What certain people don't realize is...there's national experience, and there's international experience, but underneath all that, there's local experience, and this, is the one that's dying to take center stage, even though in it's heart of hearts it knows it can never compete with the other two.
I've been privileged to have national and international experience. And if given the opportunity I would revel in going back to working in both those stages. It's an eye-opener, it's a juxtaposition of cultures and not just the subcultures who don't know what Africans are like, but the cultures who have that exposure as well, and know what to expect, know how to speak, read/write English, most especially "know how to act."
The local experience is.. simply not something someone who has been exposed to the national stage should come to be meddling with at any point in time in their career. It's the one who supposes to know it all, envies your exposure to the international stage, and looks for every opportunity to point out how it's done. Albeit, locally.
I struggle with that every day. It's a struggle I am not used to but a struggle nonetheless. An immeasurable eruptive culture clash for someone with international experience to come and plop themselves right down into a place filled with insurmountable local experience. It's an unfathomable morale debilitating experience.
Ever since I have known myself I have had issues with work. Some people get jobs and it's the perfect little havens of work - great company, great colleagues, wonderful location. Perfect little haven of work. But me. Sometimes none of those things work out. The only highlight is the pay. And that's just not enough.
Don't know how long you can pray for something and have to sit and wait and still don't get what you asked for. Is my exposure to local experience supposed to be a humbling experience? Am I supposed to learn something from this whole thing? When I learn it, can I quietly move on from this experience, into something better? Preferably one of those perfect work havens that I see nestled somewhere. I deserve it, don't I?
Dear God, I know you can hear me.
I have written this dream down on paper, in print, in my heart and now, it is in yours.
Please give me one of those perfect little work havens where a job won't seem as such but a career.
Where I feel like I am a part of something. Where I look forward to it everyday.
I know it's possible because I have seen it happen to some.
I pray that it is possible for me.
In Jesus mighty name I pray.
Amen.
