of your blogs are inspirational and make us see further.

Titania, your blogs are written artwork.

And, Bill, the simplicity of your blog makes it outstanding.

I am pleased to pass this award to you. It is always an encouragement to receive a recognition and it boosts us to go further. I don't think that we are running after awards, but when we receive one, we are tickled. And we go indeed further. I would like to award the fifth person.

Little o is a young lady of 18 years. She is relatively new in the blogging world. Her blog is not fancy. She simply writes. About things that worry and please a young person. Her posts are fresh, pure, amusing and at the same time profound. With this award I would like to encourage her and to tell her how lovely her blog is.

Just copied

I saw this meme on Dr. John's blog. I liked it and I "snatched" it. A series of two things about me:

Two Names You Go By:
1.) Pappi (my two colleagues Francesca and Carolina)
2.) Pappa (my family)

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1.) My WFP staff identification badge
2.) glasses

Two Of Your Favorite Things:
1.) My computer
2.) My iPod

Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:
1.) A cold beer
2.) French Fries

Two Favorite Pets You Have Or Had:
1.) Lio, the cat
2.) Sophie, the dog

Two Things You Did Last Night:
1.) Visiting blogs
2.) sms-ing with my wife

Two Things You Ate Last Night:
1.) Cheddar cheese
2.) Bread

Two People You Last Talked To:
1.) Samir, my boss
2.) Dhan, my friend

Two Things You Are Doing Tomorrow:
1.) attend the mid year review meeting
2.) negotiate new agreements

Two of Farthest Trips Taken In The Last 5 Years:
1.) from Geneva to Doha, Qatar
2.) from Geneva to Khartoum, Sudan

Two Favorite Holidays:
1.) Swiss National Day (1st of August)
2.) French National Day (14th of July)

Two Favorite Beverages:
1.) Chilean Red Wine
2.) Water (with absinth from the “Val de Travers”)

***

PS: Two days ago I decided to take the "comment approval" off. With the result that I had three undesired, improper, insultive (not to me) comments from some obscure people. So, I put it back on.

Yeah!

Things are changing. People have all sorts of dependencies. Food, drink, tobacco, work, many others and, of course, internet. Me, I have a heavy addiction to internet. Perhaps, if it were a sickness, the doctor would prescripe tablets for me to take when I do my yearly check up. In the last years, though, I am less freaky and consume internet with moderation. But I am dependent. I am also an addict of my mobile phone.

This is because I grew up with internet and mobile telephony. Meaning, when these means of communication started to appear commercially in Switzerland some 15 years ago, I was immediately attracted. And I followed the developpement as they progressed. And at the same time they developped me.

At home, I am absolutely up to date with the latest technical possiblities. I don't even remember how my bank manager looks like. He must have a lot of grey hair now. When I saw him last, which is about 4 years ago (a bit also because of my living in foreign places), he told me: "You know, Mr. Voegtli (we are not at all informal in Switzerland), you are the customer we prefer. The one that never comes to the counter. The one who makes his transactions electronically. The one who withdraws his money from the ATM. People who come to the bank cost us a lot of money".

Now, we could talk about whether this is good or bad. Whether all this electronics change our ways of communication and if it drives people into isolation or not. I posted about this two years ago and will now not persue on this. The fact is that I live with the "system", that I need it and that I would feel naked without it. But I still communicate a lot (or even most of the time and daily) the conventional way.

When I was briefed for my Sudan mission, the desk people asked me if I had questions. I asked "Where I go, is there internet?". They somehow looked puzzled at me. Someone else would have asked about health, about food, about travel, about the nature of housing. Me, I worried about internet. And I came to my place. Zalingei, West Darfur. A nice little town. In the beautiful Sahel region. With shops where I was able to find not much, but enough to survive decently. So, basically, everything to be ok.

But there was no internet!!

In my little messages and posts on the blog, I have "complained" several times about connexions and so on. So I am not going to rehash it. And things have changed. After one year in Zalingei mobile phone communication was available. In the bush, can you imagine? The Sudanese National Telephone company has made heavy investments in the last 3 years and are offering efficient, modern services at excellent prices. With a superb reliability of the services.

And let it be known to the whole world: Since today I am connecting with my Zain Mobile Connect Card. Either through HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS or GSM. In my bush.

YEAH!

***

PS: You have noticed that I changed the layout of the blog. This is because I have added things and the font colors are a bit a strain on your eyes and even some of last years post cannot be read well. Also, I put "My Favorite Blogs" in a prominent position. Now showing also the beginning of your posts. And please, do not have any fits of jealousy. Your order of appearance is not by preference, but simply at random and changes constantly.

Memoirs 4: Out, into this world

I ended last month's chapter by telling you that I did not become a professional soldier. Because of the army.

In 1963 when I did my basic training, a terrible earthquake destroyed Skopje, the capital city of Macedonia, then a republic of Yugoslavia. During summer 1964, I was serving my rank of quarter master. One day, in June or so, I read the biggest newspaper of Switzerland during the lunch break. On the last page was a full page ad. It was addressed to young people. "Would you like to go for 3 month to Israel to work in a kibbutz?". Or "Would you like to go for 3 month to Skopje to help rebuild the town?".

