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dreamtime

Monday means back to work, but at least it's a short week with the Easter holiday coming up.  I've added another set of pics from Fremantle in the side panel.  They're from the Fremantle Motor Museum.  Lots of motorcycles and cars along with a few boats and other prototype test vehicles.  The weather has started to cool off a bit which is a nice change.  On occasion, I've even broke out a light jacket  when I took off for work. 

Lately, I've had Sudan on my mind.  Looking over the news of the past few months it's still painful to see fighting going on in the Darfur region.  From the sound of it, it's gotten worse since I left last August.  Last week I had a dream I signed up for a second tour back in Khartoum.  I was there the next day.   Funny how dreams can seem so real.  I don't know how I felt but there was a certain calmness about knowing what a place is like and going back there again. 

call your mom

Ok, one last post. . I forgot to mention I had a visit today by some Americans on vacation in Sydney.  I received a call from the parents of a newly sworn-in Foreign Service officer that's heading to my old stomping grounds in Sudan.  They were kind enough to invite me to have a chat after work with them about the FS, Sudan and what it was like living abroad as an ex-pat.  During our talk over coffee, I was reminded of all the good things the service offers those that are fortunate enough to get the call to join. So I'd just like to say Thank you to David and Judy for spending a little time with a fellow American and letting me have a chance to hear about the States and what's going on back home.  I hope that I helped answer any questions you had.  I'm sure your daughter will love the time she spends in Africa.  I still think of it often and know she will too.  Cheers and safe travels. - Dan

here and now

Just a quick note to say I arrived in Sydney on Aug 5th.  I just got around to getting internet access on the 7th.  Up until now I've been busy with the first day of work and then touring my neighborhood for groceries and the different shops available.  I can't think of one thing I'm missing that I couldn't find if I looked.

I can tell already I'm going to need a bike to get around easier.  The buses, ferries and trains are great but for just a quick ride to the shops or a movie, I'd rather bike it.  Plus, I've already found some nice paths for running and biking.

The view out my apartment overlooks the city and the bay.  Enuf said, I'll get some pictures up soon..

Wishing the folks and friends in Khartoum well and safe.
-Dan

civil unrest in khartoum

The recent accidental tragedy of Vice President John Garang's death in a helicopter crash Saturday evening, (His death was confirmed Monday morning), which has caused an outbreak of violence in the city.  It appears Southerners in the outer areas of the city have taken to setting fires and causing senseless random attacks.  I witnessed a mass exodus of hundreds of people earlier yesterday morning as it appeared they were answering the call to demonstrate. Unfortunately, a group of people can sometimes not think in times of anger as clearly as one person. 

I have delayed my departure due to the events and am waiting to see how things go today.  Hopefully, the calls for calm after this tragic death of Garang will be heard. 

Three days of national morning have been called and Bush is sending peace envoys to help.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4736991.stm

-Dan

my first year

I haven't made an entry due to the glut of things to do before I leave Sudan. So one last entry before I hit the tarmac one last time.

Sec. of State Condoleezza Rice during her visit last week.

A stop at Khalifa's house to visit the museum I never thought I'd be able to make time to see. Look up Gordon and Sudan around the turn of 1900 and you'll find out more.




Emmanuel, Nadir, me, Abdalla, and Abubakar
-My best friends in Khartoum-

A few flashbacks . . Juggling for the kids at the Camel Market



-Nightscape-



What happens when everyone cleans a rug at the same time

My first year abroad with the Foriegn Service is over. I've made several friends and will miss them all, as I move on to my next post in Sydney. It was an amazing and enlightening year and I lack the words to do it justice. I wish everyone peace and blessings as I know Khartoum will stay in my heart as a place where the people are so very kind. God bless and I hope to come back soon to see Southern Sudan and more of this beautiful continent.

Regards, Dan Sweet - Diplomat

rain discovered

After 10 months of Sudan's dry hot weather, tonight the skies dumped so much rain the streets were flooded almost a foot deep in some spots. I got caught out in the middle of it and had to drive home. The water wasn't the only thing flooding the streets as anyone stuck outside was also roaming some of the downtown areas waiting to catch the next bus. Hundreds of people were trying to catch buses and as a result the tide of would be passengers were coming out in the streets to meet the buses. It was slow going but after an hour I finally made it home. I remember coming during the tail end of the rainy season, so this has been full circle for me now. With the ground made of clay, all of the water sits where it falls. So you begin to have ponds and lakes where there was once open space. I hope to get some pictures tomorrow

forecast calls for heavy . . sand

This sandstorm rolled over the city quickly Thursday. I was watching from work as it blocked out the skyline in a matter of minutes. Check out my photo gallery to the left for more pics.

In latest news, John Garang has come to the city this weekend. Causing what was said to be a million people to see him arrive at the airport. I steered clear of the major populus and enjoyed a half a day off. When I talked with any of the locals, there is a common agreement that Mr. Garang would help to bring change to Sudan's government. He will serve as Vice President and represent the SPLA. He led Southern Sudan in the fight agaisnt the Muslim North during the civil war between the two. The SPLA is the military arm of the SPLM, Sudan's People Liberation Movement. While the government here has been accused of atrocities against it's people, Mr. Garang has also had accusations agaisnt his war time practices. But with any war, no one is innocent. I could see the apparent amazement in all of the southerns i talked to. They thought the day would never come when the former enemy of President Bashir, would arrive in the city of Khartoum to become Vice President. It is a great milestone for Sudan's 20 year history of civil war, to see these two men finally meet in peace. Now will be the time, as the world watches, to see if Sudan will be able to continue making strides towards peace and ending the fighting in the West.

