Day One Hundred & Nine - Good Rain

If there's a hole in your soul you better fill it.
If your cup is over flowing don't spill it.
You better hold it while the whole world is spinning around.
And when your eyes look down at another just remember that he's your own brother.
This kind of love ain't gonna go under I've found.
That when you love one another only good rain comes down.

And if you're feeling like you've stopped learning.
If the wood in your fire ain't burning.
You better spark a match start turning your wheel.
You better turn in so it’s right start living.
Stop taking and start giving.
This is the one thing missing I feel.

The love of one another is the only thing real.
Well don’t let your blessings turn into stone.
That kind of live will live you all alone.

If there’s a hole in your soul you better fill it.
If your cup is over flowing don’t spill it.
You better hold it while the whole world is spinning around.
Don’t let your blessings turn into stone.
That kind of live will live you all alone.
And if your heart is troubled by a feeling.
Just remember there’s a way to spark healing,
The first step is when you start believing it’s real.
And this is the only thing missing I feel.

The love of one another is the only thing real.

(Lyrics from Trevor Hall - Good Rain)

Day One Hundred & Eight - Juba Orphanage

I received a call at 11 am today and on the other end was a man wondering if I could come for a meeting at the Juba Orphanage right away. I of course said yes considering the fact I was not doing anything important.

I hopped on a boda boda and made my way to the orphanage. I was meeting about a position I inquired about late last week. It is a teaching position 3 days a week for 2 hours in the evening. It doesn’t pay enough for it to really matter so I am just going to volunteer my services until I get a job or come back to Canada. I am excited. It will be nice to have something to do during the day besides sit on the internet looking for jobs and wasting the rest of my day trying to find something to do. Yay.

Juba Orphanage was founded in November 1962 during the first civil war in Sudan. The goal of the facility was to take in children who were separated from their families during the war, with the hope of reuniting the children with their families at a later date. The Juba Orphanage is one the only government run orphanages in South Sudan housing children from many tribes and from every state. Today there are 76 children living in home, ranging in age from 2 – 20 years old.

I am excited to meet the children and be a part of their lives, even if it is only for a short period of time.

Day One Hundred & Seven - The Comment

“Hello my beautiful. You are just my size.”

Any suggestions on how to respond to this comment?

Yea, I just kept walking.

Day One Hundred & Six - Life Is Real

"I live my life the way I want I got nothing to hide nothing at all. Life is not a fairy tale life, they should know that life is real. I live my life the way I want, I got nothing to hide nothing at all. Life is not a fairy tale, life is about more cause life is real."

These words come from a song sung by Ayo. I have recently discovered her and really like this song of hers, specifically these words.

Life is real and ultimately you make the decisions that determine the direction your life is going to in. Even if you did not directly made the decision, at some point you made a decision which brought you to where you are today. I am sure we have all asked ourselves, "Am I living the life that I’m capable of living with all my talents? Have I fully explored the possibilities within me?" Can any of us really say that we’re living life 100%, and living up to the possibilities hidden away within us? Can you and I live lives dramatically more powerful than the lives we’re living now?

Living a good life, living life as real as you can, certainly means different things to different people. "The good life" is the life you want to live that is full of simple pleasures that make you happy, the compassionate deeds you perform, the goals you set for yourself, the relationships you make and maintain and the legacy you leave behind. Living a life that is 'real' is about appreciating all of your time, not just the time you have to relax, leisure time, but every moment in life. Good or bad. There are way too many people who are caught up in the mad rush of corporate lifestyle, absorbed completely in ourselves, slowly growing numb to the little moments in life, the simple moments that make life magical. Obviously this is a generalization, not everyone is like this but it is so easy to get caught up in our own lives, our own problems. This causes us to lose sight of the simple pleasures in life, which ultimately make life more enjoyable. Appreciatte life's simple pleasures. The best things in life are free. A beautiful night sky. A first glimpse of a firefly. Life's greatest simple pleasures can only be observed when you have a mindful awareness of your surroundings and you are taking the time to really take in your surroundings.

