The Workaholic Me! - 2

Firstly, let me start by apologising humbly for disappointing all of you who were expecting weekly posts. I already mentioned that I am almost upto my nose with work and deadlines! I know it's not an excuse, but let's look at the bright side, because I have been so busy, I have so much to tell you all ;)

When I first wrote a post under The Workaholic Me, it was to be a one time post.. No recurrences. However, there is just so much to write that I thought, Hey, why not make it a weekly thing? But please be warned, I get into these moods where I will be a total workaholic for a week and then a total slacker in the other week- be it slacking or working, rest assured, I give it my 100% ;) My point here being, I might not be able to write The Workahoilic Me every week if it's a slow week, but you can be sure that it will appear every now and then! 

So, on to the me who can't rest if she gets started with some work until she finishes it! You might already know about my House listing for Economic Survey and Census, and if you don't, get enlightened right now by following this link!. And before you get your hopes up, I still haven't finished the data entry! The good news is, DNP hasn't asked about it yet, maybe becasue they understand the enormity of the work and that it wouldn't be completed so soon. But not to worry, with the help of my faithful Potayto, I hope to be done with it by today!  

 Last you heard, Jojo (my colleague at The Secretariat of The Fuvahmulah Atoll Council) was dividing the 8 districts into 27 blocks right? So after he divided them, I marked the blocks on each district map and started entering the data. This is where you see the real workaholic in me, because I entered the data at the office everyday, from 8 to 3, with the help of a cousin who volunteers there, Shafu, and after I come home, I call Potayto and we enter the data together from 4 to 7! I do not get paid for the overtime, but here I am, bringing work home and trying to finish it within the deadline! But alas, the workload is too much!

Even Shiakko, my younger sister, helped me once. But mostly it's been Shafu and Potayto, Potayto, more so! Looking on the bright side, I have finished 6 WHOLE DISTRICTS-yeah, that includes the BIGGER 4, hence, the excitement ;)) and half of one district. That was a really slow district because I had to find the names from the map and then search for the data for that house from the 20 or so pages of information (In other districts, the enumerators had written a reference number for each household so when I read off the number from the map, Potayto could look up the number in the list and read off the information almost instantaneously!) Nevertheless, I am determined to finish the remaining ones today, yes, working on a Friday, can I get any more obsessed with work? :P (And for those of you who are accustomed to Friday being the last day of the week, Friday for us, in Maldives is the weekend, Friday and Saturday, with the new week starting on Sunday!)

Here I mention guiltily, that my CPI work for the past two weeks are at a halt, because I was so busy with data entry. I did send December's CPI list on 6th January, just in time for the deadline (Deadline is 5th of each month, but 5th January was a Saturday so I got the extra day!). And I am sure I can send CPI of January by 5th February, but that is no small task either. Taking prices of over 200 products from more than 40 outlets is no small feat I tell you! 

Update on collecting the Key Indicator's list for MaldivInfo is, I have received the information from all the 8 Island Councils, last receipt was from Miskimmagu Council last night! You wouldn't believe how many times I had to call each council to get ALL the information. I called almost twice everyday since 14th January. Some councils were very cooperative and they sent it right before the deadline of 15th, but others needed more reminding and more bothering them to send me the data. Now that I have all the data, I have till 23rd to compile them, fill in any missing information from Fuvahmulah Atoll Council's database, and leave comments for each Indicator!

