Ten things

I dislike about the field, in no particular order...

1. Excessively large, excessively colourful insects that for some reason are inevitably found in your bathroom
2. The exorbitant cost of "luxury" items like Corn Flakes and Dove shampoo (about $15 each)
3. The fact that Corn Flakes are a luxury
4. Endless waiting for drivers -- to pick you up, to take you home, to get you to and from meetings
5. The smell -- of garbage-lined streets, unwashed clothes, unbrushed teeth and public hygiene generally
6. Floss -- just try to get it here
7. Dumbass excuses for simple tasks gone horribly wrong
8. Pirated DVDs of crappy movies that you would still love to watch if only there was some goddam electricity
9. The inability to remember your last real shower
10. The same clothes overandoverandoverandoverandover

And now ten things I like, again in no particular order:

1. The adrenaline of being in the thick of it
2. No nylons, no high heels, no perfume
3. Everything you see and do is new and exotic
4. Nobody uses words like "cross-fertilization," "synergistic" or "quick win"
5. Mmm.... passion fruit
6. Having your clothes seem to magically wash, iron and fold themselves away
7. Waking up to find your breakfast laid out by the lake
8. Barbeques and badminton. Sure it's colonial, but it's nice
9. Not having to worry about what you wear
10. Having a front-row seat for life at its most visceral