40 days

40 days left and a ton of work to do before i go. The best thing about being busy is that time flies. Hopefully, i'll get some paperwork done tomorrow to help the process a bit. I've been corresponding with the consulate in Sydney about some of my questions regarding household items. I want to make sure i didn't violate any laws regarding illegal transportation of personal effects. Like where does the law stand on shipping a 300 pound jello sculpture of Jet Jaguar? With or without cocktail fruit?

I discovered a flat tire on my car today. Well I didn't but someone that saw my car did. It's the third flat I've had this year. When I retire, I'm coming back to Khartoum to open a tire repair shop. Visions of being the "Gates" of the patch industry come to mind.

Now my time is drawing to a close, i've seen an increase in the local staff pursuing several requests. I can't blame them, since it must be hard to see someone go after a year after they've helped us get use to how things are done as soon as we arrive. One of my staff met with me today to briefly talk about a small work problem and also to bring up another job he's considering. It would require him to move to Nairobi. Looking over the job description, I knew he would be underqualified for it. But he was mostly concerned about the increase in salary. I couldn't blame him. We do provide very well for our employees, much more so than the local economy can provide. But there are others that provide more than we do. It's the same in most foreign hardship posts. I gave him my thoughts on it and expressed our desire to make sure he was happy with his job. The problem is, he been with us for so long there's no where else for him to go. With a cap on his grade and title, we can't do too much more. I offered to review his job description before I leave to include some of the changes he's had to undertake in the last year. I know when I first arrived, the previous boss had made a few promises about training and the jobs for local staff. Unfortunately, it was dropped on my desk when I took over. But I picked up the pieces and confirmed what was promised with other American staff. During the year, I've setup off site training for several of the staff, re-evaluated job descriptions and even went through an interview process to hire more staff. Not something I had been directly assigned to do, but fortunately my previous experience in the private sector was put to use. It's never ending, I don't mind doing it but I hate when others promise something and never follow through.

looking back

Sorry for the slow down in post, but there hasn't been much to report on. I'm still busy getting my paperwork done for my transfer. Work is going well and I'm getting some things organized for my replacement. Hopefully, everything will go well and he'll get here by the end of July. (You are coming right, Gene?) I know when i first arrived last year in August. I was caught in the middle of new staff coming and old staff leaving. I spent the first week just trying to remember everyone's name and what I was going to be responsible for. Looking back after one year, I now know what everyone was talking about when they tried explaining how it felt to come to another country and become overloaded with sensory input. Every once in awhile, I'll remember something i saw or drank or smelled the first few weeks I was here. Now when i see that particular drink or billboard, I half smile and remember the strange feeling of what it was first like to come to Khartoum. I can't explain it but once you get use to it it's hard to remember how crazy and new everything was. I really hope that happens everytime I travel to a new post. It makes you feel like you discovered a new piece of the world. Not only will you get to see it but you'll immerse yourself in it for years. That can be a frightening thought to some. But others, that have a taste for being a vagabond, know the feeling.

One example I recall all the time, is a guava juice i drank the first night I was in my new home. I was met at the airport by some coworkers from the Embassy and driven to where I would live. After visiting and getting a tour of my house, i was left to unpack and spend my first night in the new city. My sponsor had left a few groceries for me so I wouldn't have to worry for a couple days about going to any markets. I took out a liter bottle of brownish yellow guava juice and poured a glass. Not use to the thickness of it, i took a sip. I felt like I was drinking pure pulp. But it tasted good, i just wasn't use to it. Now I've learned I like all the juices (mango, guava, carrot) especially, if I cut it a bit with some water and ice.

I've finally gotten use to roadblocks at night. And I know which streets are closed after 9:00pm. There's still a few things I have on my list to do and see. But with a little luck and planning I'll get that done. July is going to be jammed with last minute things but I optimistic that it will all go well.

nothing new to report

Today was the first free day I've had since coming back to Khartoum. Every other day I've been catching up at work and making preparations for the next tour. Now that I have a day off, I'm spending it getting some things done at home and enjoying the newly opened pool in our compound. The weather's been blowing sandstorms up about once a week, so it makes for some interesting colors during the day. I still find it odd to look out a window and only see a few hundred feet in any direction. There is usually an orange or yellowish brown color to everything. Yesterday was one of the many times this has happened over the course of May. By 7:00pm everything started to clear up and go back to the heatwave I've been accustomied too. My apologies for not updating the site. I hope to work on some of the pictures I've taken over the last month or so. It seems like I just got back and it's already a 1/3 of the way into June. Already starting to feel a bit meloncoly about moving away and leaving some of the friends behind that I have made here.

A dvd i ordered arrived last week and i highly recommend it. Lost Boys of Sudan. It chronicles the lives of two Sudanese boys that traveled to the United States during the civil war of Sudan in the late 90's. The dvd spends a year revisiting the boys to see how they are adjusting to their different lives in the US. There were several comparisions that I've noticed living here myself and I learned what foreigners often mistakenly think about what life will be like living in America. I suggest picking it up if you are a fan of real life documentaries or if you would like to learn more about Lost Boys and how they came to America.

Surprise day trip to Cairo -the pyramids and me