I had mentioned that the deadline for sending an updated map of Fuvahmulah as a whole for Census 2014 was 14th January. But Anys, a colleague at DNP, the one who is supervising the Map Updation extended my deadline to 20th January, after hearing my story. The thing was, I was so involved with House Listing and data entry (since it had a deadline for last Thursday), that I misread the letter DNP sent to me regarding the updation of maps. DNP had actually asked me to get the maps from the Island Councils, not update the maps myself! So ofcourse it was a huge workload off of me, but then I had to send the letters to the island Councils (I have to Thank Waheedhahtha for that, she prepared the letters for me,) giving them a deadline of 17th January, yes, yesterday. But even when I started calling them on 16th and after calling them several times yesterday, I'm still missing maps of 3 districts., 4 actually, the one sent by one dsitrict was in pdf format and I was unable to convert it to the required Corel Draw format (actually Jojo converted the autocade versions to Corel Draw format! Thank you Jojo!). So tomorrow I have to go to the office, on a Saturday, yes, AGAIN, call the people who are responsible for sending me the maps (I got their cell phone numbers, since I knew their work numbers wouldn't work on a weekend ;) ), get all the 8 maps, merge them into one, call Jojo, ask him to divide the whole of Fuvahmulah into 27 blocks (wouldn't be hard I hope, since he already did it for the House Listing! ;) ) and send them to Anys on Sunday! 

Well, those are my deadlines and targets for this week! Catch ya later! :D

The workaholic me! :D

It's been a  hectic week for me at the job. I am supervising 3 major projects that are underway, all due before the 3rd week of January! ;)

So the first project is House Listing for economic survey and  Census 2014. Every single building and household is listed during the process, and I am supposed to make sure everything gets done on time. So first I had to find enumerators ( 1 for each district of Fuvahmulah, which has 8!). The catch was, the one person had to be the enumerator for the whole district, and I know how people feel about going alone on surveys and stuff ;) So, my selling point was that they can take some one with them, but they would have to split the allowance! :D  

So I called some people who were already a part of Maldives Red Crescent, because I knew that they had experience in surveying and all, and some people who I knew for a fact to be totally bored at home with  nothing to do and would be glad to earn some money! :D So I called Shafu (my cousin who volunteers here at the Atoll council), Ahthu, Shamy, Sheeth, Mashiq, Shahyd, Aamal and Sir-Rim and they were really enthusiastic about it!

Next was calling them to a meeting and explaining to them how it worked. I brought them here to the Atoll Council, and we discussed the questionnaire together, making sure they understood all the questions and how the form should be filled. They asked their doubts and I tried my best to clarify them. All the while, I treated them more like my friends (they ARE my friends, all of them ,yeah! :D) more than people I hired for the job ;) I hope they liked it that way! :D 

So, after the explanations, they were given the forms, files, pens and maps of their district and they went off.

It went on for three days, starting on the 2nd January and ending yesterday. Yesterday, after so much hard work, everyone brought me their files which had completed forms and the serial number of each building listed,  marked on the map where the building was supposed to be. I should mention that they were all very dedicated and they did their very best, and for that I thank them from the bottom of my heart! 

Next is entering the data. But before that, the 8 districts need to be divided into 27 blocks and the data should be entered block-wise. Jojo is already working on the map and hopefully, would have them ready by tomorrow! I am trying not to think about how I am going to enter the data of 8 whole districts, me all alone! :P lol!

But for now, I have to worry about CPI too. That it Consumer Price Index. I have taken all the prices of products from all the outlets, (there are about 50 outlets in Fuvahmulah!). I have around 5 outlets' data to be entered and 10 outlets' data to be verified. I have to do all that by tomorrow and send the forms to DNP tomorrow at the latest! So here I am, working on a Saturday, even when I do not get paid for the Over Time! Talk about a workaholic! ;)

The 2nd project is the map updating for Census 2014. The most updated map DNP has of Fuvahmulah is from Census 2006, and since that was 6 years ago, you can imagine how outdated it would be! ;) So we need an updated map as a reference for the Census next year. It is my job to make sure that the planning unit of the Secretariat of the Fuvahmulah Atol Council sends it to DNP by 14th January 2013. Thoriq, my supervisor and head of Planning unit, said that we could use the data we gather from house listing to update the map, so that hasn't started yet, but I'm hoping this project would start soon! :D

The last project that I'm responsible for is getting the information regarding the key indicators of development from each island council. Since we have 8 island councils, each of them as slow in delivering any data we require from them as the other, I have to constantly bug them about it, until they complete the related forms and send the data to me. I then have to put all of hem together in one place, verify them and send them to DNP. I can't start checking the progress of the island councils since I haven't received the official letter sent by DNP to the councils. So once I receive the letter, I have to remind the secretariat of the 8 island councils to deliver the information before the deadline!

