SUMMER SCHOLARS BLOG : Bismi Iqbal Samia
Mountains, Beaches and UNDP Dreams
Hello! I’m Bismi Iqbal Samia, currently working in Timor-Leste as an intern with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). My journey here began on June 2, 2025, and will continue through the end of August. Tucked between the mountains and the sea, I find myself learning something new every day—not just through my work, but through the people, the culture, and the slow, steady rhythm of life here. Whether I’m in the office brainstorming ideas with the team or out in the field listening to stories from local communities, I can feel my perspective shifting—growing, even—in the way I think about development, people, and purpose.
Working with UNDP has always been one of those big, quiet dreams—the kind that lives in the background while you go about your life, waiting patiently for its moment. So this internship feels surreal, like I’ve cracked open a window into the world I’ve always longed to be part of. It’s not just a professional step—it’s the start of something much more personal and meaningful.
A bit about me: I’m originally from Bangladesh and currently pursuing a Master’s in International Political Economy and Development at Fordham University in New York. I began my academic journey with a degree in Economics, and I’ve always been fascinated by questions around economic growth, sustainability, and how we can design systems that are more equitable—especially in developing contexts. Over the years, I’ve worked as a teacher, a lecturer, and a research assistant. And now, I’m finally stepping into the development space from the inside.
Beyond work, one of my deepest aspirations has always been to travel—to see the world not just as a tourist, but as someone who contributes meaningfully to the places she goes. I hope this journey in Timor-Leste is just the beginning of many more adventures to come, where I can continue exploring new cultures, creating impact, and collecting stories that stay with me for life.
Greetings from Dili !!!
2 June 2025: My first landing steps in an almost unknown country, all by myself! A girl who feared going out after dark (I still do), even in her own hometown, was traveling — for the first time — to a country where she knew no one. No friends, no family, not a single familiar face. All in the quest for something called “work experience.” I felt like the main character of a movie. YES! This is my movie…
After traveling for four days (I started on the 30th of May from Chicago, landed in Bali on the 1st of June, stayed there for a night, took the flight to Timor-Leste the next morning, and finally reached my destination safe, sound, and excited on the 2nd of June), I was surprisingly not jetlagged or extremely fatigued, nor was I nervous. If anything, I was giggling like a little girl who had finally gotten the Barbie she had so desperately wished for.
Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste and my duty station, greeted me with warmth — both literally and figuratively. The air was thick with heat, the kind that wraps around you and says, “You’re not in New York anymore.” The city itself has this slow, calm rhythm that instantly makes you feel like time stretches a little longer here. As I looked out at the mountains on one side and the ocean on the other, I kept thinking: I’m really here. After months of anticipation, emails, and daydreams, I had finally arrived in Timor-Leste—and I couldn’t wait to start my internship with UNDP.
I was picked up from the airport by the hotel transportation and reached the hotel sometime around 2 PM. My office had made a reservation for me for the first two days (which later became three) at Palm Beach Hotel here in Dili. I was quite awestruck by the “suite” they had given me (because I was expecting just a single room — or maybe all the rooms in that hotel were like that). After finishing my ‘calls of duty’ to my kith and kin, I went to enjoy some quiet pool time!
The rest of the day was all about rest. The next day was my first official day at UNDP, and I just couldn’t wait. I fell asleep with a smile on my face, my heart filled with gratitude, and excitement for the opportunity that awaited me the next day! And just like that, my new adventure had officially begun…
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We hope you enjoyed these excerpts from Bismi’s blog. Be sure to bookmark this link to follow all her blog posts this summer!
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Our Summer Scholars Blog, a collection of reports from post-grad scholars that UNA-NYC has sponsored globally, showcases our fellows' experiences with UN agencies and non-governmental organizations in the country where they are working. Learn more about our Summer Scholars fellowship program and fellows here.