Slow your step. Slow down. Appreciate life's simple pleasures. Take the time to strengthen and nurture relationships in your life. Learn about different things. Who wants to know everything about only one thing. This is what many people, employers, etc are desiring from people. Let me tell you. Apparently you need to have a specialization in order to get anywhere in this world. Stupid. I reject that. What is wrong with knowing a little bit about everything. A jack of all trades.
Concentrate on your passions. Travel to distant places. Travelling opens your mind to realities that you could never imagine. Travelling gives you new perspectives, new experiences, new adventures. Travelling changes you.
Talk to strangers. You can learn something new if you talk to strangers. Obviously be smart about it but in my experience I have had very interesting conversations with a complete stranger.
Always keep your promises. Always find the positive side of things. Even negative outcomes hold a positive side. A positive lesson.
Forget perfection. Who wants to be perfect. I certainly do not. The idea of perfection is all relative and personal opinion. Finding what satisfies your needs is all that is necessary.
Do not forget to laugh. Take the road less travelled. It may be a little more rocky and rough but you may discover something no one else has.
And be here now. Right now if the only moment guaranteed to you. Right now is life. Real life. Don't miss it.


-THE ROAD NOT TAKEN-

TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A YELLOW WOOD,
AND SORRY I COULD NOT TRAVEL BOTH
AND BE ONE TRAVELLER, LONG I STOOD
AND LOOKED DOWN ONE AS FAR AS I COULD
TO WHERE IT BENT IN THE UNDERGROWTH;

THEN TOOK THE OTHER, AS JUST AS FAIR,
AND HAVING PERHAPS THE BETTER CLAIM,
BECAUSE IT WAS GRASSY AND WANTED WEAR;
THOUGH AS FOR THAT THE PASSING THERE
HAD WORN THEM REALLY ABOUT THE SAME,

AND BOTH THAT MORNING EQUALLY LAY
IN LEAVES NO STEP HAD TRODDEN BLACK.
OH, I KEPT THE FIRST FOR ANOTHER DAY!
YET KNOWING HOW WAY LEADS ON TO WAY,
I DOUBTED IF I SHOULD EVER COME BACK.

I SHALL BE TELLING THIS WITH A SIGH
SOMEWHERE AGES AND AGES HENCE:
TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A WOOD, AND I--
I TOOK THE ONE LESS TRAVELED BY,
AND THAT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

...ROBERT FROST

Day One Hundred & Five - It's Not Raining On Sunday

I woke up sweating in my tent with only two things on my mind. One, getting out of the tents before the sun started cooking me from inside. Two, yogurt.

It turned out to be just my day because Phoenicia, which has the cheapest and most delicious yogurt, had it in stock. They have not had it for a while so I was very excited. Benedicte and I purchased an array of things for brunch. Bread, cheese, yogurt and a big pineapple. It was all very delicious and a great way to start out the day.

Today was a very relaxing day spent with friends. Good conversation. Good food. Good times.

News of the day for South Sudan: There is an ongoing conflict between Sudan and South Sudan. The borders to the North are going to officially be closed as of December. Just last week there was an article about how the North and South had just signed an agreement regarding opening the border in certain locations. Things change fast. This decision is going to have major impacts on the bordering states, especially with herders who move their livestock along the borders for grazing. Everywhere in the South has been affected by the border issues, so the definite closure of the borders is going to make the situation worse. I am sure the government is making plans for where goods are going to come from instead of the North, but I am sure the issues with food shortages and increased costs of living is going to continue to be an issue everywhere.

http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-to-shut-borders-with,40237

Day One Hundred & Four - Luck?

I came to my tent, on the other side, to find a bright green praying mantis making its home right beside the opening of my tent. My first reaction was to panic. I thought to myself how on earth am I supposed to get into my tent now!? Then I remembered that I was once told that a praying mantus is a sign of good fortune. I calmed myself down. Looks at it for another minute, then slipped into my tent quickly while trying to prevent the praying mantus from crawling on me. It may be good luck but I certainly do not want it on my body.

These are not my words but I found them quite interesting...

The mantis comes to us when we need peace, quiet and calm in our lives. Usually the mantis makes an appearance when we've flooded our lives with so much business, activity, or chaos that we can no longer hear the still small voice within us because of the external din we've created.

After observing this creature for any length of time you can see why the symbolism of the praying mantis deals with stillness and patience. The mantis takes her time, and lives her life at her own silent pace.

Stillness. Awareness. Creativity. Patience. Mindful. Calm. Balance. Intuition.

These traits have lead the mantis to be a symbol of meditation and contemplation. In Africa, a praying mantis is thought to bring good luck to whomever it lands on and even restore life to the dead. The Bushmen of Africa believe the praying mantis is a divine messenger and whenever one is seen, diviners try to determine the current message.

