I’m in my third week at UNESCO Bangkok. It’s an incredibly challenging, busy, and otherwise great three weeks. I’m trying to make heads and tails of the bureaucracy that relates to my: pay (not sure when I’m supposed to get paid), health insurance (working on that still), working visa (I am to get a diplomatic type visa – yay), work permit (don’t need one – cuz I’m working for the UN), and other things (desk – where do I really sit: since I’ve just been moved to a new location after 2 weeks).
Although bureaucracy is legendary within the UN system, the people are quite amazing and pleasant to work with (well as far as I know thus far). The projects I’ve been given are quite challenging – and very tiring so far.
Projects: I’m working on databasing a survey of educational software. The not-so-fun part is that the survey wasn’t designed by people with basic database knowledge. It isn’t fun trying to find ways to store relationships that make little sense, or storing data that is “worthless” because of lazy data capturing.
So what is a good design? The mantra of my database prof comes to mind: “It depends!” Databases are all about compromises. I’ve had to denormalize my initial design because it would otherwise be complicated and tricky to keep track of things – especially when it will be a accessible through a web application.
About my main responsibility: I have barely started to dive into the UNESCO Bangkok web site. Check it out, it’s way massive. There no real unifying look, feel, or theme (as opposed to headquarter’s site in Paris). I’m trying to find out all the stakeholders, their projects, their aims/goals/etc. and also try to strategize how to tie that all together within a unified system, if not, at least, a unified look and feel.
So I’m going to move everything towards web standards and valid semantic XHTML+CSS design. It’ll be a tough battle to fight, but it’s my responsibility to do so. It’s amazing how little is known about valid semantic XHTML+CSS designs (which means tables cannot be used for layout, for one). So many people are additcted to Dreamweaver, which usually lends to really unmaintainable code (or otherwise at a high cost). And I want everything in a good content management system (or it might have to be a couple different ones). Oh the challenge.
Well, I’m so busy these days it’s taken me some discipline to blog this entry. (Yeah, when I’m even more disciplined then the photos will come.) But speaking of disciplined, I feel like I’m becoming a disciplined adult (that I “should” be). I’m in bed by 11pm and up around 7:30 to be in work by 9 am. It’s still a struggle to wake up early – but who knows, all that disciplined stuff might be a temporary thing, all unravelled when I move into a new place (a non-studio apartment/house) in June. Well, let’s hope not.
Life is good here, but incredibly busy, with two 12-hour work days per week, and trying to fit in badminton and ball-hockey on the other nights. I’m also trying to do more photography, since I’ve just bought myself my new baby/girlfriend/gadget: the Canon 10D digital SLR. It’s incredibly hot and humid these days (hotter than usual, say the locals), so I’m getting used to being sweaty in my work clothes.
Besides all that, I’m reminding myself to be thankful always. It’s amazing how I’ve landed this position, since one of my dreams is to work for/with/in the UN. Of course I don’t have one of the cushy P-level (professional 2-year term contracts) with benefits hard to beat elsewhere, but the UN doesn’t treat its contract workers and consultants that poorly (even though I’m considered a local hire). Another dream job is to be a National Geographic photographer – I just have to continue shooting, improving, and be more disciplined (because one of the best times to photograph is around dawn.)
Well, that’s my life thus far. I hope to see more friends come out here to visit – I hope to have a nice apartment really soon… so at least that – or a nice care package would be swell.