We Ordered Take Out Lastnight

So we decided to order take out last night from our apartment. It was close to 8 pm when we got down to it and we were told about half an hour. Within twenty minutes three of us were at the corner waiting for the delivery. By 9 pm we called from the corner and the driver was involved in.... wait for it..... an accident!!! What a surprise! Being there are so many "safe" drivers here. Anyways...."you wait another half hour", "ok ok" We called again after another half an hour and "all your food is damaged. It is no good. Sorry...." Goodnight.

Date for Abyei

Well we all got our official MOP's today. Two of us are scheduled to fly to Abyei on the 03Apr and apparently our bags are going with us. I heard that we are flying into Kadugli with a plane and then taking a helicopter from there to Abyei. Kadugli is about 230 kms northeast of Abyei. And this is the really cool part, the helicopter is a Russian Mi-8 "Hip" as above. The UN has a gaggle of these, it is one of the world's most produced helicopters. Will let you know how it goes.

The outward front view from a Damas

Chubby infront of the Canadian Embassy

This is what our apartment looks like

Not too bad other than some messy person in this room. I don't think Abyei is going to be like this.

Kit Ready to Go

Today we got all our kit packed up and ready to go at UN MOVCON. We will see if they actually live up to the acronym. All 20 of us each with 4 pieces of luggage, two hockey sized duffel bags and two green army barrack boxes went to MOVCON and tagged our stuff and got it piled in the appropriate area of a large ten at the Khartoum airport. The kit is supposed to go ahead of us to our sites and maybe...maybe get there two or three days after us. We will see. The rest of the day we spent at UN HQ sorting paperwork, getting our MOP's ...that's movement of personnel for all you non-UN types.... think I am pretty cool don't I? Anyways paperwork and signatures is what the UN thrives on so that is what we did. Then we had some spare time and I got myself hooked up with the wireless internet service that is supposed to have coverage in Abyei. Again... we will see.

For dinner we took a taxi to this pizza place here in town (it was really good everyone loved it), and I learnt that the Sudanese or at least here in Khartoum there are traffic laws. On our way back to the apartment from the restaurant the taxi (Damas) driver made this crazy turn infront of oncoming traffic at a stop light. Just when we were getting used to seeing our lives flash before us everytime we got into a taxi, as the driver made this hollywood manoeuvre a local traffic police officer was right there and bingo bango thanks for coming out and there we were walking. The young driver was looked a little embarrassed I am not sure what the penalty is for such a stunt but we didn't stick around to find out. We got another taxi half way down the block and home we went.

So that is all for today. Anyone figured out what maAa assalama mean yet? well maAa assalama once more.

Hospital/Abyei Update

Got out of the hospital today(28Mar09) just after 4 pm. Our member is feeling much better so we celebrated by downing some brrrista carmelloes at our favourite cafe/hotspot/crackhouse. And yes it is a major addiction now.

In addition to that we got our marching orders when we were in the hopital and it is looking like we will be loading our kit tomorrow to be flown to our postings. We getting deployed to our work locations over two days next week, wednesday and thursday, tentatively of course.

There are two of us going to Abyei, myself and another RCMP member. So we fly out on Wednesday.

It sounds like internet and cell coverage is available in Abyei so tomorrow after I put my stuff on the plane I am heading for the mall, and yes they have a mall here. The Afra Shopping Centre, it has a grocery store, a food court, about ten money exchanges, and a bunch of clothing stores. So when I am in Abyei I can update whenever I want. maAa assalaamah for now.

The Down Side of Change

Well it's not all carmelloes and goats over here, there has been some negative points. And in all seriousness a couple of us have had a bit of trouble with the change in climate, in food, in the air we are breathing, bugs, vectors as you healthies put it.


One of us had to go the hospital and has been there for about three nights. After all the tests including an MRI that was available the very night the member was brought into the hospiital, it looks like there is no real explaination for the symptoms.(I am not going to get into any detail but it is nothing life threatening) The member is fine and the doctor said it could be just their way of aclimatizing. We have been taking turns staying with that person in hospital (Khartoum Al-Faisal Hospital), which is customery here since there are no nurses a family member or friend usually stays with the patient to take of them. Last night I volunteered to stay and was quite surprised by the experience, in a good way.

