I am joining the UN in March!

I have been keeping this great news for about two weeks to myself and was trying not to burst it out in the online public, but now officially: from March 1st I am joining the UN (KCEW department at FAO) and moving to Rome, Italy! w00000t!!!!!

I am so ecstatic as everything happened all of the sudden (well, there were some indications around New years Eve and during my conference in US).

I’ll be working for UN as consultant on metadata standards, semantic web, web applications, new projects within the house and with other major world wide organizations,  in a word: I will be participating in creating the future of the Web! w00t!

Going to UN is a natural continuation and the new start of the good things to come. I’m so happy and excited as all the years of my studies, practice, information technology visions, projects, permanent learning, writing, talking, communication, networking with others, activism, will be placed on the right spot, a place that is super stimulative and (for me) futuristic. Remember the connecting dots from Steve Job’s Commencement speech at Stanford? Well, this is exactly happening to me. Everything I’ve been working on since the age of six (6) and upwards have oh so meaning.

And about serendipities, real life serendipities: I remember in 2002 I was in Rome at Semantic Web conference where I was for the first time professionally and deeply introduced to semantics on Web, and later I’ve tried through talks, presentations, writings to spread it to my country but seems then and now noone was really interested in this. I never thought that I will go back to my long forgotten passion. Also, a colleague who was on that SW conference reminded me the other day that I was throwing the coins (oh well, I remember valuable 2euro coins and eating gelato whilst sitting on the edge of the fountain) in Fountain di Trevi assuring me that I’ll come back to Rome, as I never thought about this possibility afterwards. Looks like that the future of the web has reached me and I am so overwhelmed, everything is new for me and challenging.

In the next few days I am getting introduced to a new system, programs, new colleagues, projects, but before that I am finishing what I need to finish in Belgrade and beyond, packing (boxes, luggage’s and mess around me), and looking for a new apartment in Rome. I will reside in Rome (w00t!) which is wonderful as I will be working and collaborating with International team and speak and use English, but after work I will learn (or re-establish my forgotten Latin) Italian, and soak myself into Italian culture (super ecstatic as I’ve always inclined to Mediterranean lifestyle). I started to read Repubblica’s technology and science section with a little help of Google translator, but you’ll see me talking fluent Italian very soon. Those who live in Rome, say Halo or Ciao to me when you see me!

Did I tell you that I am super excited that I will work for the great cause and create the dots for the futuristic Web, participating in great world wide projects?  I can’t wait to begin with my new job, programs, and feel so blessed to be a part of an invigorating web of science, IT environment.

Comments

  1. Oscar says:

    WOOOOW Danica!!!
    congratulations!! i am very happy to hear this; people like you should make a big difference: so i am proud as well 😉
    all the very best, oscar

  2. Many, many congratulations, Danica! 🙂 Very good to hear! Can’t wait to hear more about it as you move forward.

  3. Jonathan says:

    Fantastic news Danica.I know FAO well and lived in Rome for a year in the 90s. It is a magnificent city. You will LOVE it.

    Hooray!

  4. Enza says:

    Congrats! got to your post via @hrheingold. Enjoy and looking forward to reading about your UN position.

    In case you want to practice your italian on Twitter, my university students have a community with Italians in Trento here: http://crowdstatus.com/E-twinningcrowd.aspx (just for fun, of course!)

    Congrats!

  5. Davor says:

    Congratulations and good luck in Rome 😡

  6. Danica says:

    Wooow Oscar! 🙂 Thank you! We are making the difference to this world. I’m blessed to know you.

    Michael, thank you! I couldn’t make last year to IL08, maybe this…will keep you posted.

    Jonathan, thank you, I know that Fao and Roma are wonderful, now I can experience that.

    Enza, thank you for the link. Italian Trento Twitter cloud looks interesting. Wondering if there is such for Rome..

    Davor, thanks:)

  7. David Sasaki says:

    This is such great news Danica. Congratulations, and I’m looking forward to all the dots you lay down and connect in the future.

  8. Irradiatus says:

    Sweet!!!!

    My new “I know a famous person” line:

    “Yeah – I’m friends with a chic who’s creating the internet future for the UN. I took her to Food Lion to get pastries and cough medicine.”

    That’s so awesome for you. Hopefully you’ll keep us up to date here…

  9. Great! Wish you all the best, I know you can do it :)…

  10. Bogdan says:

    Congrats! Great news and keep on!

  11. draga moja, slučajnosti _ne postoje_!!!:-D E, _svaka ti čast_!!!! Bravo!!!

  12. Anders says:

    Great news Danica! Congratulations and I wish you all the best in your future as an UN employee!
    I hope you will still find to keep in touch….

  13. violina12 says:

    Veoma sam uzbudjena što odlaziš na dužnost u Rim i to u Ujedinjene nacije. Bravo!!! Milica

  14. violina12 says:

    Veoma sam uzbudjena što odlaziš u Rim na dužnost i to u
    Ujedinjene nacije. Bravo !!!! Milica

  15. Lilly says:

    Dear Danica,
    Wonderful news and so richly deserved! I am sure you will really enjoy the life in Rome and the opportunities new UN post offers. You have shown so much initiative already.
    As for language, my niece learnt to speak fluent Italian in 6 months from the start of her MSc in Pavia. So, no worries there.
    On the packing front, take little- new world, new set of things!
    Please keep in touch

  16. Danica says:

    hvala na lepim zeljama! thank you for nice wishes!

    Lily, thank you for lovely words. I will learn Italian on the run – don’t see much problem with it, had Latin in high school too.
    Ah, packing is….a sweet problem:)

  17. Predrag Pajic says:

    Draga Danice,
    Pokusavam neprestano da Vam telefoniram, ali kako je to normalno, valjda to svi koji Vas vole sad to cine.

    Zaista sam presrecan da ste uspeli da postaneke stanovnik Vecnog Grada i zelim Vam mnogo uspeha.

    Iskreno Vas
    Paja

  18. Americ says:

    Awesome! And I know that it is just the beginning of many, many good things for you.

  19. Jeroen says:

    Well done girl! I wish you the best of luck and happiness in your new endeavours!

  20. Dear D. Good good news. Sorry to have been out of touch for so long. I felt really bad that I couldn’t check your draft submission for you. Please stay in touch. My family are all well. Best S

  21. Marc Rapp says:

    That is amazing news. Best of luck!

  22. Milos says:

    Congratulations! Keep on moving up!

  23. Helen says:

    Hi Danica,
    I was searching on the Internet on how to joing UN and I got into your blog! I’m still a high school student – how can I prepare myself on a UN career? Thanks a million!

  24. Danica says:

    Helen – you prepare yourself, if you really want to work for UN, by studying the area of your interest passionately. Lifelong learning. No big philosophy.

  25. Freyre, Paulo says:

    Danica,

    How are you doing at KCEW/FAO/UNO?

    I love your Serendipities.

    Paulo.

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