Thread by @rambletastic

Thread: It's probably silly to do a CRAZY LONG tweet storm about being named a non-resident fellow @CGDev. But I feel really touched. CGD has been a special place for me for a good part of my professional life. 1/

https://twitter.com/Fihi_maFihi/status/1108760607489175552

And I kind of want to tell how that began. It was 2007 when I first heard from CGD. It was @CohanShapiro's voice, telling me I could interview for a job as a Scott Fellow (cgdev.org/article/scott-…) if I could be in DC to do so in 48 hours. I was shocked to get the interview;3/

First thought was that I must have come off some kind of wait list. Second was that I needed time to cram; I could put Liberia on a map but that was close to it, so I asked to delay the interview. Justin gently explained to me that it was the offered hour or no interview. 4/

So now I KNEW I was off the wait list, and needed to hit a home run in the interview, not just seem decent, to get the job. And damn, did it seem like an amazing job. So I begged @nealinp to give me content, and read everything I could. 5/

And on the day I took the train down from Princeton (I was studying @WilsonSchool). I'd get in a bit over an hour before my interview, according to the schedule. I'm sitting on Amtrak reading a report on refugees @nealinp had sent me, and I start smelling smoke. 6/

And the train starts slowing down. And then stops at Wilmington, and doesn't start moving. There's a problem with the engine; we need to wait for the next Northeast Regional. Which is TWO HOURS later. So now I'm screwed. I find the ticket office in Wilmington. 7/

There's an (expensive) Acela coming in 10 mins that will get me there in time. I ask if I can buy a ticket; seller says no, it's sold out.I call Justin and he's like "I'll let 'em know; but I can't guarantee you'll be able to interview when you get here." 8/

So I ask to talk to the station manager. I explain I've got an interview and it's going to disappear if I can't get on that train, I ask if he could please make an exception.

"What's the interview?" he asks. And I explain.

"Where's your tie?" he asks;

"I'm sorry?"

9/n

"You got a suit, but if this is such a big deal for you, why no tie?"

"Oh. I dunno, I never wear one. I guess, I'm kinda trying to be the relaxed guy who doesn't need a tie."

He yells across the platform. "Hey Sam, you're Liberian, right?" This guy walks over.

10/

Kind of a crazy coincidence, I'm thinking.

"Yeah, why?" Sam responds.

"This kid has a story about needing to get on the Acela to go to an interview for a job working for the Liberian Government." I explain.

"Oh yeah?", Sam says, "what's the capital"?

"Monrovia" 11/

"Population?"

"3 million."

"Language?"

"Liberian English."

"Well", Sam says to the station manager, "he definitely knows a few things. And it's kind of a crazy story to make up."

Just then we all hear the announcement saying that Acela is arriving. 12/

The station manager tells me to come along; and he walks me past a platform full of people (the people from my original train) while the loudspeaker says the train is sold out and they cannot under any circumstances board the Acela. 13/

And he talks to the conductor and puts me on the train. I thank him profusely. "Good luck", he says. "I really don't know about that no tie thing; but good luck." I get to DC, and to the interview just on time - a few mins early, actually. Justin's confused; I explain. 14/

He walks me into the interview. One of the panel members looks at me quizzically. "Sorry, I thought you weren't going to make it; train trouble?" Apparently Justin delivered my message. So I explain that I got on the Acela, which I didn't think I could do when I called. 15/

And they ask follow ups how. And I explain.And I feel kind of nervous - my interview time is running out as I tell this story. But they seem interested (it took me getting to Liberia to understand why - how making things work on the fly is a big part of the job). 16/

Eventually they turn to real questions. 1st question: "What do you think about reintegration of refugees in Liberia?" Literally what I was reading about when I smelled the smoke. I quote the report. I give figures. I have policy thoughts. It's the perfect first question.17/

And now I see they're really paying attention. And somehow they keep asking about things I've read about in the last two days - it's really crazy. And then it's over; they thank me; they shake my hand; everyone looks me in the eye as they say goodbye. 18/

I feel like I've got a punchers' chance... but who knows, really? Lots of people more qualified. Or who have lived in Africa. Or who, you know, are Liberian (which is explicitly preferred for the job, for obvious reasons). 19/

A few weeks later, I'm lying on my hammock on my porch in Princeton (7A Hibben, which I shared with @pjskids, who years later would suggest I write @Fihi_maFihi, world being tiny) doing some reading when Steve Radelet calls. 20/

He tells me I got the job. I sort of think he's joking. But he isn't.He tells me I'm going to be in the finance ministry. I explain I don't know anything about finance. He says it doesn't matter, it's people not numbers. That government is mostly people not numbers. 21/

I thank him. And feel all of a sudden like my life's just changed. Permanently. (Apparently there's an upper limit on threads, so starting a new one. Who knew??). 22/

If you want all of part 2 in Unroll, it's here: threadreaderapp.com/thread/1108818…