Life and work – TIA (This is Angola)

Some people from work are getting sick. One has had stomach problem for several days, another had fever & chill, yet another came down with flu like symptom. One also has a problem with his girlfriend back in the USA. The project deadline is approaching fast. A few spend more time and effort finding reasons why the deadline can’t be met. I wish they would just keep doing what they are supposed to do. At quitting time everyday they are in a big hurry to leave, but they are not in such a hurry at starting time in the morning. It's not easy being away from your loved ones at a place like this. But it was their own choice. A few expats are stuck out of Angola because of visa problem. Some of the Angolan employees use their cleverness to find ways to come and go as they please without producing much. The place seems to have a bad influence on people’s work ethics, not to speak of other inherent issues of an undeveloped place with poor infrastructure. Power failure is a common event. The old emergency generator for the office building did not come on when needed last time because of lack of routine maintenance and we were in the dark all afternoon producing nothing. There is no concept of routine maintenance. But we shall deliver as promised regardless. As Randy Pausch states in his “Last Lecture”, I can’t do anything about the cards I have been dealt, but I shall play the cards the best way I know how.