The mantis never makes a move unless she is 100% positive it is the right thing for her to do. This is a message to us to contemplate and be sure our minds and souls all agree together about the choices we are making in our lives.

Overwhelmingly in most cultures the mantis is a symbol of stillness. As such, she is an ambassador from the animal kingdom giving testimony to the benefits of meditation, and calming our minds.

An appearance from the mantis is a message to be still, go within, meditate, get quite and reach a place of calm. It may also a sign for you to be more mindful of the choices you are making and confirm that these choices are congruent.

Later on in the evening, I made my way to the bathroom, opened the stall door only to be attacked by an unsuspecting insect. After I spent 20 seconds freaking out and thrashing my hair about to make sure it was no longer on my head, I looked down to find a praying mantis on the floor. Dead. By accident, I killed it. Now considering the first half of this post does this mean that I counteracted the good fortune the previous praying mantus on my tent had given me. Maybe this was the praying mantis that was on my tent. Maybe its superstition, maybe praying mantis' really do bring good fortune, who knows. Either way they are an interesting insect and represents something to ponder.

Day One Hundred & Three - On The Other Side

I am now living on the other side of Trans compound. I talk about it as though I have crossed over to the dark side or something. Quite the contrary. As the owner made it clear to me, that side is not the good side. The tents are not as new, or as big as the tent on the side I have been living on for the past three months. The funny thing is that I actually prefer this tent. There is something about it. It is smaller, the canvas is not as thick, thus letting in more light, and the windows are not as nice. However! My bed is awesome. There is a great mattress. Tonight I will have a mosquito net and it will be excellent. Because I am on the other side, I am no longer situated beside the kitchen or anywhere near the common area, which means that I am not rudely woken up at 6am by sweeping, shuffling chairs, and men training to be security guards. Forgetting the fact that I was up from 4:00-5:30am, I slept right until 8:30am without being disturbed.

Sweet lassi. Never heard of it? That is unfortunate. You are missing out on a delicious yogurt based drink that is common in the Indian Subcontinent, which they serve for 10 SSG at Nimule. It is worth it. You can get it sweet or salty. I have never tried the salty but I am sure it would also be good.

There is really not much one can do in Juba besides sitting for hours or working. I have taken to the sitting for hour’s option. It is not very exciting or that much fun, but I do have the time now to read, which I did not have previously. I am sure there are very few expats here who are just here hanging out. I am one of the special ones. Always have to set myself apart from the others right?

Day One Hundred & Two - Indecisiveness

My lack of decision-making skills has finally benefitted me. Slightly hard to believe eh? Its true. No lies.

Here is the story….I had to go and change my flight to Cairo, which was books for 3:15pm on Wednesday the 21st. Obviously I did not want to get on that plane. So off to the airport I went, to the Egypt Air office to change my flight. However, being who I am, I could not make a decision that quickly about when I was going to leave South Sudan and come home to Canada. Huge decision that was evidently causing me great stress and exactly what I said to the travel agent man. He replied to that by saying “Just like marriage. Marriage is a very big decision”. Hahha. So after wasting about 10 minutes of this nice Egyptian man’s time starring at the calendar and deliberately over dates, the man said “I tell you what. I will make it easy for you”. He then proceeded to print out my ticket and write something on it, then told me to come 10-12 days before I want to leave and book my flight. SO KIND. First time ever someone has accommodated my lack of decision-making skills.

Day One Hundred & One - Rustling

For many people, cattle raiding or cattle rustling, is a crime that only happens in old movies, however, here in South Sudan for the cattle keepers and pastoralists it is a reality. It is a deadly business of groups of rustlers forcefully taking peoples cattle usually with automatic weapons and with high numbers of casualities. The act of cattle raiding has been seen as being part of the culture preventing action being taken in order to stop raids. Many people are constantly on the move which means there is no settling down for kids to go to schools. Catlle are a main source of income for Sudanese people. The main causes of cattle rustling are cultural, for dowries, lack of education, harsh climate conditions and a lack of opportunities for employment.

On September 16th there was an article about cattle rusting in Unity State. There was a raid in Mayiandit county that killed 46, displaced over 5,000 and resulted in an estimated 100,000 cattle being stolen. The people who were displaced are now being forced to sleep under trees because they have no where else to go. This is from the article. It is a story of a man who makes his living as a cattle rustler...

