My Adventures in Sudan

"There's not much to do here?", "Why did you come HERE of all places", "You're a teacher? Why didn't you go somewhere cool, like somewhere in Europe?" LOL! These are questions I have formulated answers to because I'm asked them daily. The people of Sudan have a love-hate relationship with their country <<< a statement every Sudanese person I've met has confirmed. There is not much to do for leisure and fun for my age here. Women are expected to finish school (most women have a Master's degree, if not a PhD.), get married and start having babies. There is no dating here...no boyfriend and girlfriend relationships (that are out in the open anyway), just college and marriage. In fact, holding hands down the street, kissing in public, things like that are NOT ALLOWED....seriously. You will be stopped and probably taken to jail and whipped...while you wait on your parents whom you've shamed tremendously. So any type of social event is in the form of a house party (house + food + music + people). Depending on your status in the community or 'who you know' you can get invited to the coolest house parties. These parties are somewhat of a secret of course. And so, my first two weeks here consisted of house party after house party....LOL! Where I just sat and observed people smoking shisha (hooka), drinking and dancing...had some good conversations...and went back home after the sun came back up. Home was at the school for those two and a half weeks. The teacher from last year stayed here all year (God bless him).

Needless to say I made sure that I got an apartment as soon as possible. I'll have a video posted soon of a tour as soon as I figure out how to do it. I love it! It's big and spacious and I've already started decorating a little. Sooo.....Sudan, you think you can get used to the heat, but no. Especially when the government or WHOMEVER shuts the electricity down randomly throughout the day. You're place can have A/C but if they need some power for something important (i.e. a big football match (soccer)) you'll just have to suffer for awhile...or all night. The other night this happened and thank goodness I had candles ready! It's SO serious.....but I kind of see it as humorous. The Sudanese feel this way too, it's like: "What can you do" This is just the way it is. There are places here where I feel like I'm in the middle of the desert stranded. Then around the corner I'm in a 5 star hotel, that would put even my favorites in San Diego to shame (i.e. Loews). The major thing that keeps me from exploring and making up adventures for myself is the heat. It's so draining that a few hours in it makes you feel like you just ran an marathon...and won. LOL!

One thing that keeps me going, and keeps me motivated is teaching. The kids are spectacular. The backgrounds that some of the kids come from will amaze you. Just so there is an understanding, I'm not teaching in a hut or teaching kids that have no idea how to speak English. Majority of the kids are from some of the wealthiest families in Khartoum. If I'm out with Ms.Beryl (the principal), she'll point to a furniture store, or a grocery store, or a big building and say, " That's so and so's Dad's store," or " So and So's Mom is a lawyer here". The parents pay hefty tuitions for their children to come to an English School, with an American principal and some American teachers. The parents understand the value of having their children being taught by a native English speaker. They've been outside of the country and want to find a place that welcomes the type of freedoms that English speaking countries harbor. That said, most of the parents don't speak English at home (even if they know how). Furthermore, the kids are cared for by nannies and get very limited, if any, help with their homework, so their English is not so good. It took about a week for me to assess each classes level and where I should start in the books. I teach three classes, five times a week. The new 9th grade class, the 8th I.G. class and the 8th grade Sudanese Certificate class. Everyday is a different subject (grammar, world literature, vocabulary, etc.) for each class so it can get taxing. Once I get them motivated to learn, the classes go great. The books that I was provided give me the freedom to break away and have discussions which is the most fun. The kids are tremendously expressive (duh....their ages range from 12-15).

More to come! I just ate....now it's time to sleep....and yeah....you get the point.

The first thing that came to me was the smell. Africa smells different. It's not a strong smell, it's just a different smell. It is the same smell from three years ago in Ghana. I love it. As soon as I step of of the plane I am a sponge soaking up every little detail about my new home. Tired from 3 connections and almost 24 hours of flight time, but alert nonetheless. I'm greeted by the principal, my boss, Ms.Beryl and her family. My huge bags are loaded into thier tiny car and we roll away towards the school (where I will be residing until my apartment is ready to be moved into). It's hot....it's midnight, but its hot....everyone around me (excpet Ms.Beryl) is speaking Arabic and I realize that my phrasebook didn't help AT ALL!

Over the next few days my schedule was packed with meet and greets. Ms.Beryl really wants me to connect with the people (the good people) of Sudan and have friends that will help me in my transistion. My first friend is Mr. Mohammed/Mo/Ruff. A young, hip Sudanese guy. He's so friendly and inviting. Introducing me to the right people and taking me alllll around Sudan, the old parts the new parts, the up and coming parts. It's only been a few days and I feel connected to so many groups of people.

Today I ventured on my own for the first time. The driver of the 'rekshah' (small taxi bike thingys) tried to hustle me out of a ride to a nearby cafe to meet Mr. Mohammed and get on the internet. He took me ANYWHERE other than the place I requested and then got angry when I tried to
give him the correct fare....an experience nonetheless. I am antcipating getting my phone so that I can call home, and home can call me. As soon as I do I know that it will help with my homesickness.

Pictures and videos will be posted soon! Stay tuned!

Love,
Kala

The amount of energy that I've put in to seeing everyone before I leave. The amount of energy it took to move my things into storage. The mental preparation I did for such a huge life change...all of this felt like a big waste on Friday night. When I didn't get my ticket, itinerary or even hear from my new employer. Thank goodness I had prayer and good people around me to help me get through it. I'm ready to go this week, and think that if it was God's will for me to be in Sudan now, I would be. So I'm rollin with the punches; spending extra time with friends and my favorite little boy A.J.!