Having received a text message reading “Would you
like to do an internship programme at the UN for data……” So unconcerned I
was because I thought it was one of those SMS from people in our prisons. At
that time there was a lot of news about how prisoners are able to sneak in
Mobile phones handsets and laptops into the prisons and they were using them to
commit fraud. Anyway the reason why I never thought of UN was because; UN for
me was a “dream” working place later in my career. It was one of those
places that you only dream especially when you’re walking along a road then you
get to see those big fuel guzzlers vehicles with red number plates and
the only thing running into your mind is “$$$$$$” and a good life. I decided to
contact the number and realized that it was my Lecture in college and she gave
further directions after having decided on it. I sent the CV to the given
address and after one week, I received a call from the Agency that I was to
work for, informing me that I was to attend an interview the following week.
But then one problem still kept on ringing in back
and forth my mind; what was it? I had not invested on official clothes, I
really had very few nice looking official clothes and the reason was because I
had ignored them a lot for the fact that I just don’t like them (I have a
history with them: not really good). Anyway, whatever the case I had to go to
the interview.
The Interview
I arrived at the UN complex main gate at around 8:15 .am smartly and sharply dressed looking as if I am going to one of those top board strategy meetings (don’t even ask where I got the clothes).
The only
people I have seen carrying guns in this country are only Police officers and
like minded organizations but not securities for companies and NGOs. In this
case, I was so shocked to see nicely dressed gentlemen with pistols on their
waists supported by holsters. So confused I was, that I didn’t know where to go
seriously. Being diplomatic and cool as I am always, I decided to ask one of
them who directed me to the point where I am supposed to submit my details
(Funny thing is that they also speak fluent and eloquent English, not the ones
that I am used to meet in Kenya).
The Interview
I arrived at the UN complex main gate at around 8:15 .am smartly and sharply dressed looking as if I am going to one of those top board strategy meetings (don’t even ask where I got the clothes).
Now, this place has 3 security
points, The first one is at the main gate where, I was asked for my papers to
confirm that I was invited in that place plus identification documents, then
the second one was where you are given a ground pass with your photo on it which
will grants you access to in the main compound and then there is the third one
which an officer manning there ready to confirm you details (ground pass) and
then swipe a card to allow you to access through the gate. Do you know that
process alone can take you around 45 minutes to even one hour? …. No You Don’t
Wow! I was in the main complex, I can’t believe, I am in the UN Gigiri main complex. On my view the place is wide and open. On my left is a line long path that was leading to the main Lobby and its sides are long flag posts each with a flag that represent every country that is a member of the UN. It really looked cool. On my right was a road leading to a parking with buses from a local transport company ( came to find out later that , those are the staff buses and they pay only Kshs 1500 per month for those services and it takes you to your doorstep; God, I cant believe this, I mean its very cheap). Anyway, I was directed to follow the flag posts to the main lobby and then ask another security person on where I wanted to go (Following the flag posts was the easiest way for visitors because with that you can’t get lost).On the way I met a lot of foreigners or otherwise as they are known locally as “Mzungus”, Now, these are not the typical ones that you find in the streets of Nairobi smiling at you always, they were really serious (Perhaps they were thinking of their families at home or maybe their boss had told them that they had to go to Somali for 3 good months. SOMALI! Guess you know how that place is from watching CNN). I was supposed to go to the “NOF BLOCK 4, LEVEL 2 SOUTHWING’, you know with such a description, I don’t have a clue what it means leave alone where it is. Having been directed, I passed through the first Block labeled “1” and I was to go till I reach where it has been labeled “4” then took a short flight of stairs to what is now called LEVEL 2 then proceeded to the part that is now called South wing, mind you it has not been labeled. A narrow path leads to the main office of that part, Now not knowing definitely where I was going, again I had to ask a man in this late thirties (looking so) to direct me to the office of my future boss for the next 6 months (Initially it was 3 months).
