First, I must express apologies that this blog came to an
abrupt end. There are many reasons for this: including an increased workload
during exams and reports, and the ever increasing tedium of life in Khartoum. Also, a new
opportunity arose for me in Singapore
– where I am now writing this blog from.
Now I’m living in Singapore,
I thought I would sign off this blog by summarising the things I will miss and
the things I will certainly not miss about life in Khartoum.
Things I will miss:
1) The
Nile. The land near the river is so much
greener so when walking or running, you can so easily forget you are on the
edge of the Sahara.
2) Being
called a Hawaja, and then being ushered to the front of a queue (not sure of
spelling or exact translation, but ‘Hawaja’ essentially means white foreigner)
3) Seeing
shopkeepers and tea ladies sweep the dust away from one area and into another.
It always seems so pointless – yet it suggests a people have a certain degree
of pride in where they live and work. There was a man in my apartment block,
who did exactly that. He would sweep all the dust on our floor into a nice neat
pile. Then he would just leave it and walk away – looking very pleased with
himself!
4) The
absurdity of security and metal detectors in public buildings. Whilst I was
living in Sudan,
a new shopping centre opened called Al-Waha (pictured). It was a very good
shopping centre, but to gain access you had to go through a metal detector
which never did anything! Even more absurd, there is another metal detector in the
exit – I’ve even pushed a shopping trolley through this – and nothing happens!
5) Finally,
I’ve leave the sentimental one until the end. I will obviously also miss my
colleagues and the students (well, most of them!)
Things I will not miss:
1) The
dust and the pollution – which you can not escape.
2) Absurdly
slow internet speeds.
3) Inflation
– prices were going up almost every month whilst I was living there.
4) Local
drivers – especially those ones who think beeping their horn is an alternative
to giving way!
5) The
lack of alcohol availability. (I think this is the first time I have used the
word ‘alcohol’ in my blog. Amongst expats in Sudan, it is normally just referred
to as ‘special tea’)
6) Electrical
wiring, which is never earthed and rarely fused! A tip for any new expat – just
don’t touch any wire!)
7) Sudanese
Time. Whenever you are given a time to be somewhere, you have to always ask if
is normal time or Sudanese time, which is always at least one hour later! (why
not just put the clocks back? – oh yes, because then people would just be two
hours late!)
So, this is it. The end of a ‘Teachers life in Khartoum’. Hope you
enjoyed my blog entries. Please look out for my new blog on Singapore –
starting in the next week or two.
