what are we doing cont...

It is nice to have finally got started, although as hannah said there are a number of frustrations that you have to studiously try and ignore. I had been informed that a computer would be waiting for me to use at the Department of Foreign Affairs and rightly enough it was, although it was unplugged and sitting on the floor. I was informed that I couldn't set it up and that something would be sorted out. Two days later a brand new computer arrived and was placed on my desk, however they did not have the right lead to plug it in (rather worringly the "IT" guy called it a "rope"). So, for the next three weeks I stared whistfully at the computer on my desk and then at the computer on the floor and then went back to good old pen and ink whilst numerous people stuck their head round the door and said "hi, I've sent you a quick e-mail, let me know what you think" and before I could explain, they were gone, and as I am new I don't know their names yet or where they sit. I'm just hoping that one day I can read their e-mails and track them down. Anyway this last friday action finally took place - after two days of drilling, banging and hammering it started to look as if I would be plugged in and ready for action. By 4pm, 12 holes in the wall, one lost screwdriver, one broken printer (someone dropped a hammer on it) and one big electric shock for the guy doing the drilling, my computer was up and running. Unfortunately I have been out of the office all this week so haven't been able to use it, but I am looking forward to getting back to work next week.
In terms of what I am doing, I am effectively advising the department of foreign affairs on international law with a particular focus on human rights, with a view to developing a specific department that will be self sustainable over time. Having been there for a month it would appear that a lot of the initial work is organising processess for complying with international commitments and trying to set up some sort of system of understanding of international human rights with a view to focusing on the main international conventions. For those of you who are still awake, I will provide more details later.
The only thing to add is the working style - somewhere between laid back and didn't quite make it into the office today!