In my last post I spoke of the impending 'Jubitis' that everyone new to Juba gets.
Ahem...you will all be pleased to know that I have apparently set a new camp record for the fastest ever acquisition of the sickness. Please notify the fine people from the Guinness Book of World Records. I'd like some sort of reward other than the time spent on the toilet, time spent in the fetal position in bed, and the time spent showering myself with vomit.
I was very much hoping to present myself as an experienced traveler, toughened against the bacteria, parasites, bugs, etc that take down the rest of the newbies. Instead, Friday night at about 1:30am (approximately 36 hours after my arrival in Juba) I was stumbling around the corner of my cabin and puking my brains out. This was followed by a nauseous night that alternated between me holding myself in bed and limping to the toilet to diarrhea out everything that didn't climb out of my throat earlier in the evening. I apologize for the descriptive nature of the post, but want all you readers to feel (and eventually see) everything I feel here in Juba, both good and bad.
Fortunately the weariness, aches, pains, runs, etc of Jubitis were relatively quick in letting go of my system. I rested most of the day Saturday, got close to 12 hours of sleep on Saturday night, and by Sunday morning was feeling much better. Getting to return to the US Consulate and their lovely swimming pool on Sunday may have helped my demeanor as well.
I am now running at around 90% (I doubt I'll be shitting solidly for many of the 44 weeks or so that I am scheduled to be here), and hope that I have gotten things out of my system for the time being. Only time will tell...
Monday, April 28, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Welcome to Juba
Alright, alright, alright...
I left Nairobi yesterday morning at around 11:30am and, after the most leg-cramped due to tight seating 1.5hr flight of my life, arrived safe and sound in Juba.
No kidding around about the lack or roads and infrastructure here. The trip from the airport to the PAE camp took about 20min, but couldn't have been more than 2 miles. The entire trip was one long, bumpy, muddy, ride in a 4x4. I didn't get to see much of the town, but from what I did see its all tin-roofed shacks and huts. The center undoubtedly has some concrete and cinder block buildings, but even these would probably all be one storey. Not that this is surprising...just three years ago there wouldn't have been even a quarter as many buildings or half as many people.
The PAE camp (which is basically all I've seen of Juba so far) far exceeds any expectations I had coming in. The camp itself is really well maintained, with individual offices and sleep quarters, a fully functioning restaurant and bar (that non-PAE people can eat at) and even a bit of landscaping. I don't have pictures yet, but I'll try and put some up soon.
I was absolutely prepared for the worst, which probably makes things seem a little better to me than they really are, but its truly amazing. There is wireless Internet (sort of spotty though), A/C in the offices and the rooms (all of which are pre-fab container type structures), 24hrs of electricity, running water (sometimes even hot), etc. I even have 'maids' that come and sweep my room every day, make my bed, and do my laundry. This is better living than I had in DC!!!
I'm sure that I'll get tired of the food, and that some of the awe I have will eventually wear off...but for now I'm really happy with it all.
The bugs aren't that bad yet (will definitely get worse as the rainy season goes on), and are mostly limited to flies and mosquitoes, and though its hot outside, its not so hot that you want to collapse. I have been told by everybody that in a day or two I will come down with my first case of 'Jubitis' (diarrhea, cramps, upset stomach, etc), but I was expecting that too, and consider it just part of the gig.
I have much more to share, but don't want this post to get too long. As a teaser to keep you coming back, however, imagine exotic pets, the potential for helicopter rides, and other fun things.
I left Nairobi yesterday morning at around 11:30am and, after the most leg-cramped due to tight seating 1.5hr flight of my life, arrived safe and sound in Juba.
No kidding around about the lack or roads and infrastructure here. The trip from the airport to the PAE camp took about 20min, but couldn't have been more than 2 miles. The entire trip was one long, bumpy, muddy, ride in a 4x4. I didn't get to see much of the town, but from what I did see its all tin-roofed shacks and huts. The center undoubtedly has some concrete and cinder block buildings, but even these would probably all be one storey. Not that this is surprising...just three years ago there wouldn't have been even a quarter as many buildings or half as many people.
The PAE camp (which is basically all I've seen of Juba so far) far exceeds any expectations I had coming in. The camp itself is really well maintained, with individual offices and sleep quarters, a fully functioning restaurant and bar (that non-PAE people can eat at) and even a bit of landscaping. I don't have pictures yet, but I'll try and put some up soon.
I was absolutely prepared for the worst, which probably makes things seem a little better to me than they really are, but its truly amazing. There is wireless Internet (sort of spotty though), A/C in the offices and the rooms (all of which are pre-fab container type structures), 24hrs of electricity, running water (sometimes even hot), etc. I even have 'maids' that come and sweep my room every day, make my bed, and do my laundry. This is better living than I had in DC!!!
I'm sure that I'll get tired of the food, and that some of the awe I have will eventually wear off...but for now I'm really happy with it all.
The bugs aren't that bad yet (will definitely get worse as the rainy season goes on), and are mostly limited to flies and mosquitoes, and though its hot outside, its not so hot that you want to collapse. I have been told by everybody that in a day or two I will come down with my first case of 'Jubitis' (diarrhea, cramps, upset stomach, etc), but I was expecting that too, and consider it just part of the gig.
I have much more to share, but don't want this post to get too long. As a teaser to keep you coming back, however, imagine exotic pets, the potential for helicopter rides, and other fun things.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
First Stop Nairobi
Welcome to Juba Soup. My attempt to blog my life and times as a State Department contractor in Juba, Sudan.
I'm not there yet, so I can't say for sure what its going to be like, who I'm going to meet, or even what I'm really going to be doing.
In a nutshell, for those who don't know me or don't know what I'm doing, I am going to be living and working in Juba for the next year as an employee of Pacific Architects & Engineers (PAE). PAE is a government contractor working around the world on all sorts of different contracts...but among their specialties are working to develop government capacities in rule of law and judicial reform. I think this is what I'll be helping to do, but I'm still not entirely sure.
As I said, I'm not quite there yet. Right now I'm in Nairobi, Kenya waiting for my Sudanese visa to come through. I've been here before, so its not an overwhelmingly different place to me, but its exciting nonetheless.
Today was spent mostly exploring, stocking up on some supplies, and recovering from the long trip. Tomorrow will be more of the same, and I should be gone by Thursday. No one will probably have seen this by then...but this is a good start.
Off we go...
I'm not there yet, so I can't say for sure what its going to be like, who I'm going to meet, or even what I'm really going to be doing.
In a nutshell, for those who don't know me or don't know what I'm doing, I am going to be living and working in Juba for the next year as an employee of Pacific Architects & Engineers (PAE). PAE is a government contractor working around the world on all sorts of different contracts...but among their specialties are working to develop government capacities in rule of law and judicial reform. I think this is what I'll be helping to do, but I'm still not entirely sure.
As I said, I'm not quite there yet. Right now I'm in Nairobi, Kenya waiting for my Sudanese visa to come through. I've been here before, so its not an overwhelmingly different place to me, but its exciting nonetheless.
Today was spent mostly exploring, stocking up on some supplies, and recovering from the long trip. Tomorrow will be more of the same, and I should be gone by Thursday. No one will probably have seen this by then...but this is a good start.
Off we go...
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