I feel so overwhelmed, but here I am, relaxing with a HUGE packet of Cheese Balls, slowly working on the CPI work! Because if I panic and freak out, none of the work would get done! :P So, catch you later! I'm going  back to my work! The prices are calling me! :D

Amazing 2012

I was all for leaving to Australia in Jan 2012 to study MBBS. But then, I decided to wait another year. What ever my reasons were back then, I am glad I made the decision to stay. People might say I'm wasting my time in Fuvahmulah when I could have started MBBS, but I disagree. I am so totally NOT!! I DO NOT regret my decision to wait in Fuvahmulah one more year. Remember how people say "Everything happens for a reason"? This is one of those times when I can say, "Yeah, whoever said it was right on!"

So, Why?

Well, Firstly, if I hadn't stayed here, I wouldn't have met Raid, who is my Mr.Right! OK, maybe I might have met him, but I surely would be too busy to actually see that he is everything I want and more, and even if we did go into a relationship, we wouldn't have had all the awesome times we had together (like the fishing trip, the family picnics, the B'day surprises, the Hulhumale' trips, the dates, the Anniversary celebrations, the dinners, the walks, the rides!). None of that would have been possible if I were in Australia.

Just before the fishing trip

On my B'day

Next, I wouldn't have gotten to see my baby sister grow up, learn to walk and talk, hear her call me Shinau, teach her to say I miss you, teach her to sing, and feel proud every time she learns a new word. If I were in Australia, I would be just some one she saw on Skype, and she wouldn't know I was her Dhahthi who loves her more than my own life. But now that she is old enough to remember me, I feel sure that she would remember all the good times we had together when she sees me on Skype, or atleast recognise me as her sis!

Moving the sofa, like a boss!

Wearing dad's shoes! :D

Pushing the trolley at the airport.

Love her expression! Never fails to bring a smile to my face!

Also, I wouldn't have been able to work at the  Atoll Hospital and see how things worked there if I had left in January. Even if it was just as a volunteer, I did get to work at the hospital and see for myself the working environment to expect when I come back. I did get a feel of the enormity of the job to be done. 

Image credits to: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=104455882981798&set=pb.100002521602508.-2207520000.1356843624&type=3&src=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos-f.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash4%2F260553_104455882981798_7124179_n.jpg&size=490%2C290

Image credits: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=104398232987563&set=pb.100002521602508.-2207520000.1356843624&type=3&theater

Moreover, I got to go to London because I stayed!! That's right! London! Now how can you regret staying, when staying gave you that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? ;)  It was a chance given by Democracy House, and it was as wonderful as it sounds. I hope to blog about it under "travels" label, after I'm done with writing about Singapore.

In Leicester Square or Piccadilly Circus. Can;t remember exactly where!

That's right! The Diamond Jubilee Glass Window presented to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth  by the Houses of parliament.

From the far left corner you can see the London Eye and directly behind us is The Big Ben! :D
Oh yeah, this is all the people who went with me to the memorable trip!

And then they stood at the foot of the Big Ben! :3

At the Chinese "gate" kinda thingy

A hilarious attempt to imitate the statues. Love Shaha's expression!  :)

The awesome Us jumping near Big Ben in our very official suits ;)

And yes, I even got to go to Singapore because I stayed! I had to sit UMAT exam and therefore I went on an all-expense paid trip to Singapore and had an awesome time there as well. I write about it under the "travels" label, every Monday, so if you are interested in knowing more about it, go ahead and read my blog posts with the title YourSingapore (the promotion slogan of Singapore!).

Crappy quality I know. But these were the few pictures that I didn't lose because I took them from my  not -so-awesome phone I had back then.

Such a HUGE crown!

