Of the 25 nations in the world with the greatest percentage of people lacking access to safe drinking water, 19 are in Africa.
Recently we have been issues with water in the compound. I have access to drinking water no problem. Even that water that comes from our tap is safe to drink. The issue is that we are using about five times more per day than we should be. This is a combination of an issue with the pipes and over usage by the students and people in our compound. For the last week we have been having a water curfew. The water has been turned off during the day and then again at night. Running water in the morning and then again from 6:00PM to 11:00PM. When I turn on the tap and find that there is no water, I always have that second of frustration and then pick up my water bottle, which I have filled for this exact reason and use that to wash my hands or whatever I need to do. Not having running water 24/7 is certainly a “First World” problem. I have never lived without running water. It has not been until I came to South Sudan that I have really experienced having water supply issues. Having your water come from a water storage tank, which needs to be filled weekly is very different than functioning off of a city water supply. If that tank runs out of water you are out of luck and possibly left in the middle of a shower. Then left to use a bottle of water or wait until the water tanker comes to fill the storage tank up. Here at the compound we have these water storage tanks, however there are a number of them and they are filled via the borehole that we have here so we do not have the issue of needing the tankers come and fill our water tanks. Back to the water curfew as I call it, really solidifies the fact that water is a precious resource and we have to use it wisely.
I was reading an article about Canadians who have chosen to go off the grid. This is not directly related to water but fits in with my thought process on this issue. This article featured people from around Canada who have chosen to life off the grid, mostly choosing to live without electricity, using alternate sources of power for their daily lives. The writer of the article is setting out to prove that it is simple to embrace changes and commit to new, more energy-efficient lifestyles.
Here is the article: http://www.calgaryherald.com/Life+without+utilities+hard/6036070/story.html
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Day 220 - Seven AM
Last night I was fast asleep at 11:30 PM. To my amazement when I woke up in the AM the clock said 7:00. I slept through the night! Goodbye jet lag, hello sleep filled nights. Sleeping through the night was quite a feat and a highlight of my morning.
The giant spider I later found hanging out in my shower was certainly a low moment in my morning. This spider was the size of a Burt’s Bees tin and not filled with wonderful menthol lip balm. So ugly. In my panic I ran outside and as two of my co-workers if they could come and kill it for me. Their response to my request was to tell me that the spider was crawling in my hair. Not helpful at all.
Fortunately there are more kind people in the compound and one of the guys came to my rescue and killed the spider for me with a quarter of a can of Doom.
And as he was killing it, he says ‘It is not even that big.”
AHH! Eww.
I disagreed.
It was huge.
The giant spider I later found hanging out in my shower was certainly a low moment in my morning. This spider was the size of a Burt’s Bees tin and not filled with wonderful menthol lip balm. So ugly. In my panic I ran outside and as two of my co-workers if they could come and kill it for me. Their response to my request was to tell me that the spider was crawling in my hair. Not helpful at all.
Fortunately there are more kind people in the compound and one of the guys came to my rescue and killed the spider for me with a quarter of a can of Doom.
And as he was killing it, he says ‘It is not even that big.”
AHH! Eww.
I disagreed.
It was huge.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Day 217 - "The Guestbook"
3:30am has proved to be the time my body thinks is acceptable to wake up for the past fives days. Jet lag is so not enjoyable, however, I do really like waking up before most people; before the hustle and the bustle of the days activities begin. It is a peaceful time. And a cool time here. One of the only times of the day when there is a chill in the air.
I was welcomed back to Juba on the 11th by a burst of hot air walking off the airplane and a zoo of people piling up in front of the window where one gets their passport stamped. And to complicate matters, of course Juba can not create a system in the airport that consists of organized lines and minimal chaos, right beside the window where you get your passport stamped, there is a book placed on a table which you are required to sign in. The guestbook of Juba International Airport. So if you can imagine what seemed to be over 100 people trampling into the arrivals at the airport, which could be compared to the size of a mid-sized sedan. Not actually but that is what it feels like. Once you got though the ridiculous process of signing the “guestbook” you squished through the door to where the luggage is deliver. Again I watched bags being loaded off of a tractor trailer, in a surprisingly more organized fashion compared to the last time I flew. I wished with all my being that they did not open my big bag to search because it would have exploded with no chance of recovery. It would have been a disaster. Due to the fact that I waited an hour for my luggage the security was getting a bit slack about searching through bags so I was extremely fortunate.
The next few days consisted of work and naps. Attempting to adjust back to Juba time is a lot of work. It requires a lot of sleep during hours you should not be sleeping.
Slowly. Slowly.
I was welcomed back to Juba on the 11th by a burst of hot air walking off the airplane and a zoo of people piling up in front of the window where one gets their passport stamped. And to complicate matters, of course Juba can not create a system in the airport that consists of organized lines and minimal chaos, right beside the window where you get your passport stamped, there is a book placed on a table which you are required to sign in. The guestbook of Juba International Airport. So if you can imagine what seemed to be over 100 people trampling into the arrivals at the airport, which could be compared to the size of a mid-sized sedan. Not actually but that is what it feels like. Once you got though the ridiculous process of signing the “guestbook” you squished through the door to where the luggage is deliver. Again I watched bags being loaded off of a tractor trailer, in a surprisingly more organized fashion compared to the last time I flew. I wished with all my being that they did not open my big bag to search because it would have exploded with no chance of recovery. It would have been a disaster. Due to the fact that I waited an hour for my luggage the security was getting a bit slack about searching through bags so I was extremely fortunate.
