A ceaseless itinerary of discovering myself in two totally different worlds-Long-term dispatch manager interview

It’s been a year since we started a relationship with Nepal and this is a story of manager Lee Hyun Jung who is preparing for another new 1 year. We’re about to hear of her life full of struggles during her past year as a KOICA ODA intern in Sarlahi, a remote area even in Nepal, and of her upcoming year.

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Q. What task did you take charge of for the past 1 year as an ODA intern?

A. The task I was in charge of was duty related to the Children’s Center and the DreamCatcher KOICA library project that was in progress in the Sarlahi area of Nepal. I assisted the local staff in implementing the project. Mainly accounting tasks, writing reports, attending business place monitoring, duty related to the Children’s Center, translating documents were my tasks. On top of the library and literacy classrooms tasks, there were campaign and workshops which was a huge workload to me. As a mere beginner in society I may have been a bit naïve but I feel like I’ve learned a lot through this experience. I was a bit sad that there were not enough opportunity to communicate more with the residents through project monitoring.

 

Q. It wouldn’t have been easy to reside in the area of Sarlahi?

A. Our office and Children’s Center is located in a village named SukePokari which has the meaning ‘dry pond’. While I was in Sarlahi, other than for about 2 months, we weren’t able to get water supply. To take a shower, I had to go scoop one basket of water from a community water intake station and bring it back to the shower stall and then take a shower. Now I’ve learned to take a shower with very little water. It wasn’t easy to take a shower in an environment where it consistently alternates between the dry and wet season throughout the summer for 5-6 months. On the other hand, there are many funny episodes because the children in the Children’s Center help me pump the water up and bring the water bucket back with me. The children would tell me their own stories that they keep to themselves and sometimes cheer me up as well. If at least there was enough water supply, it would have bee a lot easier to live there. (We are fundraising at Naver Happy Bean for installation of a new pump in the Children’s Center. Lol)

 

Q. For the 1 year, was there a change in you?

A. Staying in Korea for a while after living in Nepal, it felt like Nepal and Korea was totally a different world. As I struggled for several months in two places where it differs from the environment to the way people think, I had a positive discovery in myself. I think I find something closer to the essence by approaching phenomena by the big picture. Something that occurred to me could seem to be A at that time while it could seem to be B after a while. If B is closer to the essence, I can say that I can see things as B rather than A in the first place. This is not only about occurrences that happen to me but also about me as well. I could also express this by saying that I can feel myself more vividly. Like someone said, I could find something in just a year that people might not even know by living 10 years in Korea. I think it’s an invaluable experience.

 

Q. What’s the reason you determined to extend for another year knowing the struggles you might go through?

A. 1 year was not enough would be the simple reason. The past 1 year in Nepal wasn’t enough time to know our project. For a year, time passes as we adapt and learn the work. The local project is earning positive reviews from the local residents and since I wanted to work more in the International Cooperation and Development area, I easily figured that ‘extension’ would be the choice and it didn’t take a long time for me to make the decision. It’s true that I staggered for a bit. Most of the NGO offices in Nepal are located in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, while our office is in the Terai area which makes a big difference in the working environment even though we are in the same country. This gives us the pride that we are that much closer to the project site. Since I’m still young, I decided to postpone things like building my living foundation in Korea and just throw myself to this experience. Manager Sukyoung gave me a lot of advice when making the decision for extension. The office in Korea has also supported me and I would like to thank them for believing in me.

 

Q. What is the resolution you made as you decided the extension?

A. For a year, the manager who stayed here for 3 years is going to go back to Korea and a replacement service member and I are planning to take over the project. It will be that much of a tougher challenge but I believe that I will be able to handle it if I try my best. Since it is the last year of the DreamCatcher library project, wrapping up the project nicely would be the biggest business goal. Also, I would like to help have a positive influence to the business site as I decided to stay for another year. Personally, I would like to visit Duran where there is Nepal’s first Department of Food and Nutrition and Pokhara once more.

 

Q. You would have a lot more to say, but please tell us what you think of Nepal.

A. Nepal people are genuine and have clear eyes. Especially the children in our Children’s Center are lovely and beautiful. One of the reasons they are nice to me is because I’m a Korean. Nepal people recognize Korea as a country that highly developed from a poor country and as they enjoy our dramas they often say that Korean products are credible. Their positive cognition towards Korea helped me to see Nepal in a positive way. Nepal nearly doesn’t have the competitive sense and speedy culture that we can easily see in Korea. This sometimes bothers me as I’m a Korean working in Nepal, but there are things that I learn because of this composure.

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Her smile which resembles the Nepal children seems to be the energizer that helps her overcome harsh environments. Please wish manager Lee Hyunjung good luck as we anticipate her remarkable activities in making the children and Nepali people’s bright future.