Jen-reasa

So, I'm back. Since 5 days now, I've been back to Maban. The reason why I haven't blogged until now is basically: exhaustion (!). My work is with the community and its been great to be back to a place where I know what I'm supposed to do every day (versus the first couple of weeks here when I was lost as to what my purpose around here is).

Jen-reasa

Of course, its the same issues around the compound: bad management; bad communication; bad leadership. I'm just amazed at the chill pill that comes with the fact that I've been here long enough to get used to it; and I will be here for another 9 days anyway.

The first thing I have to say though about being back is how I've missed the people I work with out there. Basically, the refugee community is resilient, polite and generous. It is those things that will add the bitter taste to the sweetness of my leaving date. I do miss my spouse, my mom and the hot shower that I had during my short break in Cairo, so I will definitely be ready to go in a week (!).

It's funny how so many things can happen and change over a very short period of time in an emergency setting. I came back to a Hepatitis E outbreak in the refugee camp; over chlorinated water in our compound, 3 functioning cars (knock on wood) and 4 almost completed huts in our compound. However, other things remain the same, mainly the flies and maggots in our latrines (they are probably increasing in number actually!).

So, funny fact of my day:

One of our IMC compound staff told me that the name of the refugee camp where we work "Gendrassa" is actually "Jen-reasa" which basically means (in Arabic) the head of the "jen" or dark spirits. He has also informed me that there is a woman who practices black magic only for this particular area.

Maban never fails to entertain me with its mystical stories.

Maban, South Sudan
8.9.2012 

Training Day

Eid breakfast treat (19.8.2012)!

I'm tired. Seriously, tired: physically, mentally and psychologically. However, this last Sunday  made me feel better as I did absolutely nothing and I was treated with a lot of good food for Eid.

Being tired throughout last week was the reason why I could not even get myself to sit up at night to update this page.

The reason why I was so tired is that last week we had our nutrition program's first supplementary food distribution activity that has lasted for 5 consecutive days to cover all refugees present in Gendrassa camp.

It was simply exhausting! The heat and then the rain; going house to house, east to west of the camp to mobilize target groups to go to the screening/registration & distribution site; on-job training and dealing with national staff (who usually lack discipline and interest in anything) AND dealing with a very bad program manager... last week has simply sucked all energy out of me.

So, I have finally had a good 2 day weekend for the first time. It was especially nice because of the batch of fresh foods that came into our compound. Yes, we ran out; but it was nice! I mean, to eat aubergines, cabbages, tomatoes, eggs, pumpkins, pineapples... luxury!

My week has started at the office though with me spending the whole day Monday preparing for the first Community Nutrition Promoters' 3-day training. I've just come back from the field with the first training day completed and I think it went well (despite the scorching heat, the fact that participants were 1 hour late and 2 did not even show up). All in all, so far so good with the training and I'm just hoping for a better day tomorrow.

Oh! and we have moved into an actual office "building", instead of the wall-less, bug-full, wire tangled canteen area where we all used to huddle, and sometimes just stand in the center when it rains so hard.Its annoying though that our team leader wants a "no shoe" policy in the new office, because she doesn't want mud to cover and ruin the nice new brick floor. I understand that; but its still annoying and I can't get my head around walking all over the place barefoot. This basically means more socks in my laundry bag (!)

Maban, South Sudan
21.8.2012

Its all about the process in "Camp Maban"

Okay..its been a month. For some, it seems like a short period of time. For me here in "Camp Maban" (our compound's name after shooting a video about it and coming up with this name spontaneously), its a lifetime. The reason why 1 month out here feels like 1 year is because to get anything done around here, it takes a process.

Let's take showering out here as an example; here's how it goes:

1. Get a bucket full of water from the water bladder that is located at one corner of "Camp Maban" (you have to make sure you've got your Willies on to get this done when its very muddy)
2. Carry the heavy bucket back to the shower at the other opposite end of "Camp Maban"
3. Go back to your tent to carry all your stuff including: towel, toiletries, fresh set of underwear and clothes
4. Don't forget to change into your shower flip-flops (or carry those as well if muddy)
5. Go to shower and hang everything in a way to guarantee that they remain dry for the next 5 to 10 minutes (or until you finish showering)
6. Make sure there's a small water jug to pour water on yourself. If not, go get one, clean it from the mud and use it.
7. Finally: take the shower! (watch out for the occasional scorpion)
8. Dry yourself and put on your clothes, but make sure your pants do not hit the wet and muddy floor (skirt and shorts are better in this case)
9. Carry all your stuff back to the tent (try not to forget your dirty underwear out there!). Put away the laundry, hang your wet towel and dirty pants to get some air.
10. Crawl back into your tent for hair brushing, lotion and deodorant (because by the time you reach step 10, you smell bad already!)

So, this was just an example of ONE process around here. Using the latrine is a whole different story.

Processes around "Camp Maban" usually start at 6:30 am and are never ending (sleeping is a process as well if you take into consideration noise pollution , hot temperatures and the frequent rain/thunder storms; hence you need a process to adjust to each one of those!)