Gatreh Lul Deng wonders whether peace is sustainable. He has helped raid thousands of cattle since he was 12 — and killed 15 men along the way. At age 30, he sees cattle raiding as his job.

"How can we live? It's the only way to get married, the only way to survive." Deng says he stopped raiding cattle after the army took his guns. Then, his income plunged. He couldn't get a job making bricks. And, he says, the government won't let him grow as much corn as he needs because of an ongoing land survey.

"If you don't want me to raid cows or to plant, then give me a job. I need a job," he says.

This is just one of the many stories of how people are affected by cattle rustling. According to the United Nations, in 2009 approximately 2,500 people died in tribal violence in Sudan's southern region, much of it from cattle raids.

I have spoken with various people in my work here, and even men travelling to cattle camps in their area fear being raided, not only cattle keepers. They only travel with 5-10 cattle. Every time they go out to the cattle camps to purchase cows to sell in the markets, they are putting their life on the line. It is a dangerous business.

Day One Hundred - Africa

Once Africa gets into you, you get into Africa. There is no other place in the world like it. I would say that the majority of ‘Westerners’ who live here, no matter where they are coming from, what their heritage is either love it or hate it. I do not think it is possible to only kind of like Africa.

I may have already made comments about this but I find it fascinating and it is proven to me almost everyday. What I find fascinating is that contrasts here are in the extremes. The peace of nature and the violence surrounding it, the abundance and the hunger, the slums and the fancy houses that only a small number of people live in. I am also thinking of my experiences in Egypt and in South Africa. In my experience these contrasts exist everywhere.

There seem to be only two sides of the scale here. No in-betweens. No kind of’s, or sort of’s. It is either hot or it is chilly. You are either sweating your butt off or you are chilled due to the rainy weather. The moments where your temperature is ‘just right’ are quite rare. You either rarely/never see bugs and critters or they are taking over the room or there are millions of them swarming around the lights. Bugs come in packs. Our toilet is currently being overrun by termites/ants, and various grasshopper type bugs. Nasty. It is either blue skies with white fluffy clouds or it rains so hard that rivers form on the roads. I actually watched a river form on the road in front of me yesterday. I watched it grow larger and larger. I quite enjoyed the sight of garbage and debris floating past on what 10 minutes before was a dry road. Very entertaining and slightly mind blowing that so much water can fall in such a short amount of time. The roads are either good or they are bad. Tarmac or dried up riverbeds. Which would you chose? A common phrase I have heard from expats and locals from the various places I have been here is, “It is good until it is bad.” Fact. It really is good until it is bad.

Africa is amazing and fascinating and always provides you with some sort of adventure. Africa gets into your blood and once you have been here, whether you have lived here or visited, it never leaves you. And I think when you leave Africa, a part of you is left behind. The part that only belongs in Africa and nowhere else.

Day Ninety Seven - Sleepover

Another day in Juba, where things never go smoothly (I do not know what would I do without moments like this in my life)...

Let me tell you how the cool people do sleepovers here in Juba.

First, you need a tent, preferably one with windows that do not properly close and holes where frogs and bugs can enter.
Second, you need two people to stay in the tent which is really only equipped for one.
Third, you need at least two yoga mats.
Then, you need to live in a climate where it rains excessively large amounts of water in very short periods of time. This is to ensure maximum flooding/water damage to anything that is not properly protected.
Next, you need to live in a place where the electricity is unreliable.

If you are living in this environment and have access to these amenities you are set!

We came home to our lovely abode late last night only to discover that there was no electricity. This is not an unusual occurrence so we dig out our flashlights in the dark so we can get ready for bed. During this process we discover that all of our stuff is wet, including Alexandra’s bed, sheets and pillow. Seriously the bed was soaked. It rained heavily this afternoon and the structural qualities of Alexandra’s tent are less than ideal, hence the water INSIDE the tent. Alexandra was forced to join me on the floor, which I so graciously decided to share with her. She rolled out her yoga mat, and made herself comfortable with her suitcase as a pillow. No frogs came out to play and it was cold enough that the mosquitoes left us be while we slept.

This is how you do a sleepover Juba style.

Peace.

Day Ninety Six - Squatting

Today I moved out of my tent into Alexandra’s tent. I piled my bags into the corner and made myself at home. I plan on sleeping on her floor for the night. I am slightly worried because she has had a frog in her tent so I would really not appreciate that jumping on me in the middle of the night. We shall see what crawls on me… I am officially, once again, a squatter. Too bad Alexandra doesn't have a couch for me to sleep on...

