Background: Why MSF?

During my last few years at the cafe, I gave a lot of thought as to what to do afterwards. Basic considerations included:
- No more "working for myself". Once was enough.
- More travel.
- A job where I can learn new things all the time.
- I need to earn a living, but I can live modestly.
- A job where I can help to make the world a better place, at my own level.
I've had a lot of luck in my life, and I would like to help those less fortunate than me to have a better life. I decided to explore the humanitarian relief or development fields.

After selling the bar in July, 2004 (and a couple of vacation trips), I decided to dive back into the basics of inventory control, thinking that I would best fit into the logistics part of a relief organization. I ordered a couple of books from Amazon and dug in for a couple of months. Then I put my resumé in order, worked on a couple of cover letters, and did some internet research on ONGs in relief and development.

In January, 2005, just before one last vacation trip to Egypt, I applied to several ONGs. They are not extremely rapid in their responses, but most said no because I had neither experience in humanitarian work, nor studies in social sciences. Peace Corps, however, proposed a development position in business counseling for small start-ups in french-speaking Africa. And Médecins Sans Frontières proposed a logistics/admin position in relief work.

Peace Corps is a great operation, but several things attracted me to MSF. It has an excellent reputation for useful, efficient work in the field. It is independent of any government, religious or industry influence (80% of its funds come from private sources). They go where they feel they are needed, do what they think is necessary, and WITNESS to the world what is going on. And from the people I met during the interview process, they don't take themselves TOO seriously, like some of the ONGs I talked with. I also feel that I can learn a lot more new skills in this job than the others.

So I'm ready. I have a huge document that I'm reading for the moment which explains the organization and philosophy of MSF. I had some routine surgery done, and am getting my life in order so that I can leave for 6 months to a year without too much hassle. And I am scheduled for a one-week couse entitled "Preparation for departure - logisticiens" at the end of July in Bordeaux, France.

I have no idea where they will propose that I go. But I'm excited. I don't intend to go for only one mission. If all goes well, I hope to do this until I can't move anymore. This means that I will need to decide where to have a "base" between missions, but I'm not there yet. We'll see how the first mission goes.