Chong Chee Kin, Dili – In a soft, quavering voice, Mr Jose Armando pleaded for a job in front of a group of journalists who had stopped at Kampung Baru, a village in the capital of Dili in East Timor.
Barely 23, Mr Armando's voice cracked and he stumbled over his words several times when he addressed the group. "I want to work. I need a job. I go out every day and I looked everywhere. But no job, no money. Why? I am very confused," he said.
"Freedom is good for us and good for the country. But we don't like the system. Nothing has changed much since we gained independence." He is not alone in feeling impatient.
His sense of loss and his distrust of foreigners are shared by many East Timorese. They are suspicious of the foreigners and wonder why they are there. They complain about the United Nations' lack of speed in implementing changes.
Despite these sentiments, there are signs that the country is now literally rising from its ashes. Water and electricity have been restored. Schools and hospitals are reopening their doors. Houses and roads are being rebuilt. Fresh coats of paint are applied over the blackened shells of torched buildings.
Those who had fled to the hills and to West Timor during the bloody rampages by pro-Indonesia militias are now returning. For those who lost their homes, the UN has issued shelter kits to build temporary structures.
The ravaged streets of Dili, which recently echoed with gunfire, are now ringing with the cries of hawkers selling their wares. Trucks and flashy sedan cars now zip along the once deserted streets.
However, not all is well with the country. For many East Timorese who voted for independence a year ago, the initial euphoria is wearing off. One of these is former radio broadcaster Mr Angki, who said he would take whatever job he could find. He added that many people like himself roamed the streets daily, hoping desperately just to find work.
While some are hired as translators, cleaners and builders, others turn to selling whatever crops they grow or the fish they catch. But not all are as lucky.
A recent recruitment attempt by the UN Civilian Police for the local police force drew nearly 10,000 applicants competing for 2,500 places. Unemployment in the country stands at about 70 per cent.
Dili's district administrator John Ryan said his main priority now was to help East Timorese get jobs. His team is working closely with several organisations such as USAID and the UN Development Programme to create work.
Investors from countries in the region, such as Thailand, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia, are starting to enter the country. Car dealerships, restaurants and hotels are sprouting all over in Dili.
But the situation is likely to worsen before it gets better because of an expected increase in the number of refugees returning from West Timor, most of whom make a beeline for Dili. Mr Ryan said: "We tried persuading them to move to other districts, but they refused."
Dili's population has nearly doubled from 80,000 last year to 140,000 this year and squatter settlements are dotting the landscape. The streets in Dili are filled with traffic hazards because some squatters build their tents right beside the roads.
According to the Dili Police Station, there have been 420 traffic accidents since January, with at least one death a week. Privately-owned vehicles in East Timor are not registered, making it difficult for CivPol officers to track down errant motorists.
While the burden of finding jobs weighs heavy on the minds of many East Timorese, there are those, such as the National Council for Timorese Resistance, who are turning their attention to rebuilding their nation. The party is led by its charismatic leader Xanana Gusmao, who is widely tipped to be the president after next year's election.