It rained hard enough today that a nice sized river formed itself on the Transmillenium road. So much water, in such a short period of time. I was very grateful I did not have to walk on the road today.

Two new girls arrived on the weekend. One of them is a fellow Canadian so that’s cool. I haven’t met many Canadians during my time here. All of us piled into our exquisite Rav4 and drove on over to our friends awesome compound. Someone told me that apparently George Clooney has stayed at this compound but I am not sure if I believe it. It is a really nice place so it could be true. This is the same place where we cooked dinner one night. We like it. They have a porch, how can we not like it. Sitting outside under the stars, getting eaten alive by mosquitoes, slathering on bug lotion and then enjoying the rest of the evening, in the company of good friends. That is my kind of a relaxing night.

Day Ninety Five - I Blame Climate Control

I am developing a cold. Can you believe it? Seriously. A cold in 30+ degree weather should not be possible, hence why I am blaming climate control. Air conditioning I do not like you and for good reasons. It makes me ill. I have been spending too much time in climate controlled environments. A/C and cooking toxin filled air of Arkel and A/C in the vehicle. Artificial air is not my friend.

This is why I am enjoying the beautiful outdoor patio at Logali. A much better envirionment, better surroundings and most importantly, fresh air!

Day Ninety Three - Just Another Day in Juba

It was very hot today. The sun was unrelentless and shone high in the sky all day.

I spent the day with a new friend getting a little experience with the work he does. It was fun and a very nice distraction for all of the other things I should have been dealing with instead of having fun. Today has been a good day.


I leave you with this....



Who knew...

Day Ninety Two - Sukuma Wiki

Sukuma Wiki is a Kenyan dish which I have come to really enjoy. I am telling you this because I have had it just about every day for the last 8 days.

The Swahili phrase Sukuma Wiki means "push the week", implying that it is a staple used to stretch the family meals to last for the week. It is made from collard greens or kale, boiled with various spices. In Kenya, the plant traditionally used is a tall-growing cabbage variety elsewhere known as "walking stick cabbage" for the tall woody stalk it produces. It is often served with ugali, a porridge type thing made from maize. (Ugali has a very different consistenty than porriage does, it is solid, not runny like porriage, however, the it does remind me of cream of wheat).

The best sukuma wiki I have had was while I was in Aweil this past week, from a place called Pacific. They must have been growing it locally because they had sukuma wiki every day at every meal. I was happy.

Now the Sukuma Wiki I have been eating if from a place called Migingo which is across the tarmac road at the end of Transmillenium road. It is a great place. I get a bowl of beans, a bowl of sukuma wiki and a bowl of rice or ugali AND a bottle of water for a mere 5 SSG, which is about $2 CDN. Now that is my kind of meal.

I just received a dish of masala chips from the cook at Arkel. He is a very kind man. Masala chips are another Kenyan dish and are delicious but not healthy as they are fries. Masala chips are a deliciously spicy alternative to your average fries and go very nicely with a bottle of Kenya's "Finest Quality Lager", Tusker.

Day Ninety One - Mango Juice

I had my first taste of ‘fresh’ mango juice this morning, straight from Cairo, only 4 days old and still delicious. My first swallow brought me back to the streets of Cairo, dusty and bustling with a zillion people and cars. My favorite juice place across from the Nasser metro stop very near to StARS. Right on the corner so conveniently located so as to tempt me ever time I walked past. I just could not resist that juice shop. There was nothing better than a glass of fresh, cold mango juice on a scorching hot summer Cairo day. Typically if I got this juice I would get it to go, which meant they filled a plastic bag with which ever juice you chose and tie it closed with a straw strategically placed in the bag so you could drink from it. Ingenious and so delicious.

I have a lovely co-worker to thank for this. She is so wonderful that she brought a whole 1L bottle of mango juice from Cairo with her. Delicious. It was most certainly the highlight of my day.

Day Ninety - Black Saturday

Through a series of unfortunate events, I am not longer employed by the research firm that I have been working for here in Juba for the past 90 days. My researching days are over. My confidence level has been slightly injured but I will bounce back. Don't worry.

Now for a new adventure!!

The search is on for a new job opportunity, and as usual the search is not very fruitful at this point. But what can I expect after only an afternoon of searching. A job in Juba would be most convenient but I am not committed to staying here. Africa has many countries as we all know, so the possibilities are endless.