This sounded very exiting to me and I wanted to go away (before starting professional army training) anyway. So I filled in the registration form at the bottom of the page and sent it in. A few days or weeks later I received a letter from that organisation saying that the response to the add has been overwhelming and that, unfortunately, all the possibilities (volunteer of course) were filled. So, I did not leave Switzerland and stayed in the army.

Again a few weeks later, the sergeant major came to me with a piece of paper and told me to call the number written on it. Something like 031.311.11.11. This looked like an official number. And it scared me. Because my parents where at that time in Spain. Has something happened to them? I had to find out and called the number. A lady answered (and I remember her name still today): "Department of Foreign Affairs (aie, my parents), Toya Maissen speaking". I said hello and gave my name. She asked if I was Peter and calling from the army barracks. When I said yes, she asked: "Peter, would you like to go to Africa for us?". What!?!

The early sixties was the period where most of the African countries became independant. And Switzerland became more interested in countries of the world, not only Africa. They were called "Developing Countries" at that time. Toya explained that the Department of Foreign Affairs had created a new section. Which today is called SDC, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. She explained that, besides experts, they are looking for volunteers who would go for two years to one of these countries. And she told me that my name was given to them by the organisation who had organised those 3 month summer sprees in Israel and Macedonia.

Getting away. For two years. That is what I wanted. And then coming back I would go to professional officers training. I checked this with my commanding officer and he said, no problem, that I had passed the examinations succesfully and that when I will come back I would be only around 23 years old. I told Toya that I was interested and the recruitment process was done, they checked me out with the army who said that I was ok and my training to prepare me for my mission started. It lasted three weeks and when we finished a bus took us to the Government building in Berne. The press was there, the TV was there and the Swiss President was there. He made a speech to us (we were 5 to go) and how proud he was of us, the first "Swiss Volunteers for Development". He shook hands with us and I thought at that time already that I should profit from this moment because probably never a Swiss President would shake hands with me again.

And then came the day. I was going to Rwanda. In Central Africa. My family took me to the airport in Zurich and the goodbye was tearful, in particular from my mother's side. Her beloved son who goes to the wilderness. Perhaps to be eaten by big snakes, crocodiles or even cannibals? (She is still worried about this today. Mamma: There are no cannibals in Africa and if there are, they haven't found me yet).

Our journey started on board of a



Convair Coronado 990, Swissair's flagship, an aircraft I liked very much and had the pleasure to use often, until the late seventies when it was withdrawn from service. Our journey took us first to Geneva for a short stop and then onwards over Italy and the Adriatic Sea down to Greece. I was looking out of the window with big eyes. I was discovering the world, I never had left Switzerland before. It was like drinking sweet milk.

After a few hours we landed in Athens. Our plane continued to the Far East and we had a stop over of 12 hours to take our connecting flight. We went to town, visited Athens



and the 5 of us climed up to the Acropolis. What a sight, what a different world. And I was tasting it. It reminded me of Peter Stuyvesant's cigarettes ad "The Taste of the Wide World". And that taste went up straight into my nostrils. I felt big, I felt without limits and free like a bird. I was impressed and full of emotion. I had left Switzerland only a few hours ago. But perhaps these first impressions went into my sub-conscious part of my brain and, many years later, perhaps contributed to my feeling that I was "lost" for Switzerland?

Before we continued our journey, we went to one of those dozen's of Greek restaurants and ate specialities like Tsalsiki and stuffed grape leave, sipping Greek coffee. We went back to the airport and took a SABENA flight to Entebbe, Uganda. It was a night flight and so we could not witness our "entry" into Africa. When we arrived (I think it was some 8 hours after our departure from Athens) we were told that our plane to take us onwards had not shown up yet. And were given the indication that it might show up or not. But if it shows up, it could be any time. So, we just had to sit around, doing nothing because there was nothing to do. The airport was small at that time. It lays on the shores of Lake Victoria and it would have been nice to walk down to the lake. But as the coming of the plane was uncertain, we did not dare leave the airport.

I don't remember how many hours we waited, but all of a sudden we did hear the noise of an aircraft. Today, Entebbe Airport is very busy with a lot of traffic. When we were there, perhaps two planes came per day. If they came. But now, one was approaching. An old DC 3.



From East African Airways. To be honest, the DC 3 was not that old. I mean this was in the sixties and they started to build this airplane in the thirties or fourties. Anyway, it turned out to be "our" connecting flight plane. And after two hours we took off for Bujumura in Burundi. I had lived my first hours far away from home. In Africa. Beeing limited of waiting hours at Entebbe Airport, not much of impressions. Except Peter Stuyvesant's taste of the wide world.

