Ok, well, I promised that I would write more about my musings from my first 3 months or so in South Sudan.
So, now that I am on holiday and relaxed and have a bit of time, here goes!
I arrived in Nairobi (yes, Kenya, not South Sudan) in mid June and went straight into a management meeting which was a really good opportunity to meet the senior team and get to know them a bit and what work is going on and some of the challenges. Then had a couple of days with the Watsan (water and sanitation) regional person to get some really good briefing from him. And then it was onto South Sudan! I went straight to “the field”. (I have recently had a conversation with some people who are perplexed about what “going to the field” actually means – I mean, do we all go to some sacred field and do some good agriculture, or something?! So just to explain, “the field” is to one of the sites that we have where we are working alongside the community. I could explain where all the places are, but to be honest, even the really detailed maps don’t show all the places where we are working. If you are really interested I can send you a map, but probably best not to put it on this blog. I spent about a month in a couple of the field sites, looking at rainwater harvesting, making first assessments and generally just trying to work out what has been done, what the general attitudes are to water and sanitation within the communities, and what the needs are and how we could go about meeting those needs – a bit of a general information gathering and orientation exercise really.
So, now that I am on holiday and relaxed and have a bit of time, here goes!
I arrived in Nairobi (yes, Kenya, not South Sudan) in mid June and went straight into a management meeting which was a really good opportunity to meet the senior team and get to know them a bit and what work is going on and some of the challenges. Then had a couple of days with the Watsan (water and sanitation) regional person to get some really good briefing from him. And then it was onto South Sudan! I went straight to “the field”. (I have recently had a conversation with some people who are perplexed about what “going to the field” actually means – I mean, do we all go to some sacred field and do some good agriculture, or something?! So just to explain, “the field” is to one of the sites that we have where we are working alongside the community. I could explain where all the places are, but to be honest, even the really detailed maps don’t show all the places where we are working. If you are really interested I can send you a map, but probably best not to put it on this blog. I spent about a month in a couple of the field sites, looking at rainwater harvesting, making first assessments and generally just trying to work out what has been done, what the general attitudes are to water and sanitation within the communities, and what the needs are and how we could go about meeting those needs – a bit of a general information gathering and orientation exercise really.
I was then back in Nairobi and off on a great conference for all the Watsan people from all of our disaster management teams around the world. It was a great time and it was also quite special sitting in a nice coffee shop having a proper coffee! I have to say I really enjoy being in the field although as there is not much to do, you do tend to work the whole time, even on a Sunday which probably isn’t that healthy. But it is great living among the communities, being able to really go to people and help them help themselves. I am not sure how much I am really helping at the moment, but I really enjoy being there and trying to get alongside them. I had an especially great time at the local church with lots of lively singing and dancing and all there was for instruments was a goat skinned drum. It was amazing! Incidentally, here is a photo of the local nightclub! Pretty cool, huh?! Although I have to say I was less than impressed when I was woken up in the middle of the night on a school night with very noisy teenagers!
After Nairobi, I went to Juba, which is where I am supposedly based and it was very exciting to meet up with my bag! I had been in the field with only a couple of things as we have to travel (or should I say, we get to travel) on very little planes and have very limited weight allowance, so I had sent my other stuff ahead of me to Juba. By the way, one of the great things about going to the field is that you get to fly on little little planes. I think most people are a bit blasé about it now and I guess I appear that way too now, but inside I am thinking, check this out, this is so cool! ;)
My reunion with my bag in Juba was a sweet one and not just because of the bars of chocolate in it (which I have not finished, so any offerings would be gratefully received!), but because of all the stuff that I had forgotten that I had brought out with me. AND I got to set up my room. A base. So exciting. Since arriving in Juba I have been there most of the time except for one trip to another field site – this one on the River Nile, so I got to have a boat trip up the river (actually downstream, but up the map and so people are quite confused I think!). It was a good trip there and again I got to meet some fab local people and the team there were also really good. Unfortunately, the boats broke – well the engines did – and we didn’t manage to get to any of the other sites as the roads are also cut off at this time of year with all the rain. It took us quite a while to get to the field site as it was what with storms, poorly boat engines and things. I also hurt my heel which probably sounds very “oh woe is me”, but it has been difficult to do anything with it – I can’t wear shoes as anything on the heel hurts too much and it also got a bit infected and I was supposed to stay off it, especially when my whole foot swelled up. But writing this, I am pleased to report that today I managed to wrap round enough bandage for padding and go for a walk in my walking sandals for a whole hour before it properly started to hurt again. J
Juba is lots of fun with lots of parties and people to hang out with. There is lots going on and it is generally, work hard, play hard kinda place. It is slightly surreal as everyone is basically in their 20s or 30s and single or at least on single status apart from a very few people. There are no expat families here, at least not that I know about, so it makes for an almost student type lifestyle, but with way more responsibility and hard work.
