The VSO placement monitoring process includes several key dates to review progress and find out how the volunteer is getting on. The first is the 3-month call-back so called because, wait for it, it happens after 3 months and the volunteer is called back to Dhaka to do it. Cryptic stuff eh? Anyway, I had my call-back this week and so was led to reflect on my time so far in placement and what's next.

Most of the points I made I've already mentioned in previous diary entries, the key one being the isolation and how to combat it. I now have a mobile phone (see "Contact Keri" for details) to be more independent when it comes to contacting friends and family. This is of course great, but only when it works. My placement is so remote that I need to connect the phone to an antenna mounted on a rather high bamboo pole to improve reception. Even then it doesn't really work as my network provider's signal is quite weak around here. The solution I've found is a patch of ground just away from the campus between 2 paddy fields where reception is quite good if a little random. This of course means that, unless I happen to be out there, no one can just call me (and I don't have voicemail or SMS either). Habib has however promised to install a taller bamboo pole so maybe soon I'll be able to have calls in my room or in the office! And you thought you had technology problems...

On the professional side I have to say it's going great. This is probably the first job that has had me using and developing all my existing skills while learning new ones. The breadth of issues I get to work with as well the depth of expectation concerning my contribution really make it challenging and enjoyable. Another big plus is the access I have to the international donor community. As part of my initial organisational assessment I have been interviewing our major donors who all happen to be large international organisations. They all welcomed my approach to seek feedback from them and have been extremely frank in their comments. The big bonus for me personally though is finding out more about how these development organisations work, what roles they play, and what sort of people work for them. In fact, the contacts I'm making and the conversations we're having are also helping me feel less isolated here. The country directors and senior advisers I've met are either expats or well educated Bangladeshis so we can communicate and understand each other much easier. These meetings are also a justified excuse to go to Dhaka which opens the door to playing rugby, drinking beer and seeing friends.

Another part of the call-back is to look at how well VSO is supporting me, both professionally and personally. Luckily my placement is going well and I have no major issues, though not all volunteers here could say the same thing. When I was asked the question though it took me back to when I really did need and get VSO's support i.e. the bus crash. It's a credit to how they reacted and the care I received that I don't give bus travel a second thought now. Ironically, a few days before going down to Dhaka I took a bus to go to a meeting in Dinajpur. About half way through the journey I was asked to change seats as the conductor needed to get something out from under it. He lift up the seat itself and took out a plastic bottle containing what I assumed was oil. Next, he knelt down in the aisle and opened up 2 little flaps in the floor and started pouring in the liquid. It wasn't engine oil - it was brake fluid! At least the driver pulled over while he poured it in...

The next key stage in my placement is at the 6 month point. By then I hope to have got some organisational change projects underway, including a strategic review. The main barrier to that happening is whether I will have a counterpart i.e. someone I can work closely with to share my skills and knowledge, and who in return will help me understand how best to approach things. Right now there's a bit of doubt about Rabi's future with BRIF, and I haven't seen hide nor hair of a potential senior management candidate to help Habib at the top. Not for the first time, fingers crossed.