The next few days consisted of work and naps. Attempting to adjust back to Juba time is a lot of work. It requires a lot of sleep during hours you should not be sleeping.
Slowly. Slowly.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Day 212 - Walk Like An Egyptian
Once again I have left home and flown half way across the country. After an incredible 3 weeks at home with my family I am headed back to Juba.
After an extremely blustery, but very quick take-off, 3/4 of a movie and a beautiful flight over the Rockies I was in Vancouver where I waited for an hour and a half for my next flight. Airports always intrigue me. I guess it is not airports exactly it is the people filling the airport. Full of people with destinations unknown to you. And full of emotions! Some people are crying. Some are frustrated. Some look exhausted and ready to pass out. Others look like they are so excited to start a new adventure. Some are scared. And the list goes on. The thing is that people do not guard their emotions in airports. If a person is going to cry they are going to cry and usually act as though there is no one else around them. They are in their own little worlds within the airport.
After a restless 9 hours, an awful selection of films and a book that is so hilarious I was laughing out loud (with a few laughing tears) in my seat. I made it to Frankfurt and all I wanted was a bed. Exhausted.
After a short nap and a slight fright of being woken up by my seat mate to eat breakfast, I was in Cairo. Back to the random, "You're beautiful" by passing men and to cold streets filled with people. Now I had a decision to make here. I had 15 hours to pass by in Cairo and I was certainly not keen on spending those hours sitting in the airport. I was however feeling extremely tired and not wanting to expend my energy leaving the airport. After some deliberation I decided to get a hotel room for the night. I made my way to the hotel in New Cairo called Oasis Hotel. Very simple but it has certainly met my needs. I met Benedicte downtown and we went to purchase a phone for me. Phone was successfully purchased. We then headed to Maison Thomas for some dinner. It was a successful evening.
After a fitful few hours of sleep, I am sitting in my bed here in Cairo writing. I seriously woke up an hour and a half after I went to sleep in a panic. I must have been dreaming about going to the airport because I definitely woke up and thought I had missed my plane, however, I had only slept for and hour. I slept another 2 hours and now my internal clock is saying it is time to wake up... Getting a hotel room was a good splurge. It always feels sooo good to lay down after long hours of being cramped on a plane.
In less than ten hours I will be back in Juba, back with my Juba friends and back to work, with a lot of unpacking to do. I can't wait.
After an extremely blustery, but very quick take-off, 3/4 of a movie and a beautiful flight over the Rockies I was in Vancouver where I waited for an hour and a half for my next flight. Airports always intrigue me. I guess it is not airports exactly it is the people filling the airport. Full of people with destinations unknown to you. And full of emotions! Some people are crying. Some are frustrated. Some look exhausted and ready to pass out. Others look like they are so excited to start a new adventure. Some are scared. And the list goes on. The thing is that people do not guard their emotions in airports. If a person is going to cry they are going to cry and usually act as though there is no one else around them. They are in their own little worlds within the airport.
After a restless 9 hours, an awful selection of films and a book that is so hilarious I was laughing out loud (with a few laughing tears) in my seat. I made it to Frankfurt and all I wanted was a bed. Exhausted.
After a short nap and a slight fright of being woken up by my seat mate to eat breakfast, I was in Cairo. Back to the random, "You're beautiful" by passing men and to cold streets filled with people. Now I had a decision to make here. I had 15 hours to pass by in Cairo and I was certainly not keen on spending those hours sitting in the airport. I was however feeling extremely tired and not wanting to expend my energy leaving the airport. After some deliberation I decided to get a hotel room for the night. I made my way to the hotel in New Cairo called Oasis Hotel. Very simple but it has certainly met my needs. I met Benedicte downtown and we went to purchase a phone for me. Phone was successfully purchased. We then headed to Maison Thomas for some dinner. It was a successful evening.
After a fitful few hours of sleep, I am sitting in my bed here in Cairo writing. I seriously woke up an hour and a half after I went to sleep in a panic. I must have been dreaming about going to the airport because I definitely woke up and thought I had missed my plane, however, I had only slept for and hour. I slept another 2 hours and now my internal clock is saying it is time to wake up... Getting a hotel room was a good splurge. It always feels sooo good to lay down after long hours of being cramped on a plane.
In less than ten hours I will be back in Juba, back with my Juba friends and back to work, with a lot of unpacking to do. I can't wait.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Day 202 - It's A New Year
This is my wish for this year:
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.
So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art or love or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
Neil Gaiman
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re Doing Something.
So that’s my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody’s ever made before. Don’t freeze, don’t stop, don’t worry that it isn’t good enough, or it isn’t perfect, whatever it is: art or love or work or family or life.
Whatever it is you’re scared of doing, Do it. Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
Neil Gaiman
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