Larger questions after Pre-departure

It has been quite some time since my last blog post and time surely seems as if it has flown by very quickly.  Amid all the logistical preparations, challenging discussions, interesting workshops and fun social events, the time seemed to fly.  My arrival at the EWB House in the beginning of February seems ages ago because I have become quite comfortable in this new home but it also seems like it was yesterday because all the days in between seemed to melt together.
In this post, I would like to reflect on some of the main questions that have been accompanying me throughout all the workshops and discussions.  They are as follows:

•What constitutes development?  Is it a goal or a process?
•What is the role of westerners (such as myself) and the organizations they create in the process of development
•How can ethical development be defined?
•To what extent is development driven and defined by the local people as opposed to foreign organizations.
•How can I have an impact during my stay in Africa in an ethical, effective and lasting manner

The answers to these and other deeper questions will be the content of future blog posts and I anticipate that they will be fundamentally shaped by the experiences I have and the new things I learn.

I will tag discussions that focus on these deeper issues as: ‘Development Digest’ to distinguish them from stories or observations I share that are more personal  in nature.