I desperately fought back the feeling that I was the odd woman standing. It all started when Mark introduced me to our three national staff members. Without any programs established, our staff consisted only of a local logistics team: Yusuf, Fadi, and Mais. Since we did not have an office space, the first time I met them was in the hotel restaurant. Mark had arrived a month earlier to narrow down our choices of where to base the office. We were to make a final decision in the next few weeks. The three staffers stood in a line, looking at me as if I had landed from outer space. I reached out to shake their hands. All three appeared to be frozen in place, and then they shook my hand awkwardly and gave me tight, forced smiles. The look of disappointment on their faces was obvious, although I didn’t know its source. I tried to break the awkwardness by asking a few questions. They mumbled answers, looking more annoyed than comforted.
What do You think about Barefoot In Baghdad (2010)?
