Comments on: I wondered whether I should post this, and then I thought ‘fuck it’.

By: miriam

miriam — Sat, 26 May 2007 17:23:52 +0000

You are one courageous woman! First the experience and opening your mouth about it and now also blogging on it. I love your openness and transparency. This is so needed in the world today. thanks for the guts it took to do this. Blogrolled you too.

By: Rudolf_Mine

Rudolf_Mine — Tue, 01 May 2007 22:38:26 +0000

Great site. So many useful info.
Really perfect!!! I’ll bookmark!

By: Clare

Clare — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 10:25:18 +0000

I’ve just read this post about the sexual harassment case. Enormous kudos to you for challenging him and winning – it must have been incredibly difficult.

Also massive respect for sticking it out in Namibia despite it being so difficult. But there’s another kind of bravery in admitting defeat and coming home, so that would earn my respect too. As far as your work goes, I bet you’re doign better than you think you are. It’s also worth remembering that future employers will not be interested in the finer points of your job. It will just look good that you went out there for a year and did what you are doing. Well done. And here’s a {{{HUG}}}. xxx

By: Rob

Rob — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 20:25:32 +0000

Wow. That really does sound like one shitty colleague. But great thta you had the second SH case in Namibia, because with that kind of thing when there’s only been one case it’s easy to forget about it, think of it as a special case, think it won’t apply to your particular circumstances. It’s only as more cases go through the system that it all begins to seem normal, and something that really is there for everyone.

And I’m sure you’re doing great work with VSO. Maybe not as great as you’d dreamed of, but better than most people ever get to do.

By: Louisa

Louisa — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:04:39 +0000

Hey Rach,

Just wanted to add my pearls of wisdom to your post. First of all I just wanted to say I miss going for ‘one drink’ after work with you and ending up trying to cycle over tower bridge several drinks later. Also to say that I envy you and your style of writing as you just crack me up and put things more eloquantely (see can’t even spell) than I ever could. As you know I have been frantically job hunting for ages and to cut a long story short, I really have everything I need in this job but it is me that is stopping myself from getting where I want to be. This stems from lack of confidence and worry about making a mistake. But, as my boss pointed out today you can’t learn and grow if you don’t put yourself out there and risk making mistakes. Well that is enough waffle from me apart from saying I am glad you went through the harrassment case and that I miss having a good ole chin wag with you. Like Mel says we will have a good old knees up when you get home.

lol

Lou x

By: rachie

rachie — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 08:20:11 +0000

Hi Ria, *raises margarita in return* – I find that putting on a cheerful front often makes you feel cheerful in the end. Also, re the apologising – you’re exactly right. I tried to laugh the whole harassment thing off while it was happening, thinking that I was being overly sensitive. Then I wrote it all down, and realised how genuinely appalling the whole thing actually had been.

KG – no, I want both. I demand to have jaffa cakes delivered to my beach house by sea plane.

Waterhot – thank you. I am celebrating every day!

Hobbes – thank you also! It’s so nice to get such supportive comments from people – you’re all just lovely.

By: hobbes

hobbes — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:18 +0000

Thank you for letting us in to your world. I admire your strength going through with the harassment case firstly in a society that is less than friendly to women’s rights, and secondly in a country far away from friends an family. I suspect if it was me I would have packed up and run away long ago. My hat off to you Rachie – well done.

By: Waterhot

Waterhot — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 22:12:05 +0000

“I know that itâ€™s probably silly to invest so much in a something so small”. What you mean is, you’re worried other people might think that. Well, sod them. It’s helped you get through what sounds like a truly horrid time. You admit yourself you look forward to writing here, that it gives you pleasure to do so. And I’m not the first (and certainly won’t be the last) to tell you that you write wittily and engagingly and, when the occasion calls for it, movingly.

What you’ve just achieved – ridding yourself of your nemesis, and completing your mysteriously scary task – deserves to be celebrated. And through this site you get to celebrate it with others. Don’t knock your “so small” blog. Of course you need to maintain a sense of perspective (and you clearly have) – but you can be proud of what you’ve done here too.

By: Kingston Girl

Kingston Girl — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 20:26:09 +0000

Just wanted to add my well done for persevering with the harassment case.

And to warn you – if you want a beach house in the caribbean, you won’t be able to have jaffa cakes as well. Jaffa cakes or beach house… it’s a decision you will have to make!

By: Ria

Ria — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 17:04:37 +0000

Boy oh boy! I can imagine what an awful time you’ve had; yet you managed to hide it so well through your good-humoured posts. I guess blogging can be an escape in more than one way.

A beach house in the Caribbean should probably stay as a nice fantasy. The reality (more harassment, for example) is less attractive. I think you’ve been doing the best you can to survive & thrive in a strange place — going on short trips and seeing more than your office is one of the best strategies.

As OMIH says, you should also “positivize” yourself and your skills. It’s good for yourself and is a very powerful (& attractive) way to impress others and get some respect.

Also, as a Brit, I’ve learned that we shouldn’t apologize half the times we do.

*raises rum punch in salute*