There are a thousand ways for things to fall apart and the plans we make sometimes fall apart, but I have faith that it will be alright and something good will come out of this.

A whole new world of possibilities await me now.

Day Eighty Eight - Single White Female

Being the only white female at a restaurant is certainly a special experience. Especially after a walk down the streets as the only khawaja female, light brown hair blowing in the wind, attracting attention by the sole fact that I exist here on earth. Special. I wish I could explain it in a way that you could really understand what it feels like to have every eye on you and experiencing being a foreigner who cannot even attempt to blend in. Maybe if you can picture in your mind a moment in your life when you walked into a room full of people who you did not know, and everyone including yourself knew you did not belong there. And then instead of removing yourself from that situation you continued to walk in the room and take a seat. Khawaja. The one that does not belong, but tries to make it work.

Day Eighty Six - Poverty

I found this during some research I was doing for one of our contracts. This is all information I have heard before but reading this hit me particularly harder today than usual. This is reality:

Poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon and must be analyzed from the dimensions of consumption, human development and vulnerability. Looking at the international accepted form of consumption poverty, 51 percent of Southern Sudanese currently – over 4 million people – live below the nationally determined consumption poverty line of SDG 73 per month. This is not an internationally comparable figure, because PPP data is not available for South Sudan to allow a $1-a-day comparison. Moreover, data for other dimension of poverty suggest that the degree of poverty suffered in South Sudan is not adequately reflected by it. The proportion living below the national poverty line corresponds to Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1 of eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.

The poverty headcount, though easy to understand, does not provide information on how close or how far away the poor are from being able to satisfy their basic needs. The poverty gap measure estimates the average shortfall in consumption relative to the poverty line. The poverty gap in the population as a whole is 24%. The poverty gap among the poor (i.e. excluding those not classified as poor) is 47%, meaning that the average poor person in Southern Sudan consumes the equivalent of just SDG 39 per month. MDG goal 1 includes this as one of the indicators for measuring progress.

These are just words and number but just take a moment to really process what they are saying. To put this in perspective, I on a good day spend an average of 25 SDG (SSG) per day in Juba and I know people who spend 75 SDG per day (If you can believe that). The situation in which the majority of Southern Sudanese people are living in is entirely inconceivable for me.

Day Eighty Four - Observations

Today as we were driving from Wau to Aweil, I tried to imagine the stories of all the people we were passing on the side of the road. I had a long time to contemplate this considering the drive is a bumpy 3-hour trek down maram dirt roads.

It really depends on whom the person is you are passing to imagine what their life story is. And really this is all my imagination and I am probably not close on analyzing these people by what they look like or what it was they were doing. There were some men on bikes with piles of wood or charcoal on their bikes. I wonder how long they had been riding for with that heavy load weighing them down. I am sure it is much longer than I think. Then there are the people who are just walking. I wonder where they are going or where they are coming from. I wonder where they live and what it is like.

There are people on bikes, people walking, people sitting. I noticed there were many more women and men with traditional clothing and jewelry compared to when I was north of Aweil. I wonder why that is? They are certainly beautiful people.

It would be amazing to do a study and research of people here by coming out to the rural areas and fully immersing oneself into their culture and live among them for a long period of time. It would certainly be a challenge but it would be incredibly eye opening and life changing. I would love to learn more about rural culture here. I am sure I will not learn by going out to the bush and living with the people there but in one way or another I will learn more. I think this type of research and observation of a group of people is called Ethnography (I may be mistaken on that)

On a lighter note, I saw for the first time today a man riding a bicycle with a live goat hanging in a sack on either side of the back of his bike. I almost didn’t believe that it really was goats in the sacks, but sure enough, they were goats. Sudanese people transport just about anything on a bicycle it seems. Priceless moment.

Day Eighty One - Back to the Basics

South Sudan officially has its own currency as of today. Goodbye SGD and hello SSD.

We moved back to Transmillenium this evening. Home sweet home. After waiting for Lawrence who got lost trying to find our compound, 2 round trips, and dragging bags through the dirt, we have officially moved back. The compound we moved to had to many bad vibes and it was really not working out for us. I am happy with being back at Transmillenium, although I will miss the concrete floor and locking door. Tents are not ideal but this compound is so much better. More secure, better people who do not lie to you, better toilets and a better location. And they even put down new dirt so the paths and parking lot is much better and not so muddy. Less mud makes me happy.

Who knew we would prefer to live in the tents.