Not Your Average Work Week

Debra and me at Palm for a drink one night.

So busy this week that I need to condense into just one post. It's crunch time and work is off the hook. I've seen some big egos here, and have had to use all my diplomatic skills to avoid saying something I would regret. Because I'm responsible for registration (I've had all of one week to get the registration for 1000+ people organized--yikes!) everyone is calling me! My phone WON'T STOP RINGING with people with questions I can't really answer. I have guests calling me to ask what the process is, their delegation is coming in, what do they need to do, and I'm so not the person to provide answers to them. So instead I take their names, add them to my list and thank them for their patience. It's a little embarrassing but I do what I can to make them feel like all is under control.

People have been bombarding the Ministry to get the badges that have been held up in printing because everything has waited til the last minute. Please Dear Lord, don't let us embarrass ourselves!

Before I go further, I have to give props to one of my closest friends, Maya Padmore (event planner extraordinaire), who put every ounce of her being into planning the event, in just 3 way-too-short months. I cannot complain about my phone ringing when I remember Maya's phone. She actually had to get another phone b/c she was just too overwhelmed with calls on the one. She had her work cut out for her and I saw her fall asleep at 3 am with her laptop on her lap and her phone continually waking her out of her rest. She was a turning top, but one that got her ish done. I am extremely proud of her and I know that the President, Minister and Yvette are as well!

I have bonded in a way only Liberian people can bond with everyone one from the printing guy (shout out Eugene) to various Liberian Ambassadors and Ministers, many of whom inspired me to aspire to be a leader in my own country. And while there were some that we call haters, for every hater, there were people who were willing to step in and help out or offer an encouraging word. Through it all, the manager of the Colloquium, Yvette Chesson Wureh, really and truly impressed me with her calm and collected attitude. There were often many people cracking under the pressure, but she always kept it together, no matter what was going wrong. She showed me that it is possible to be even keeled under pressure. And while I loooove my country, when I return to Liberia, it will be with the private sector and not the government. There needs to be a little more organization before I do that thurrr.


K.P. and me working and eating at Royal