When I first started looking at jobs I could do within Raleigh I was torn between two - a Project Manager on the sites or a Communications Officer in the Raleigh HQ in whatever country I ended up in. I was completely torn nd undecided right up until the assessment weekend, and eventually let Raleigh decide for me assuming they knew best.
After being offered the PM role I got pretty excited about getting my hands dirty. I was worried the comms role would mean I would miss out on the whole essence of the expedition and essentially just be doing my job abroad.
However, having just read the Raleigh forum with a bit more advice I'm starting to think maybe I got the bum deal. Please find below a list of tips and advice they give to people in HQ:
* The start and end of expedition include a fair amount of going out, so you will want to budget and pack accordingly. This includes "longs" for evenings out in KK.
* Take advantage of the days off.
* Grab a Starbucks/ Coffee Bean/ Yo Yos when ever you can - but note the cost adds up!
* Save your documents regularly - the computer system crashes!
* Be prepared for your bank cards not to work on arrival - call your bank to warn them of your travels or have the number handyover here.
* You are going to be living in a normal house it is ok to allow yourself the odd treat (even a hairdryer!) and normal clothes.
* Buy a local sim card out here it is much cheaper for phone calls.
* Join the Hyatt gym (105RM per month) to keep fit, and keep the weight off after Loi's great cooking.
* A memory card reader and pen stick are useful to bring.
* there is a cheap an excellent laundry service
Starbucks?! Laundry?! Hair dryers?! It's almost luxury. Especially when you compare it to the advice given to the PMs....
* You can never have enough dry bags or zip lock bags
* A good roll mat or therma rest are essential, as are Deet and a really good pair of sandals/tevas
* If you are paranoid then leech socks are worth it (though learning to live with them is cheaper).
* you will learn to love and live of 3 in 1 coffee and milo.
* it is best to replace the string on your mozi net with some stronger and brighter string.
* You can never have enough string or gaffer tape!
* waterproofs arepointless they don't hold up to the rain and you get too hot, though an umbrella can be very handy.
* tech shirts generally don't work in this climate they just smell - cotton is better.
* don't worry too much about your kit, there is a spares box of second hand stuff at fieldbase for a small donation.
* On project make sure you take time out, but most importantly - relax, enjoy and have fun.
All I can say is leech socks?!?!
Whose silly idea was this in the first place?! :)
