Moving to Djibouti
Dec 9th 2007, 3:23 am
#1
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Kuwait - Sringboard to Djibouti
Posts: 305
Moving to Djibouti
My Christmas present is a six month posting to the Djibouti office which came in recognition of the fantastic job I'd done here in Kuwait. The conversation went along the lines of:
'....part of Ethiopia / Eritrea innit?...'
'It is by the sea'
'Why do you want me to go?...'
'You like all of the crap places - Kuwait, Kazahkstan, Mozambique...'
'But they all begin with K.' (Please realise that the person I discussed this with has zero sense of humour - possible negative infinity..)
'You can speak French'
'Can I have...'
'No - you can retain your Kuwait salary'
So I'm off to the Horn of Africa or wherever it is for six months. Apparantly it has a French Colonial legacy and so is actually nice to live in - and being one of the really poor countries then it will be indescribably expensive to live in.
I looked it up on my old and new map and see the Ethiopia gave up its only access to the sea by ceding Djibouti or have I got it wrong.
I get the feeling it is a fly blown miserable place full of French Foreign Legion twits from Glasgow...Pleanty of opportunity for a meaningful new year resolution.
'....part of Ethiopia / Eritrea innit?...'
'It is by the sea'
'Why do you want me to go?...'
'You like all of the crap places - Kuwait, Kazahkstan, Mozambique...'
'But they all begin with K.' (Please realise that the person I discussed this with has zero sense of humour - possible negative infinity..)
'You can speak French'
'Can I have...'
'No - you can retain your Kuwait salary'
So I'm off to the Horn of Africa or wherever it is for six months. Apparantly it has a French Colonial legacy and so is actually nice to live in - and being one of the really poor countries then it will be indescribably expensive to live in.
I looked it up on my old and new map and see the Ethiopia gave up its only access to the sea by ceding Djibouti or have I got it wrong.
I get the feeling it is a fly blown miserable place full of French Foreign Legion twits from Glasgow...Pleanty of opportunity for a meaningful new year resolution.
Dec 9th 2007, 3:26 am
#2
hmmmm...nice
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 27,923
Re: Moving to Djibouti
I hope they have internet over there so you can keep us updated about your misfortune...
Dec 9th 2007, 3:57 am
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,434
Re: Moving to Djibouti
My Christmas present is a six month posting to the Djibouti office which came in recognition of the fantastic job I'd done here in Kuwait. The conversation went along the lines of:
'....part of Ethiopia / Eritrea innit?...'
'It is by the sea'
'Why do you want me to go?...'
'You like all of the crap places - Kuwait, Kazahkstan, Mozambique...'
'But they all begin with K.' (Please realise that the person I discussed this with has zero sense of humour - possible negative infinity..)
'You can speak French'
'Can I have...'
'No - you can retain your Kuwait salary'
So I'm off to the Horn of Africa or wherever it is for six months. Apparantly it has a French Colonial legacy and so is actually nice to live in - and being one of the really poor countries then it will be indescribably expensive to live in.
I looked it up on my old and new map and see the Ethiopia gave up its only access to the sea by ceding Djibouti or have I got it wrong.
I get the feeling it is a fly blown miserable place full of French Foreign Legion twits from Glasgow...Pleanty of opportunity for a meaningful new year resolution.
'....part of Ethiopia / Eritrea innit?...'
'It is by the sea'
'Why do you want me to go?...'
'You like all of the crap places - Kuwait, Kazahkstan, Mozambique...'
'But they all begin with K.' (Please realise that the person I discussed this with has zero sense of humour - possible negative infinity..)
'You can speak French'
'Can I have...'
'No - you can retain your Kuwait salary'
So I'm off to the Horn of Africa or wherever it is for six months. Apparantly it has a French Colonial legacy and so is actually nice to live in - and being one of the really poor countries then it will be indescribably expensive to live in.
I looked it up on my old and new map and see the Ethiopia gave up its only access to the sea by ceding Djibouti or have I got it wrong.
I get the feeling it is a fly blown miserable place full of French Foreign Legion twits from Glasgow...Pleanty of opportunity for a meaningful new year resolution.
Dec 9th 2007, 4:08 am
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: stuck at red
Posts: 1,525
Re: Moving to Djibouti
great! I'd love an opportunity like that! What is it you do, Dago? Have us round for a drink and a laugh once you get settled in! 
Dec 9th 2007, 3:38 pm
#5
Banned
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Kuwait - Sringboard to Djibouti
Posts: 305
Re: Moving to Djibouti
eg Kuwait Islamic Development is working in (Islamic) W. Africa building infrastructure capacity and I've been working with / alongside a big contractor on projects going back some time - years on and off. Ended up putting the family there - fantastic place.
Have not guessed whats going on in Djibouti - likely to be World Food Programme distribution - most of which is currently done in Dubai.
