14 septembre 2007
It’s another very hot evening in Abéché and I can hardly move. The crickets are chirping again loudly tonight – I don’t think they actually ever stop – and there three baby fist-sized frogs that come into the dining room every evening through this hole at the bottom of the wall and leave again later on. Sometimes they go as far as into my bedroom. Last night, one of them spent the night under my bed because he/she wouldn’t leave. I’ve already had two praying mantises land on me in the last hour, and I’m sure they’re not the last creatures to use me as a spring board. Throughout all my travels, I have never had so many bugs crawl on and over me, but I’m starting to not care anymore. They don’t hurt. They’re just a little annoying, especially when they get jammed in your ear like one did earlier on today. I think it’s still in my ear actually, but not alive anymore…
So I have finally arrived in Abéché, der Po der Welt. Aside from the incredibly interesting jagged mountains in the far distance, there is not much to admire sadly. Because of the somewhat peculiar security situation the curfew is 8 p.m. so venturing out into the wilderness is not exactly something they recommend here. My daily panorama is the (very) bumpy road we take from our compound to the office about 10 minutes away. Hundreds of goats roam the dusty streets, and donkeys serve as transportation of people and goods. It’s actually quite charming, although I’m not sure how much longer the charm will last.
I’ve had my first case of serious digestive problems. It must be something I ate back in N’Djaména cause that is when it started. I was in so much agony last night that for the fist time since I’ve left Canada I actually felt sorry for myself;-) It happens to many of us travellers… And to top it all off, our neighbours’ dog barked all night, or rather howled, and if I had had a stick, I would have given him a nice solid spanking. So this morning I moved into another part of the compound cause apparently, this dog barks almost all year round and drives the neighbourhood bonkers.
I’m having a hell of a time learning all of my colleagues’ names: Abdullayeh Ahmat Ali, Hassan Mohammet Abdullah, etc. They all sound so similar and it will take me a while to get on top of things. Plus each name is an indicator for the clan and region they belong to. It’s quite interesting, and I’m learning a lot about the region. Ramadan began yesterday, so my Muslim colleagues are all extremely tired. Not only are they not allowed to eat from sunrise to sunset, but also no drop of water. And when you consider how hot it is during the day, not drinking water is quite severe and can be dangerous. Average temperature this time of the year is 35 Celsius. On our way home for lunch today, I saw dozens and dozens of men and boys dozing under the trees along the street. There is nothing else you can do in this temperature. I can’t wait for the nights to start cooling down because we have no air conditioning in our house and sleeping in 28 degrees is not easy. I usually take a shower and don’t dry off and go to bed wearing the bare minimum or nothing.
I’ve completely abandoned my vegetarianism because I would not survive here if I insisted. I didn’t even try. Chicken and beef are my only source of protein, so I’ve succumbed and I’m starting to enjoy the texture and taste of both. For desert we usually have watermelon which grows here in abundance. Once the dry season starts fruit will become a luxury.
Work is challenging on many levels, but I’m enjoying it and I really like the people I work with. We have a staff of approximately 85 staff, which includes drivers, house personnel, guards, etc. And of those 85, three are female, one being me and the other two the secretary and our cook at the house. Quite unusual circumstances…
Ok, I’m off to bed now. Here we work on Saturdays too. Oh, a green bug just landed on my check. Told you.
Kisses to you all,
Anne
So I have finally arrived in Abéché, der Po der Welt. Aside from the incredibly interesting jagged mountains in the far distance, there is not much to admire sadly. Because of the somewhat peculiar security situation the curfew is 8 p.m. so venturing out into the wilderness is not exactly something they recommend here. My daily panorama is the (very) bumpy road we take from our compound to the office about 10 minutes away. Hundreds of goats roam the dusty streets, and donkeys serve as transportation of people and goods. It’s actually quite charming, although I’m not sure how much longer the charm will last.
I’ve had my first case of serious digestive problems. It must be something I ate back in N’Djaména cause that is when it started. I was in so much agony last night that for the fist time since I’ve left Canada I actually felt sorry for myself;-) It happens to many of us travellers… And to top it all off, our neighbours’ dog barked all night, or rather howled, and if I had had a stick, I would have given him a nice solid spanking. So this morning I moved into another part of the compound cause apparently, this dog barks almost all year round and drives the neighbourhood bonkers.
I’m having a hell of a time learning all of my colleagues’ names: Abdullayeh Ahmat Ali, Hassan Mohammet Abdullah, etc. They all sound so similar and it will take me a while to get on top of things. Plus each name is an indicator for the clan and region they belong to. It’s quite interesting, and I’m learning a lot about the region. Ramadan began yesterday, so my Muslim colleagues are all extremely tired. Not only are they not allowed to eat from sunrise to sunset, but also no drop of water. And when you consider how hot it is during the day, not drinking water is quite severe and can be dangerous. Average temperature this time of the year is 35 Celsius. On our way home for lunch today, I saw dozens and dozens of men and boys dozing under the trees along the street. There is nothing else you can do in this temperature. I can’t wait for the nights to start cooling down because we have no air conditioning in our house and sleeping in 28 degrees is not easy. I usually take a shower and don’t dry off and go to bed wearing the bare minimum or nothing.
I’ve completely abandoned my vegetarianism because I would not survive here if I insisted. I didn’t even try. Chicken and beef are my only source of protein, so I’ve succumbed and I’m starting to enjoy the texture and taste of both. For desert we usually have watermelon which grows here in abundance. Once the dry season starts fruit will become a luxury.
Work is challenging on many levels, but I’m enjoying it and I really like the people I work with. We have a staff of approximately 85 staff, which includes drivers, house personnel, guards, etc. And of those 85, three are female, one being me and the other two the secretary and our cook at the house. Quite unusual circumstances…
Ok, I’m off to bed now. Here we work on Saturdays too. Oh, a green bug just landed on my check. Told you.
Kisses to you all,
Anne
2 commentaires:
mein liebes aennchen,
was fuer eine schoene ueberraschung ich da von dir in meiner mailbox gefunden hab und ich bin kein bisschen erstaunt, dass dein lebenszeichen mal wieder vom anderen ende der welt kommt. du weckst wie immer das fernweh in mir und ich bin schon sehr gespannt auf deine weiteren geschichten aus afrika. ich wuensche dir eine unvergessliche, spannende und wahnsinnig schoene zeit im tschad und hoffe, dich sehr bald wiederzusehen, so wie am ende deiner letzten reise. ich muss immer noch dran denken, wie schoen es war, dich nach so vielen jahren in die arme zu schliessen und zu spueren, was fuer ein wunderbarer mensch du (noch immer) bist und dass die lange zeit uns kein bisschen veraendet hat, du alte kichertante :-)
ich denk an dich und drueck dich aus der ferne,
annapoellchen
dearest Anne,
so great to hear from you. i know you don't have much email access so i'll have to communicate with you through your blog (which i'm quite enjoying). those bugs must be quite annoying!! but i'm glad you're enjoying your work and your colleagues. that's probably the most important thing. and what an interesting thing to be there during Ramadan!
anyway, i just wanted to let you know i was thinking of you. lots of love, hugs and kisses to you.
take care of yourself,
laura
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