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Biography: Grant Assenheimer, logistician
My name is Grant and I want to welcome you to my BLOG! Since you’ve already found this URL, it is probably safe to assume that you are interested in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and I honestly hope that you enjoy reading about my experiences, impressions and activities over the upcoming 6 months. Before going straight to the details, a little bit about myself…
First and foremost, I’m a Canadian from Barrhead, Alberta. I’m also a farm kid, marathoner, outdoor enthusiast and cookie baker. In my ‘other’ life, I’m a chemical engineer working in the water sector for General Electric. I’m also engaged to a fantastic girl and our big day is one short month after the end of my current contract.
Right now I’m typing from a small-whitewashed office in Shamwana, a tiny village in the middle of Katanga, the southern province of the massive DRC. Its Sunday afternoon and my day off. A generator is buzzing in the background, the Tragically Hip are playing on my iPod and the storm clouds of the rainy season are building after a hot and sunny afternoon.
This is my second mission as a logistician with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). As my blog title “DRC – not just the Kivus” implies, I’m a long way from the events that have been making the major headlines these past couple of months. They really only cause a small ripple out here. In a way, the project in Shamwana represents an aspect of MSF that I admire and one that is too often missed by the media. We work in places that don’t always make the headlines… with people that have suffered so much but who seem to be largely forgotten by the rest of the world.
…and these are some of my stories! Enjoy.
January 10th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Hi Grant, As you have said, I am interested in the DRC and hope to be able to do some work there someday as a nurse. I hope to learn more about the country and look forward to your posts. Thanks for being willing to share your experiences.
January 16th, 2009 at 1:11 am
Nice writing. You are on my RSS reader now so I can read more from you down the road.
Jason Kenny
September 28th, 2009 at 7:04 pm
Hi Grant!!
Nice to see your blog. But one things why you did not include the Bangladesh mission? CHT…Khagrachari..Ushingmong…
Ha ha ha….
Anyway great! I wish your success next mission with lovely wife!!
October 8th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Yup. In your spare time … you should update the Philippines here, too.
January 20th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Hi Grant…hope that you are enjoying married life. Are you still contactable via your blog. We worked for many years in DRC 1968-78 then for a year in Goma after the 1994 genocide. Good part of our hearts strill there since we have 5 daughters all born in DRC. Also spent 7 years in Mongolia. Have always respected the work of MSF ..I’m a retired lab tech/ medical microbiologist…probably too old to work for MSF now!!! Enjoyed your stories & if you are still contactable would love to hear from you
February 7th, 2010 at 6:50 am
Hello Peter,
Great to hear from you and thanks for reading! I am in fact back in the Congo for another contract with MSF…this time as the project coordinator in the village of Dubie…a short day’s drive from Shamwana where I was before. As we have entered the definite post-emergency phase in Katanga, MSF has made the difficult decision to restructure our projects and my main task will be to faciliate the handover to the Ministry of Health and Catholic Sisters.
I arrived 2 weeks ago and am in the process of setting up another blog for this contract! My wife has also been accepted by MSF as a water and sanitation officer and so a good chunk of the first year of our married life will be spent together the Congo.
Cheers,
Grant