I went to Houston last year and there were two really fat blokes taking up far too much space on the baggage reclaim - saw their bags and they were WFP - shows they eat all the stuff - and like to be in Dubai rather than Kampala / Beira etc.
Come for a piss up by all means - going in Feb!! - hey - that's nearly next month.
Dec 9th 2007, 3:47 pm
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,434
Re: Moving to Djibouti
Work on projects with World Bank who lend to subprime customers to make roads, dams, power stations and I make sure they don't spend the money on Helicopter Gunships. Unless that is what the loan is for - which, of course, it never is. I'm on the 'side' of the donor organisation.
eg Kuwait Islamic Development is working in (Islamic) W. Africa building infrastructure capacity and I've been working with / alongside a big contractor on projects going back some time - years on and off. Ended up putting the family there - fantastic place.
Have not guessed whats going on in Djibouti - likely to be World Food Programme distribution - most of which is currently done in Dubai.
I went to Houston last year and there were two really fat blokes taking up far too much space on the baggage reclaim - saw their bags and they were WFP - shows they eat all the stuff - and like to be in Dubai rather than Kampala / Beira etc.
Come for a piss up by all means - going in Feb!! - hey - that's nearly next month.
eg Kuwait Islamic Development is working in (Islamic) W. Africa building infrastructure capacity and I've been working with / alongside a big contractor on projects going back some time - years on and off. Ended up putting the family there - fantastic place.
Have not guessed whats going on in Djibouti - likely to be World Food Programme distribution - most of which is currently done in Dubai.
I went to Houston last year and there were two really fat blokes taking up far too much space on the baggage reclaim - saw their bags and they were WFP - shows they eat all the stuff - and like to be in Dubai rather than Kampala / Beira etc.
Come for a piss up by all means - going in Feb!! - hey - that's nearly next month.
Dec 10th 2007, 4:00 am
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: stuck at red
Posts: 1,525
Re: Moving to Djibouti
Work on projects with World Bank who lend to subprime customers to make roads, dams, power stations and I make sure they don't spend the money on Helicopter Gunships. Unless that is what the loan is for - which, of course, it never is. I'm on the 'side' of the donor organisation.
eg Kuwait Islamic Development is working in (Islamic) W. Africa building infrastructure capacity and I've been working with / alongside a big contractor on projects going back some time - years on and off. Ended up putting the family there - fantastic place.
Have not guessed whats going on in Djibouti - likely to be World Food Programme distribution - most of which is currently done in Dubai.
I went to Houston last year and there were two really fat blokes taking up far too much space on the baggage reclaim - saw their bags and they were WFP - shows they eat all the stuff - and like to be in Dubai rather than Kampala / Beira etc.
Come for a piss up by all means - going in Feb!! - hey - that's nearly next month.
eg Kuwait Islamic Development is working in (Islamic) W. Africa building infrastructure capacity and I've been working with / alongside a big contractor on projects going back some time - years on and off. Ended up putting the family there - fantastic place.
Have not guessed whats going on in Djibouti - likely to be World Food Programme distribution - most of which is currently done in Dubai.
I went to Houston last year and there were two really fat blokes taking up far too much space on the baggage reclaim - saw their bags and they were WFP - shows they eat all the stuff - and like to be in Dubai rather than Kampala / Beira etc.
Come for a piss up by all means - going in Feb!! - hey - that's nearly next month.
Dec 10th 2007, 5:17 am
#10
Its all good
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Dubai
Posts: 7,650
Re: Moving to Djibouti
OMG, my hubby flew there a few years back and had to stay overnight - the airline had agreed to a short-term charter (can't remember who it was for now) but was for a couple of months. He had been rostered 3 of these trips during a month period and after the first one blatantly refused to go back - he said it was absolutely apalling - the hotel they stayed (which was the best one there) was disgusting and during breakfast he saw 3 huge rats running amongst the tables - don't think there will be many recommendations on tripadvisor 
Dec 10th 2007, 12:44 pm
#11
Camel Spotting
Joined: Aug 2007
Location: Kuwait
Posts: 99
Re: Moving to Djibouti
OMG, my hubby flew there a few years back and had to stay overnight - the airline had agreed to a short-term charter (can't remember who it was for now) but was for a couple of months. He had been rostered 3 of these trips during a month period and after the first one blatantly refused to go back - he said it was absolutely apalling - the hotel they stayed (which was the best one there) was disgusting and during breakfast he saw 3 huge rats running amongst the tables - don't think there will be many recommendations on tripadvisor
Dec 10th 2007, 3:09 pm
#12
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,187
Re: Moving to Djibouti
OMG, my hubby flew there a few years back and had to stay overnight - the airline had agreed to a short-term charter (can't remember who it was for now) but was for a couple of months. He had been rostered 3 of these trips during a month period and after the first one blatantly refused to go back - he said it was absolutely apalling - the hotel they stayed (which was the best one there) was disgusting and during breakfast he saw 3 huge rats running amongst the tables - don't think there will be many recommendations on tripadvisor
MM, xx
