Going Back
I am not sure if my feet ever actually touched the ground over the past month. In the last 31 days I have flown to Khartoum, Amsterdam, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, back to Chicago, London, and soon back to Khartoum. I have been drenched in warm hugs from friends and family, eaten more food then I thought possible, had my fair share of G&T…and beer…and wine…basically anything that wasn’t Suko, and simply enjoyed a much needed break. But like all “coming home” experiences there where certain things that struck me as particularly curious or funny upon arrival, and as a service to those who might go through a similar situation I thought it best that I share some of these things with you.
Good:
-Being amazed at how consistently electricity can run when not powered by a plastic Chinese generator and a couple of old Sudanese men with sticks.
-Eating food without sand in it.
-Figuring out that if you tell wonderful Dutch people that you just got back from Sudan that they will by you a pint!
Bad:
-Realizing that the smoking habit you picked up in Darfur is gross and must be stopped.
-That G&T does not make you a better out fielder in wiffle ball!
-Finding out that you still answer work emails even when you no longer work for the organization.
Odd:
-That I now sleep with a quilt on even when its 92 degrees outside.
-While driving I keep looking for the next checkpoint I need to stop at.
-Going to clubs and thinking about how they are not nearly as cool as OCHA parties that play “Sex Bomb” over and over again.
So with all that said I am going back. I should be arriving in Darfur in a few short weeks, of course this is all dependent on travel passes and what not, so who really knows. The scary thing I recently realized is that after this next year in Darfur I will have spent more time there then anywhere else I lived since high school…I’m not sure if that’s prize worthy or just depressing. Never the less I do look forward to my return (ask me about that statement in a few months and it might be a bit different) and at the very least there will never be a dull moment…well except of the Eid Holiday when everything shuts down, that’s boring (right Coy and Aaron!). So, if anyone is still reading this thing I will once again be blogging more regularly so please keep reading. Enjoy.
Good:
-Being amazed at how consistently electricity can run when not powered by a plastic Chinese generator and a couple of old Sudanese men with sticks.
-Eating food without sand in it.
-Figuring out that if you tell wonderful Dutch people that you just got back from Sudan that they will by you a pint!
Bad:
-Realizing that the smoking habit you picked up in Darfur is gross and must be stopped.
-That G&T does not make you a better out fielder in wiffle ball!
-Finding out that you still answer work emails even when you no longer work for the organization.
Odd:
-That I now sleep with a quilt on even when its 92 degrees outside.
-While driving I keep looking for the next checkpoint I need to stop at.
-Going to clubs and thinking about how they are not nearly as cool as OCHA parties that play “Sex Bomb” over and over again.
So with all that said I am going back. I should be arriving in Darfur in a few short weeks, of course this is all dependent on travel passes and what not, so who really knows. The scary thing I recently realized is that after this next year in Darfur I will have spent more time there then anywhere else I lived since high school…I’m not sure if that’s prize worthy or just depressing. Never the less I do look forward to my return (ask me about that statement in a few months and it might be a bit different) and at the very least there will never be a dull moment…well except of the Eid Holiday when everything shuts down, that’s boring (right Coy and Aaron!). So, if anyone is still reading this thing I will once again be blogging more regularly so please keep reading. Enjoy.
posted by Scott at 9:26 AM
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