Empty Desk Syndrome

I’ve been trying to think about what to write for my next blog entry and all the while the answer was sitting right in front of me… literally. Steve started working at CUA last week while I was in the field. He works in the Risk Management Department as a Risk Management Officer. CUA is growing at a very fast rate and constantly hiring which is resulting in a lack of space so I didn’t expect to keep my huge office all to myself forever, but I was surprised when I walked in Monday morning to see Steve sitting there at the extra desk. He seemed quite pleasant and told me he had been very anxiously awaiting my return. Well that’s nice, I thought. We both settled into our workspaces. My desk covered with papers, a printer, phone, computer and now my laptop (my computer is having problems). His desk – nothing, not even a pen. As I prepared myself to get to work he watched me. We talked a bit about our families, marriage, jobs and life in general and then I got to work. Steve, well he continued to watch me. He didn’t seem that talkative as I awkwardly tried to break the silence. I feel for the guy and am tempted to give him some readings on the Youth Savings Program just because he has nothing.

The past couple of days have been better, he’s been out of the office working with other CUA staff but during his down time he has gotten in the habit of sitting in the chair that’s about two feet from mine and just watching. He has offered to help me with anything I need help with which is really nice and he said he’s going to bring in some gospel music to help me relax and concentrate on my piles of work. Since he said that I’ve been subtlety introducing him to the music I like to listen to as to deter him from bringing in the gospel music. He’s asked me to promise to remember him when I return to Canada and as a single young man I am pretty sure a date or marriage proposal is in the works. It’s nice to have another person in my office now but I am hopeful for both of us that his job picks up soon. Otherwise, I might take some time to teach him how to do a log frame and put him to work.

In other news, I’ve just started working on a proposal for CUA and CCA that will likely occupy a good chunk of my time. I still plan on getting out to as many schools as possible to visit their Youth Savings Clubs (YSC). I spent a few days last week filming a documentary about a really successful YSC in Takoradi and had so much fun with the students. I am much better at doing that then LFAs and RBM but that is life.

I am not sure if this will be appreciated by all and please let me know if it offends you in anyway, but one of my favorite signs so far is that of my local furniture store which is called “Jesus Fingers Furniture”. My list is growing each day and brings my roommates and I great pleasure.

One last thing for all you foosballers out there: I tried to join some Ghanaians playing foosball the other night and all they did was spin, literally non-stop spinning. I knew they wouldn’t want to play my way and I could see myself enjoying a game of “Who can spin the fastest and randomly score” - so I have yet to get a game in. I am hopeful and will continue to search for an opponent to match my skill.

Hope you are all well,
Colleen