Wow! I was in the main complex, I can’t believe, I am in the UN Gigiri main complex. On my view the place is wide and open. On my left is a line long path that was leading to the main Lobby and its sides are long flag posts each with a flag that represent every country that is a member of the UN. It really looked cool. On my right was a road leading to a parking with buses from a local transport company ( came to find out later that , those are the staff buses and they pay only Kshs 1500 per month for those services and it takes you to your doorstep; God, I cant believe this, I mean its very cheap). Anyway, I was directed to follow the flag posts to the main lobby and then ask another security person on where I wanted to go (Following the flag posts was the easiest way for visitors because with that you can’t get lost).On the way I met a lot of foreigners or otherwise as they are known locally as “Mzungus”, Now, these are not the typical ones that you find in the streets of Nairobi smiling at you always, they were really serious (Perhaps they were thinking of their families at home or maybe their boss had told them that they had to go to Somali for 3 good months. SOMALI! Guess you know how that place is from watching CNN). I was supposed to go to the “NOF BLOCK 4, LEVEL 2 SOUTHWING’, you know with such a description, I don’t have a clue what it means leave alone where it is. Having been directed, I passed through the first Block labeled “1” and I was to go till I reach where it has been labeled “4” then took a short flight of stairs to what is now called LEVEL 2 then proceeded to the part that is now called South wing, mind you it has not been labeled. A narrow path leads to the main office of that part, Now not knowing definitely where I was going, again I had to ask a man in this late thirties (looking so) to direct me to the office of my future boss for the next 6 months (Initially it was 3 months).
The directions led me to an office
labeled the name of my supervisor *Wanda Seaford*). Reading the name instituted
another mindboggling conversation within me as to whether that name belongs to
a Kenyan or a foreigner. Anyway I decided to call her number and the response
was like “We were supposed to meet at 9am, so please wait for me because
it’s not yet….”.”Ok” was my response. So I seated their waiting patiently,
expectantly and anxiously for the interview to start. I kept on reminding
myself about what HABITAT is all about and also some of the Do’s and Don’ts
during an interview.
Suddenly a lady appeared on one of
the doors walking hurriedly (Probably running, Later on I came to discover that
the Lady is very strong despite her age at that time being 60) carrying “Ciondoo”
and a “Kitenge skirt and a sleeveless top”. She came towards me and asked me if
I was that name that she was to interview and I responded with a strong yes.
She told me to give her a few minutes while opening the office. The time has
come for the interview. She called me in, directed me to a chair and asked for
my CV (thank God I had carried it).The first question was “Tell me something
about yourself that is not written in the CV”; this is a question that one
needs to prepare themselves on because every interviewer will ask you that.
Trust me on that.
The interview took around 30 minutes. It really moved from being an interview to a conversation and I liked that. The content was more of the current issues facing city in terms of planning and there possible remedies for all that. I must say that the future boss was really friendly and polite too. After that I was directed to one a young man possible in his mid twenties. He was supposed to direct me on how to fill a central online application site for all the interns coming to UN. I came later to know that his was also working in the same department and I will be working with him too. His name was *John*. He directed me with everything that I was supposed to do. I finished with that and I left the office trying to internalize everything that had just happen all that time. Figured out my way out of the complex and went home to relax myself. I filled the form for one and half weeks (It is a very long form) and waited for around one month before I was called to report to the place.
The Experience
Reporting day for the internship was on 30 th May 2011. Psyched up I was with very many expectations and intentions during my entire time at the UN. Reported to the internship office, took the document which I am supposed to get with the official ground pass. Once I got my official ground pass with my name on it and it also indicates the agency and what my title is e.g. “Intern”. Did I just tell you that we were also entitled to “Courtesy Bus” every evening to the city center? Yeah! It’s called a courtesy bus because it can only accommodate around 30 something people considering that this place has 100 and interns and it’s also on first come first serve basis. I can tell you for real that the bus left me on my first day. Sorry me! Anyway I had to wait after one week to take my orientation; which in sense was supposed to be done in the first day (I don’t know if it served its purpose because it’s like an introductory class session to familiarize oneself with UN.
