There are two different levels of atmosphere, worldview, philosophy and maybe even clothes when it comes to my work. Let's call the first level the "bussiness class" level. I need to wear nice coats or silky and shiny baju kurungs matched with expensive leather pumps or high heel sandals plus a small impractical handbag sling over my shoulder or delicately held between my fingers together with my leather file stacked with papers, proposals, reports, Federal Constitution and simplified version of International Human Rights Conventions. The meeting will be full of ( or should I say infested?) with pleasentries that even the sweetest "kuih lapis" failed to match the exchange of words between the senior officials. This is also the time when sugar canes are mass produced every minute or so, whilst the Secretary furiously scribble away minutes of the meeting and still able to answer SMS on her phone efficiently. Welcome to the world where I am practising negotiations with some of the top officials in the country in the areas of human rights. Some of them ARE and potentially the human rights violaters themselves but my organization has high hopes that soft diplomacy might change the situation.
At this level, my superior could stand forever to speak on human rights. Not just her, almost everybody could "stand" the air-conditioned room, delicious refreshments and velvet cushions while lamenting on the poor predicaments of the people down there. Me, on the other hand, had in the past, involved in series of heated arguments which most of the time I give in. Due to my impatient nature, I am not a very popular choice to attend meetings. Besides, knowledge is something that everyone retrieve while you are articulating your unsubstantiated points. I didnt say this. Somebody I believe thinks so.
What about the second level? This level requires me and the others to go down to the grassroots and try to mobilize and empower them to stand up and claim their rights. This involves trainings, workshops and perhaps even just sitting together with the community for hours, trying to understand their language and feelings while dissecting their issues and problems. This is the level where my superior would be asking " can we ask them to explain their problems faster?" or "can you ask them to register their names faster?". People apparently are getting less patient at this level. The heat or dust, the insects or thick jungles has this effect of making people lost control. Last Saturday, the program of which my organization conducted for an indigenous community in Pahang requires everybody to be patient. Apart from getting the Registration Department to register the indigeneous people's birth certificate and identification card, we also have a session where facilitators were assigned to sit with numerous groups of indigenous parents, giving them some space to talk about their children's education. Again, patience is the key.
I must say, my patience is tested from minute to minute during the program but it helps me emphatize with the nature and situation of the indigeneous community. Let my patience be tested on the ground as part of God's design to help me improve my temperamental self, rather then acting patient in the conference room when what I actually wanted to do is scream myself to contentment as everybody around me apply their PR skills. It is hence, proven now that I will make a very bad diplomat or negotiator.
At this level, my superior could stand forever to speak on human rights. Not just her, almost everybody could "stand" the air-conditioned room, delicious refreshments and velvet cushions while lamenting on the poor predicaments of the people down there. Me, on the other hand, had in the past, involved in series of heated arguments which most of the time I give in. Due to my impatient nature, I am not a very popular choice to attend meetings. Besides, knowledge is something that everyone retrieve while you are articulating your unsubstantiated points. I didnt say this. Somebody I believe thinks so.
What about the second level? This level requires me and the others to go down to the grassroots and try to mobilize and empower them to stand up and claim their rights. This involves trainings, workshops and perhaps even just sitting together with the community for hours, trying to understand their language and feelings while dissecting their issues and problems. This is the level where my superior would be asking " can we ask them to explain their problems faster?" or "can you ask them to register their names faster?". People apparently are getting less patient at this level. The heat or dust, the insects or thick jungles has this effect of making people lost control. Last Saturday, the program of which my organization conducted for an indigenous community in Pahang requires everybody to be patient. Apart from getting the Registration Department to register the indigeneous people's birth certificate and identification card, we also have a session where facilitators were assigned to sit with numerous groups of indigenous parents, giving them some space to talk about their children's education. Again, patience is the key.
I must say, my patience is tested from minute to minute during the program but it helps me emphatize with the nature and situation of the indigeneous community. Let my patience be tested on the ground as part of God's design to help me improve my temperamental self, rather then acting patient in the conference room when what I actually wanted to do is scream myself to contentment as everybody around me apply their PR skills. It is hence, proven now that I will make a very bad diplomat or negotiator.
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