TheJourneyVolume1 - Book - Page 35
U N I T E D N AT I O N S D E V E L O P M E N T P R O G R A M M E
NO REGRETS
I often reflect on what my life would have been, had I
remained in London and not taken up that 11 months’
consultancy contract with UNDP in 1999. I would
probably have taken on international legal work based
in London or in another European capital, maybe
joining one of the international tribunals as a few of
my like-minded colleagues did. My life would undoubtedly have been more “settled”, “traditional,” and more
“predictable.” To my family, back in the village in France
and in Naples, Italy, where my mother’s relatives still
live, I was giving up too much. Inasmuch as to choose
is to forsake, they are right. But, to me, it was the only
choice that fit my initial aspirations. And to this day,
having worked and lived in 10 countries, and visited
over 80, it was the only choice that made sense, and I
simply have no regrets. n
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