We were told in Ottawa that you stay out of the local health care system at all costs, never let yourself be taken to a local clinic or hospital. HA! The first place you are shipped by the UN is here( I think that is because the level of care is quite good ). It is not bad considering... you never have that sort of access to an MRI in Canada unless you go to a private clinic. And what about hospital food you ask? Well, what do you think? It looks great doesn't it? Well it's not the best photo. It was fabulous... nile perch, tomato salad and bread and jelly, peach or mango not sure, that was breakfast. Hope we are here for lunch.

The staff here are also very professional and friendly. For the most part everyone in Sudan seems quite freindly even the grumpiest, tired Damas driver. They just beam when you try to speak arabic. maAa assalama

The Streets of Khartoum

More Pics

Above two are looking out our rear apartment balcony, looking south. The very top one is looking out the front or north balcony. The dudes waiting for the UN bus.

Finshed With Induction Training

Finally.... the last week has felt like a month. I think if I hear one more person say... "Sudan is the largest country in Africa"... I am going to whip a goat... harshly! I knew that months ago, tell me something new.

We have had about thirty lectures in the last week to fullfill our induction mission training. This is on top of the two weeks we had in Ottawa that covered everything that was covered here in the last week. And in the last week we have had some sessions two and three times( I stopped counting after three anyways). Well the bright side is that I am well educated about the goings in the mission.... yeah that's it, that's it. Or is that I am well rested?

Anyways we are finished with training and waiting to be posted. Like I said previously I am goinng to Abyei. It is on the border between Northern Sudan and Southern Sudan, and I mean right on the border. So it is considered an area of "special " interest as far as UNMIS goes. There was a lot of heavy fighting here as recently as last summer. The area is inhabitied by peolpe that identify with both parts of Sudan, ie the north mostly muslim part and the south mostly african tribes. This is a very basic description but gives one a slight idea about the tensions in the region. Add to this that most of the oil in Sudan and it sounds like there is a lot of it, is located near this region.

Abyei is actually going to have its own referendum whether it wants to be Northern or Southern. Interesting times lay ahead and it is cause for some great challenges in this mission. Very excited to get into it.

Now Back To Reality

IED "resisitant" Nyala armoured vehicles, I won't have to use one of these. Take a look at the watch and read the very top number that's the temperature in degrees celcius. 52 that is. The very top photo is coming into Khartoum from the north... Saraha Desert and the Nile. More to come.

First Images From the Forsaken.

Well here are some of the first photos I am able post hope you guys enjoy them. Be warned it is not all brista carmellanoes over here. My new favourite drink by the way. Plan on drinking gallons and gallons of them whenever I can.

Slowly Settling In

Well we are slowly getting used to life with the heat. One of the guys has a watch with a thermometer on it and he took it off to get an accurate reading and it said 52 celcius in the sun. We all took pictures with the watch. Speaking of which. I am hoping to get my laptop set up soon to get some photos posted just to enhance your Sudan experiences. So keep reading. Also if anyone wants to post a comment go to the type under which ever post you want to comment on and click on the where is says "0 comments" if you see a number other than zero then someone has beat you to it. The only thing that you need is a gmail account this is new and i just found out about it. I would love to read anything anyone has to add or answer any questions. Don't be shy. Take care, peace.... Kirk.

It Is HOT!!! Here

So what can I say about Sudan. Khartoum is unbelievably hot... high 40's Celcius. But I am enduring, no problem there. It seems that most of us are pretty much coping we haven't been doing anything too strenuous.

The airport was hilarious...or I should say the check in with customs. You go to one counter fill out a form... visa I think. Then you wait with a cat in the customs area. A lady comes over with another form fill that one out and you realize it is exactly the same info that was on the first form. Then we go get our bags... all seven of us got all our bags none went missing. The first group one guy had his bags come in on a different flight so he had to wait a couple days. No big deal there. All in all when you sum things up everything went relatively smooth.

While in Khartoum we are staying at a huge house with two apartments all 20 of us.
It is a good drive from the house to the UN headquarters so it might change after awhile. The accommodations are great. The house is cool all air-conditioned, while you are in it. You have to turn off all electrical appliances when you leave b/c you buy hydro like you buy gasoline here. Once you use it up you have to go and buy some more.

