Weird Start

March 11, 2010 - Yerevan

"Niet, Niet, Niet"

Today was my first day back in Yerevan, so I went to the The Ministry of Agriculture to submit my paperwork and begin working. To my surprise my contact people were not available. Instead I met with a woman who could only say "Niet" (no). She informed me they cannot authorize payment for my expenses or fees because suddenly the guy who has been managing The World Bank grant money was fired in some kind of scandal and there is nothing they can do. Nothing? Answer: "NIET" Could you ask the World Bank? Answer: "NIET" Could you pay for my plane ticket? Answer "NIET" Since you authorized me to come here, what will you do to solve the problem? Answer: "NIET"

It's a good thing I am too jet-lagged to panic.

So ... The World Bank 'gave' money to The Ministry of Agriculture to pay for me to develop a campaign strategy for The Forest State Monitoring Center (FSMC). I did an amazing communications strategy for FSMC the last time I was here. The World Bank representative asked me to make several revisions to the strategy in January and February ... and referred me to a Geologist in Washington D.C. who will be working on the big World Bank-funded FLEG project. This Geologist has no background in behavior change communications or campaign development and has never worked in Armenia. What he lacks in experience, however, he makes up for in bravado. Now suddenly this Geologist is here in Yerevan with my strategy and is planning to roll out a campaign. ... while I am eating ramin noodles in a crappy apartment wondering how or if I will be paid ... and whether to keep working.

I've been asked by The World Bank to have dinners with the Geologist while he is here and to offer as much help as possible ... whatever that means. I wonder what would happen if I just said "NIET"

Well, here I am ... I'll just keep working on some cool ideas and have a glass of pomegranate juice and try to relax.
Tomorrow is another day. I will get a good nights' sleep and hopefully things will be better tomorrow. The good news is that the weather in Yerevan is delightful!