Monday, February 25, 2008

Allergic to Dust

Yes, it's sad but true. The itchy eyes, runny nose, cough and irritated throat tell an all too familiar tale. Sigh. I also think going jogging at the airport this past week when they were burning all the grass next to the runway didn't help matters any. For some perspective, here are 2 pictures of the same view - looking out the front of my office - the first one was taken in October and the second was taken last week.Crazy, right? That's not fog you're looking at, it's dust. It's all I can think about. Dust everywhere. After showering I have to make sure my hair is dry before leaving the house because if I drive in a car or walk when it is still wet the dust sticks to it and makes it feel like straw by the time it is dry. No amount of conditioner can help that out. And oh my poor computer! It's going to need a serious cleaning next time I go to Nairobi. Unless you sweep the floors every day it just piles up and there's a layer of sediment over everything.

Enough kvetching about dust. For something slightly more interesting, a shipment of mosquito nets came in (not my department, but still for my organization) and had to be transferred from a warehouse to other trucks for distribution, so I went with a colleague to check it out and take some pictures. Here are a few of my favorites:

I had a very lonely/homesick day last week so I just want to say I love and miss everyone at home and am hopefully soon going to have a vonage phone so calling me in Juba will be just like calling anyone else in the states. Imagine that! I'll be able to pick up the phone anytime (anytime our generator is on at least) and have one of you on the other line. Fabulous. And it won't be finicky and unreliable like skype. I can't wait!

Peace y'all

Sunday, February 10, 2008

pictures and a white onion

Two highlights of my week: live music by a Congolese band (including 4 ladies dancing in pink sparkly spandex outfits), and finding white onions in the market. This may not seem like a big deal, but usually there are only small, red onions that are very strong. But a white onion, oh boy! To celebrate I made green bean salad with a vinigarette. Yummy. This week was quite busy. A few 16 hour days, and I worked both days this weekend. I can't WAIT until we hire additional staff. I have an R&R coming up in the beginning of March and need to figure out where to go. Mozambique? Paris? Zanzibar? Madagascar? What's your vote?

Also, thought I'd post some more random pictures of Sudan. Enjoy!
The guesthouse where I live

A view of Juba from the Jebel (big hill)Little to no infrastructureRoad between project sitesAnd my favorite, a road in Juba during the rainy season