Alea iacta est

I have finally sent in the application for that MSc study. A.'s supportive attitude helped a lot for me to actually do it, and so did my boss', who offered to be 'lenient' during exam periods. Puppy Dog, who considered doing one of the programme's courses himself, has decided not to, and has subsequently been a complety tactless oaf by depicting CeFiMS as an obscure and overcharging (well, I could agree with that) establishment nobody's ever heard of ('why don't you take a MSc with a more reputable institute, like the London School of Economics'). Just the kind of thing you want to hear when you're about to spend a small fortune and to commit yourself for more than 1100 hours of precious private time...

The application is not completely final yet: CeFiMS first need to make me an 'offer' on the basis of the information I have provided, and then I'll have to send them a ton of certified copies and certified translations of diplomas, plus a ton of money of course. Not sure where I will get the paperwork certified in the middle of nowhere, I will probably have a go at it myself with a few impressive looking stamps we use at the office...

The nice thing is that my plans have inspired A. to start some distance learning herself, so we would be cosily studying together in the evenings. She is still looking at the various options available.

Things have calmed down politically for the moment, we've had no mention of further incidents over the past week. Part of that is also due to a lack of information on what is going on in the hinterland. The country keeps happily endebting itself ever further, paying state salaries with money borrowed at completely unsustainable rates (between 10% and 18% on an annual basis; you can get your car financed cheaper than that!). The IMF should decide today on a new post-conflict program for the country, but even that will not substantially change things (just 4 million dollars or so, and a loan at that. We may be slow in disbursing but what we give is aall grant money.). The only way out is for the country is to get its act together as regards running their own public finances, in particular in raising revenues. Which is one of the reasons why we are here. Another reason is public health: I attended a seminar on the AIDS problem this morning, and heard some ghastly new figures: in our host country, on a population of only 3,5 million, in 2005 alone 274 000 children lost one or both parents to AIDS.

I am in charge of the office these days, as the boss and three of the other heads of section have left for a seminar in Brazzaville to discuss programming for 2008-2013.

I shouldn't forget to mention the latest thing that is making our life more comfortable: we are among the first people here to receive have South African cable television, including a host of English and Hindi TV channels. It's nice to be watching BBC out here. This afternoon we had our first little argument with M. over Cartoon Network.

All in all a good week then.