Late in the evening we reached Bujumbura. And where informed that the DC 3 will continue its journey the next morning as both Bujumbura airport and Kigali airport were not equipped for night flying. We could not go to town, because it was far from the airport and there were no taxis anyway. The airport was small but it had a snack bar. With nothing to eat. But drinks. Only Primus beer. We did buy a bottle or two and drank it. It did not taste bad at all, though it was warm. Primus beer would become important in my life. Not so much for drinking it, but I would become (in the very near future) a provider of this beer. But this story is for another day.

The next morning, very early, our journey continued. It was a two hours flight from Bujumbura to Kigali and for the first time I was able to discover Africa really. I looked out of the window and saw scenery like this:



Hills and ravines and rivers everywhere. No villages, but dwellings and hamlets all over. The loveliness of Rwanda, Central Africa. It was for the first time during our 3 day journey that I realised that I had "gone". Away from home, into this wide world. And at that time I did not know that I would be away for a very long time. We landed safely in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda and were picked up by the experts of the project we were going to work with. Two years of exitement were laying ahead of me.

And at this time, you still don't know why I did not become a professional soldier. Because of the army.

(Memoirs will continue next month).

Preparedness

My internet and computer problems are getting solved. It is not perfect yet. And my Dell Latitude D600 notebook from the Swiss Government is getting to its end. Normal, it is 4 years old and has worked in heat and dust. I think, it will soon end its service. And I don't think that my agency is willing to give me a new one just for 4 month more. But I have a colleague who left today for a small break in Kenya and he will buy me a laptop, nothing fancy but something good. So, I have time to get ready to migrate to a new computer.

The weekend has started (as we are having off on Friday and Saturday) and I am just "playing around". And thinking of my very soon retirement. Making already projects. I love trains and travelling with them. The European Railway system has developped something called "InterRail". You can buy a pass for one or two countries (if you are a resident of Europe since at least 6 month). And then you can travel by train in those chosen countries as much as you like. A few days, a week or two.



But I discovered that you can buy a pass covering all the countries for 30 days. For around 600 dollars. So, one day, next spring, I will go to the Montreux railway station. And hop into the first train that comes. The train might take me to Italy and then through the Balkans into Turkey. Or through Basel and Germany into Skandinavia. From where I could join Poland. On my way back and before continuing to Portugal, I would of course stop at home and say hello to my wife.

And there will be of course many places I want to go and cannot take the train. It does not matter. I am a frequent flyer with a card. And a lots of bonus miles. Which I have to use. But I am not in a hurry. Because I have a credit card which is linked to my miles. And as long this card is active, my miles will never expire. Providing that I make at least one purchase per month. Which I do, for instance a CD for 19 dollars.



Lufthansa and the "Star Alliance" are really good for this. So many airlines I can collect miles from and spend miles with. Well, in the near future rather spend then collect. And it will be with pleasure that I will make use of this, when I reach this stage of being "older".

My car is getting older too. It is now 13 years old and still running fine. But it will not last forever and the time will come where I will have to "park" it for good. And then I will not buy a new (or second hand) car anymore. Having a car is one thing. Running it is another thing and I wonder if I would have the means for it. But then, we have this nice car sharing system in Switzerland, of which I am a member.



Mobility. You don't own a car. You simply go online, book your car, go to one of the many places and stations where those cars are parked, put your membership card against the window, and off you drive. For a day or for 2 hours. Convenient when my wife wants to go to do some shopping in a mall where there is no public transport.

If my budget is a bit tight, I will take this tiny car from the "budget" category. It costs 2 dollars per hour and a few cents per mile.



Of course, there will be moments, like my daughter getting married, where we need a fancier car.



Then I will take this Alfa Romeo from the category "fashion". It costs 4 dollars per hour.

So, in the near future, I will remain mobile. With the shared car I will go to the railway station and hop on the train to crisscross Europe. And when I am fed up, I will get down at an airport railway station and spend some miles on a plane ticket to go to a far away place. But it would probably from Geneva Airport I will leave. Because I would like to take my wife with me, to share everything with her. As you see, I am well prepared. I have everything I need.

For my world to remain open.

Back to my place, back to the World and Welcome

I made it back. It was quite a journey. I spent a day in Khartoum to take care of some errands. On Wednesday I was supposed to fly to Nyala. But Tuedays evening an airplane crashed after landing at Khartoum airport and it had to be closed. Two days later I was able to fly.

Now, I am here and have settled in. To find that I have, again, internet problems. Since last night I try to post a small thing and hope that I will succeed. But, thanks to our efficient ICT boys, everything should be ok soon again. And I will have a lot to catch up visiting your blogs.

As usual, I was welcomed back. And as usual, it was a nice feeling. But I would like to welcome a "newcomer" to my favorite blogs. GMG has an outstanding, fantastic blog called "Blogtrotter". He is a marvellous globetrotter and gives us rich accounts of his travels all over the world. And he says correctly: "It is not such a small world". Please visit his blog and make it your favorite. And reading his blog, you will find out why I wonder if my alias "Worldman" is still justified.

Anyway, I am pleased to be back and online again.