Perpetual motion

So today and for about 6 hours yesterday, I got my first taste of what it means to actually administer a USAID grant from the finance perspective.  wow.

Following nearly 14 straight hours of questions about our current program, I have come to the conclusion that it is not quite as easy as I thought to do these grants.  These past two days have been quite a humbling experience.  More dissappointing for me though was that I lack the energy to appear supportive and we’re in the middle of bringing on a finance person that can probably turn the documentation and policy stuff around.  I hate when something as simple as looking like you’re enthusiastic about an idea is where you screw up.  It’s such an easy thing to do, but I think I’m teetering on the edge of burnt out. 

Luckily, it frustrated me enough that I went out and ran tonight.  Here’s the route.  So now I’m completely wrecked. 

I am going to get my first taste of Beirut night life tonight.  My project manager is taking me out with her friends should be a pretty good time. If anything else, just a nice change of pace.