I can now drive which is great as we have no drivers in the evenings or the weekends which makes getting around and actually having a social life quite difficult if you don’t drive yourself. I know I didn’t come here for a social life particularly, and in the field it is fine to not have one and I don’t’ mind just working hard, and watching a film or something and having an early night, but when you are in Juba and know that there is lots of social things that you could be doing then it is depressing not doing anything. I had a couple of nights in in a row and was so depressed by the end of that that I have managed to go out every night since then. Unfortunately, Juba is not very cheap so I have to get to the field as much as I can or I will be ridiculously overspending!
I have met some great people in Juba and am feeling like I have made some good friends now and know my way around a little bit too which is helpful. I have to say being on holiday is good and all, but I am actually missing my friends there and am wanting to get back and see them. (Although I am very sad that some good friends won't be there when I get back)
After Nairobi, I went to Juba, which is where I am supposedly based and it was very exciting to meet up with my bag! I had been in the field with only a couple of things as we have to travel (or should I say, we get to travel) on very little planes and have very limited weight allowance, so I had sent my other stuff ahead of me to Juba. By the way, one of the great things about going to the field is that you get to fly on little little planes. I think most people are a bit blasé about it now and I guess I appear that way too now, but inside I am thinking, check this out, this is so cool! ;)
My reunion with my bag in Juba was a sweet one and not just because of the bars of chocolate in it (which I have not finished, so any offerings would be gratefully received!), but because of all the stuff that I had forgotten that I had brought out with me. AND I got to set up my room. A base. So exciting. Since arriving in Juba I have been there most of the time except for one trip to another field site – this one on the River Nile, so I got to have a boat trip up the river (actually downstream, but up the map and so people are quite confused I think!). It was a good trip there and again I got to meet some fab local people and the team there were also really good. Unfortunately, the boats broke – well the engines did – and we didn’t manage to get to any of the other sites as the roads are also cut off at this time of year with all the rain. It took us quite a while to get to the field site as it was what with storms, poorly boat engines and things. I also hurt my heel which probably sounds very “oh woe is me”, but it has been difficult to do anything with it – I can’t wear shoes as anything on the heel hurts too much and it also got a bit infected and I was supposed to stay off it, especially when my whole foot swelled up. But writing this, I am pleased to report that today I managed to wrap round enough bandage for padding and go for a walk in my walking sandals for a whole hour before it properly started to hurt again. J
Juba is lots of fun with lots of parties and people to hang out with. There is lots going on and it is generally, work hard, play hard kinda place. It is slightly surreal as everyone is basically in their 20s or 30s and single or at least on single status apart from a very few people. There are no expat families here, at least not that I know about, so it makes for an almost student type lifestyle, but with way more responsibility and hard work.
I can now drive which is great as we have no drivers in the evenings or the weekends which makes getting around and actually having a social life quite difficult if you don’t drive yourself. I know I didn’t come here for a social life particularly, and in the field it is fine to not have one and I don’t’ mind just working hard, and watching a film or something and having an early night, but when you are in Juba and know that there is lots of social things that you could be doing then it is depressing not doing anything. I had a couple of nights in in a row and was so depressed by the end of that that I have managed to go out every night since then. Unfortunately, Juba is not very cheap so I have to get to the field as much as I can or I will be ridiculously overspending!
I have met some great people in Juba and am feeling like I have made some good friends now and know my way around a little bit too which is helpful. I have to say being on holiday is good and all, but I am actually missing my friends there and am wanting to get back and see them. (Although I am very sad that some good friends won't be there when I get back)
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