WOMAN: What do you think you learned from yourexperience?It must have been a great opportunityto examine community life.
PAUL: Yes,but it was difficult at first to be acceptedby the locals.It was a very remote village and someof them were reluctant to speak to me - althoughthey were always interested in my clothes and howmuch I'd had to pay for them.
WOMAN: Well,that's understandable.
PAUL: Yes,but things soon improved.What struckme was that when people became more comfortable with me and less suspicious,we reallyconnected with each other in a meaningful way.
WOMAN: You made good friends?
PAUL: Yes,with two of the families in particular.
WOMAN: Good.What about management.Did you have a project manager?
PAUL: Yes and he gave me lots of advice and guidance.
WOMAN: And was he good at managing too?
PAUL: That wasn't his strong point!I think he was often more interested in the academic sideof things than filing reports.He was a bit of a dreamer.
WOMAN: And did you have a contract?
PAUL: I had to stay for a minimum of three months.My parents were surprised when I asked tostay longer - six months in the end.I was so happy there.
WOMAN: And did anything on the administration side of things surprise you?What was thefood and lodging like?
PAUL: Simple...but there was plenty to eat and I only paid seven dollars a day for that whichwas amazing really.And they gave me all the equipment I needed...even a laptop.
WOMAN: You didn't expect that then?
PAUL: No.
WOMAN: Well,I'll look forward to hearing more.