Quick hello

Hi all
Sorry it’s been a while, but I have been busy with UN security and induction training and apartment hunting. (no luck on that yet because I am looking for a roommate and that is the difficult part)
Anyway, I am also sorry for the lack of pictures, but it is not allowed in the country and I don’t want to take the risk. I will take a few from inside the car as soon as possible!

Day three, Rotana (and a little of Obama)

“Rotana" is a very nice hotel here in Khartoum where I had dinner last night. I ate a delicious international buffet! A girlfriend from NY was doing some temporary work in the area, so we met to catch up. The wait staff was all Sudanese and when one of them heard that we were Americans (my friend said we both were), he got carried away and went on and on about how much he didn't like Bush and how excited he was for Obama. He said he was very happy and would now travel to the U.S.A. with his family. He was quite genuine! I only watched part of Obama’s speech on BBC. I am sure it was a very fun day in the states!

At this restaurant we also had a very nice Sudanese dessert called "Um Ali", which is basically a mush of whatever bread is left over from breakfast, mixed in with a lot of butter, cream, milk and other not so healthy ingredients. I thought it was strange that the pastry chef had no problem in telling us that he uses any type of bread, "depending on what is left over". J

Anyway, day three for me was pretty hectic with UN bureaucracy. I am still getting set-up and need to run a lot around the compound area (under a very strong sun!) before I can start working. Things here also move at a much slower pace and I hear that a very commonly used word in the country is: "Inshalah". It means, God Willing! I hope it’s God’s will that I get an apartment soon too! J

It's 4am my time now and I just woke up. Still Jet legged…

bye bye for now.

In Sudan!

I hear the Adhan at 6:00 am and I get scared! That’s how I start day two in Khartoum. I had heard this sound already when I left the airport yesterday, but hadn’t paid much attention to it because of all the other traffic noises around me. Adhan is a pray calling sound from the mosques, summoning all Muslims to their mandatory prayers. It happens a few times a day. I think the sound is similar to the one a herdsman makes in order to drive cattle. Very loud!

Day one was quite organized. Brazilians picked me up at the airport and took me around the “city” – To me, Khartoum looks more like a big village than a city –. The traffic is pretty scary though. Nobody seems to obey the traffic signs or lights and they all drive terribly! We went to have dinner at an “internationals point” here called “solitaire”. It’s a placed owned by an Egyptian man where Brazilians get a 25% discount “just because”. I had chicken kebab – nothing great, but familiar. I also met a very nice Indian girl who works for WHO. The only Sudanese person I interacted with so far was the nice man who helped me with my luggage at the airport. Our conversation of about 1 min was limited to very few words: Germany, Brazil, Football, Football match, Football players and Sucran.

Anyway, so far so good. My hotel room is simple and bit gross as expected, but I can deal with it for now until I find a more permanent place to live. I will clean it up, of course! I am happy that at least I get a “very low” and sometimes a “low” internet signal in my room! If it wasn’t for it, this post wouldn’t be up today!

So, that’s it for now. I just wanted to let you all know that I arrived safely. I will try to keep this blog updated. I may post only in Portuguese sometimes, so get your translators ready! I promise to try to take pictures.