We are waiting to get our work assignments. Most of us will be heading to one the 22 team sites in the south about six or seven will be given jobs in Khartoum. I am definitely going somewhere south. I should find out in the next couple days where exactly.

As far the internet goes it is not too bad here in Khartoum, but I am not getting a very good impression of it for the rest of the country. I am hoping to get my laptop set up with internet sometime next week then while I am in Khartoum I can get on more and write and update the blog more. I haven't been able to get on the blog once since I have here. We should be getting a UN pin which will allow us to use the UN phone system to call anywhere in the world at really cheap rates. So that will be a bonus. I will probably get that pin next week also.

Fridays and Saturdays are the weekend here in Sudan so we were out of training by 12:30 pm we went home got changed and a couple of us went for a walk to the Blue Nile. Our house is just northeast of the airport in Khartoum and basically south of the Blue Nile. Not much to see just some small farm plots some internally displaced persons living along the river and a couple bridges. The Blue Nile and the White Nile meet at Khartoum and form the Nile which then runs north to Egypt and the Mediterranean. We took a really long taxi ride to this hotel called the Rotana which is absolutely beautiful the kind of place you feel out of place in North America. But because you are foreigners and they are the only people that stay at the hotel you feel right at home... weird. We also visited the Canadian Forces at Canada House here in Khartoum there are about 50 DND staff in Sudan acting as UNMO's (United Nation Military Observers). It is awesome to be in the same mission as those guys. They are always glad to see you and are a wealth of information and always willing to help. My only regret from Kosovo was that there were no Canadian Forces personnel there when I was there.

Another thing that really sticks out about Sudan is the traffic in Khartoum. In one word... Holy blinkity blankity jumper muther ....!!! At first that is what you think. No one drives in the lanes on the road and most interesections don't have traffic lights. Stop signs are totally ignored. You get the impression that it is the wild wild west as far traffic laws go, but then if you look more attentively, after you stop thinking that you are going to be T-boned at every intersection, you see that in all the chaos and bedlum there are rules that are being adhered to and this is what they seem to be:
1. You only stop at a stop signs if there is a bigger vehicle approaching or one that is travelling faster than you are.
2. When you see a pedstrian crossing the road it is very important to swerve toward them so they know you are coming.
3. Instead of brakes use your horn unless it is broken then drive your car until the brakes start to squeal, only then can you use your brakes
4. When you approach a traffic circle... and there is a really big one in Khartoum...you jump into the middle because it is social hour and you wave and yell at all your friends.
5. Traffic lights, stops signs, lane markings, yeild signs, all merely suggestions.

So that's it for now. All in all Khartoum seems like a very cool city dispite the cynisism. We have built a really strong relationship with these tiny little vans they use for taxis Daewoo Damas look them up in Google and picture six or seven fully grown men piling into one. And there are a couple very good restaurants here. I have been tentativley posted to Abyei, look that up on Google, except for Heather. Heather they are sending me to Santorini... just kidding. More to come.

On our way!!!!

Still in Canada but at the airport. Will keep updating as I can, I imagine all the juicy info is forth coming when we actually get into Sudan. Bye for now.

Finally

The first thing I have to say is "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to Heather. I love you very much and miss you.

I have been back in Ottawa for a few days now and... " we have positive reports from all sections, we are a go for launch!!!"

We have a date and our flights are booked. Our contingent will be in Sudan by the end of the week. I am very excited I can't wait to get on the plane. We will probably be travelling the entire day with lay-overs etc. Once in mission we will be in Khartoum for a couple weeks getting our UN training which from what I remember in Kosovo is basically briefings on how to's, what not to do's and basic UN stuff. We will also find out where in Sudan we will be posted and then head out from there. Sudan is a huge country and there are no serviceable roads that traverse the entire country so we will probably be flying either by Dash 8 style planes or helicopter to our locations.

I can't wait... did I say how excited I was?!!

Fingers Still Crossed

We have been given a new, old date... 15Mar09. I am praying, for our deployment. Will keep you all posted. Thanks.

Newest Update

Word is that they are trying to get us deployed on the 10Mar09. I am keeping my fingers, toes and whatever else I could crossed.