The interview took around 30 minutes. It really moved from being an interview to a conversation and I liked that. The content was more of the current issues facing city in terms of planning and there possible remedies for all that. I must say that the future boss was really friendly and polite too. After that I was directed to one a young man possible in his mid twenties. He was supposed to direct me on how to fill a central online application site for all the interns coming to UN. I came later to know that his was also working in the same department and I will be working with him too. His name was *John*. He directed me with everything that I was supposed to do. I finished with that and I left the office trying to internalize everything that had just happen all that time. Figured out my way out of the complex and went home to relax myself. I filled the form for one and half weeks (It is a very long form) and waited for around one month before I was called to report to the place.
The Experience
Reporting day for the internship was on 30 th May 2011. Psyched up I was with very many expectations and intentions during my entire time at the UN. Reported to the internship office, took the document which I am supposed to get with the official ground pass. Once I got my official ground pass with my name on it and it also indicates the agency and what my title is e.g. “Intern”. Did I just tell you that we were also entitled to “Courtesy Bus” every evening to the city center? Yeah! It’s called a courtesy bus because it can only accommodate around 30 something people considering that this place has 100 and interns and it’s also on first come first serve basis. I can tell you for real that the bus left me on my first day. Sorry me! Anyway I had to wait after one week to take my orientation; which in sense was supposed to be done in the first day (I don’t know if it served its purpose because it’s like an introductory class session to familiarize oneself with UN.
After week surely, one has already
known the place at least). It was during the orientation that I came to know
about that the UN also houses international interns. I met quite a number of
them during the orientation form different countries. Awesome place it is.
Proceeded to my office met my boss and I was re – introduced to *John who as I
told you will be my direct work colleague. I went through a small job
orientation based on what I was supposed to do.
My first week in UN – HABITAT was one of the worst week I had in my life. I think it was not just one of the, but the worst week I ever had in my life. How can one stay in an office with people and not talk. I stayed in the office and no one is greeting at all. You can’t even greet other people because the facial expression that they give you is just like “try and say hi and you will regret it the rest of your life” hahahaha (Vey funny, Just Kidding). I can tell truly that, that was the attitude exhibited by people. I am very social person and I can’t stay three hours non –stop without talking to someone. Unless you are with them in the same in the same unit or working together I can tell you that no verbal contact will be between the two of you. I spend like three weeks before having that verbal contact with some of them, not that I didn’t want but it was them who seemingly didn’t want.
My first week in UN – HABITAT was one of the worst week I had in my life. I think it was not just one of the, but the worst week I ever had in my life. How can one stay in an office with people and not talk. I stayed in the office and no one is greeting at all. You can’t even greet other people because the facial expression that they give you is just like “try and say hi and you will regret it the rest of your life” hahahaha (Vey funny, Just Kidding). I can tell truly that, that was the attitude exhibited by people. I am very social person and I can’t stay three hours non –stop without talking to someone. Unless you are with them in the same in the same unit or working together I can tell you that no verbal contact will be between the two of you. I spend like three weeks before having that verbal contact with some of them, not that I didn’t want but it was them who seemingly didn’t want.
I think God created us as social
creatures who are supposed to be connecting in whatever ways. By the way the
Unit that I was working in had people of different Nationalities, i.e. Kenyans,
Ugandans, French, Mexicans, West Africans and also Europeans. Such diversity
but no connection; with such a very weird working environment. On that point by
the way, I had someone said when we were having lunch at the cafeteria that
people are reluctant to share their research or discoveries because their
superiors might either plagiarize them or even take credit on them (I don’t
know how true it is)
....................................End of Part 1.............................................
I can truly relate to this :) am based in the UN New York HQ and its even more interesting(read challenging)here.
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