Its definitely getting harder and harder to wake up every morning to work around here. Energy and motivation are both declining.  I'm wondering if my planned 1 week break in Egypt will work out and if it does, I wonder if it will be even more difficult for me to come back here (especially after getting a real toilet seat and hot shower experience!).

Let's wait and see if it will work out in the first place to get out of "Camp Maban" for a while.

Maban, South Sudan
11.8.2012

Its always about those special people you meet

Our farewell TR jump

Today, we said goodbye to Team Rubicon, as their 1 month mission to support IMC in South Sudan ended. A lively, interesting, extremely dedicated and energetic group, our compound seems so quiet without them around.

Will miss you guys dearly and I will always hope to meet up with them again (or some of them!)

Mohammed, Adam, Levi, Del, Cory and Mat: Rock on you guys! Life is always about those special people one meets and you are some of those that I've met so far!

Maban, South Sudan
10.8.2012

We're getting there...

Its been a few days since I last blogged. Its basically because I've been overwhelmed by a massive amount of confusion with regards to work!

I don't think I have blogged about the kind of work that the team here and I are doing. So, I'm supposedly working with the nutrition team here to set up an emergency nutrition program for the refugee community coming from a flooded camp to where we are working right now (aka Gendrassa refugee camp). My main focus is to assess, analyze and mobilize the community we are working for.

My skeptical tone about the work is for several reasons:

1. The rate at which its going is very slow compared to what I've expected when I first signed up for this mission. It feel more like development than emergency.

2. The team I'm working with (2 experienced Ethiopian colleagues) is living in its own "La La" land; meaning, both are extremely bad in maintaining solid and consistent communication.

3. The previous Team Leader for this whole mission and the IMC procedures, especially logistics, of doing things are not exactly the most efficient or professional of all (!)

Today, I've managed to finalize a short summary report about a focus group discussion activity that I have started to conduct with the refugee population. I'm proud of this and excited about the upcoming few deliverables that I have to achieve like mobilizing and recruiting community nutrition promoters, training staff and training community chiefs and representatives (Shiekhs) on various nutrition related topics.

I believe we're getting there. Its just that its been so frustrating so far, especially with the lack of consistent communication within the IMC team as a whole. The previous Team Leader, who has left yesterday (thank God!) has been replaced by a very energetic and active American Team Leader called Chandra. She's a total hippie, but one that is here to get things done and this is what we need out here.

A few other team members have been getting on my nerves with their unbalanced priorities and attitudes. However, I choose to stick to those that are more professional and are here to get their jobs done.

Gendrassa Sheikh meeting (7.8.2012) with Mohammed and Sarah 

At a more domestic level here around the compound, I've been struggling with on and off bouts of diarrhea. I'm not sure if its a bug, a worm or just the high fiber diet that we've been eating for a month now. It is something and I hope I get rid of it soon. I'm planning to start a de-worming medical course just to kill whatever is in there.

Cory (a hilarious member of Team Rubicon) and I have shot a video of the compound. Its a pretty funny one. I would love to share it now before leaving, but its pretty big in size. Hope to get it out there online, when I get access to a better connection.

Checking out from here for now. More updates to come very soon!

Maban, South Sudan
8.8.2012

My community

Working with the community is probably the best part of my day. As difficult and exhausting as it might be, doing it makes me feel better. I feel closer to the people and the fact that they greet me every morning by calling out my name is amazing.

I've basically been conducting focus group discussions with various community groups around Gendrassa camp. The aim of this activity is to map out community health and nutrition behaviors in order for us to better plan our intervention in those sectors. Its also a way for me to know the community leaders, key community leaders and potential community volunteers to implement our community outreach program.

Its pretty inspiring to see how resilient the refugee community has been after leaving their homes (and probably witnessing a lot of atrocities), walking long distances, loosing loved ones on the way and getting relocated now from one flooded camp to another that will probably get flooded pretty soon.

Their wide smiles and greetings are the sunshine to my day; their strong hand shakes and reassuring pats on the shoulder are always welcome and their questions about my well-being and health are always pleasantly surprising.

Of course, this kind of work is slow and is very challenging. I'm just hoping that its worth it, because I do have my personal doubts about this organization and its program out here.

Maban, South Sudan
3.8.2012

The Feast!

So speaking of food, last night, the American team and one Italian did a wonderful job to prepare our dinner!

Chicken

Jackson, the goat, was slaughtered. We had him grilled and had some chicken (luxury!) grilled, in addition to goat liver stew, potato chips, fried veges and onions, cucumber salad and pita bread (for a change!)

Last night marked the biggest amount of food for dinner that we have had to consum since we have arrived in Maban! More importantly, it was all deliciously marinated and prepared!



However, I will have a huge task of educating the local cooks on hygiene practices to avoid getting sick from their cooked food from now on. Sadly, we won't have the guys cook for us forever.

Lets see how that "training" goes!

Liver stew - Italian style (by Francesco)

Jackson being grilled

Maban, South Sudan

1.8.2012