Shrek's House xD

Madagascar themed Merry-go-round

Madagascar themed restaurant kinda place

Map of Universal Studio, Singapore

In addition, I got to work at the Secretariat of the Fuvahmulah Atoll Council as an employee of Department of National Planning. I got awesome friends in Male', Addu, Thinadhoo and Kulhudhuhfushi and Fuvahmulah as my colleagues. I even started liking the statistics and things related to that. Now I play a major role in the preparation for 2014 Census of The Maldives, by being in charge of Census Map Updating, House listing for Economic Survey and Census and the information gathering regarding the key indicators of development.
All of this has given me new insights into the statistical condition of Maldives, broaden my horizon and opened my eyes to a whole lot of things I was blind to  before! In a nutshell, working at the Secretariat of the Fuvahmulah Atoll Council has been very character building ;)

Anys, Tina, Niyaf, Naani, Nabeeh and Vifsha; Colleagues (and my bosses) in Male'

Azu & Rafa; kinda like our supervisors in Male' ;)

Juu, Addu 

Shahyd in Male' DNP

Colleagues at The Secretariat of the Fuvahmulah Atoll Council (the best people to work with! <3)

And, I got the chance to attend the Prize Day ceremony of the school I attended for 12 whole years, and be there myself to collect the prizes for being the Best All Round student from A'level. That is the first time in the history of GNAEC that one person got Best All Round twice from the school (I got Best All Round even when I finished gr 10) (Oh yeah, I'm proud, mostly because others are proud of me! ;)), and that was one of the best nights of my life because I fulfilled the dream of my Dad twice that night, and I got to go to the school that I miss so much and meet some of my school mates and teachers!

Raid, My Dad, Raid's Dad, Mausooma Miss, Me, Sadhu, Mom, Shiakko, Riu, Afith and at the front, Shirukko

Me with my sash

Some highlights of the night

Further, because I stayed, I got the chance to visit and say goodbye to everyone that matters to me before I leave for one whole year (I've never been away from home for that long before, even though I do take off to Male' every now and then! ;) ) and leave a good impression of myself with them. I got the chance to give my parents some money before I left as well.

So, all in all, never for one moment did I regret waiting one more year before I went to study MBBS, because 2012 has been the best year of my life so far!

The Anniversary (of DNP :P) !!! :D

Let me start by telling you about my job. The job title is Assistant Statistical Officer. I am actually an employee of Department of National Planning, but I work at the Secretariat of the Fuvahmulah Atoll Council since I am responsible for the statistics of GN Atoll, which is basically Fuvahmulah ;)

So I started on 18th October 2012, and I came to Male' on 7th December 2012, for the training program by DNP. Lucky us, the 34th Anniversary celebrations coincided with our training program. We were actually  in the Stat Section when they asked us to bring a gift for a secret friend. 

So on Thursday morning, I dressed up in Red and Black, (I had gone shopping the day before ;) ) and wrapped Oranges, Red Apples and Green Apples in a newspaper (the rule was for each present to be wrapped with newspaper) and left for office. I dropped the present off at the designated place before meeting up with Rafa, my kinda-supervisor here for data checking session.

 At 11.30, we were asked to go to the conference room where we got to pick our presents. Here's how it went. Each present had a number printed on it and there was a teeny tiny box with the same numbers printed on little pieces of papers which were then folded. So whatever number we took out of the box, the present with that number became ours. 

It was so much fun, because every one was screaming out their number, trying to get their hands on their presents ;)  I finally got mine. When I opened it, I was pleasantly surprised ;) It was this extremely cute Bear shaped coin box! 

Next on agenda was lunch. It was the traditional "Biriyani". Before starting lunch, however, we cut the cake. One person from each section got to go there, and they cut the cake. After eating a sumptuous meal, we had some chocolate cake, which I should highlight, was extremely yummy~!!!

Next, we had some lollies, which were red and they stained our lips red ( no need of lip sticks! xD). They were equally tasty.

Afterwards, we (that is to say Shaheed and I) took some pictures of fellow office mates. They were my colleagues even though they were based in Male'. All of them were so welcoming and friendly that I almost wished I was based in Male' as well. Almost. Fuvahmulah needs me! :D

Thus ended the joyous celebrations! xD