Maban

Let me start by saying that we are finally in the field! And by we, I'm talking about my colleague Joseph and I, who were basically stranded in Malakal for 3 nights.

South Sudanese Smile (classic!)

The airport ordeal was not as bad as I thought it would be. We checked in, got on the first flight to Maban and got out. The only thing is, we still have 4 IMC* boxes waiting for WFP* to get their act together and fix their stupid booking system that is messing up everything.

Anyway, Maban... oh man..where do I begin!

As expected: muddy like nothing I've seen before. Host communities (those living here and are called "host" because they basically host refugees) have nothing. Seriously. I head that beer is easily available in the local almost empty market (surprisingly imported beer!) but I didn't see much on the way to the IMC campsite. There are wild pigs, cows, goats, camels and of course, BUGS! everywhere...BUGS (you cannot even imagine how many there are on my Mac screen right now while writing this in the dark..my colleagues have eaten some already!)

My first scare was the latrine facility. I arrived to the campsite with an urge to pee and so i went in. I removed the cover and the moment I did that, tens and tens of blue flies and maggots came out. I had to do it but I don't know if I will again. I just want to forget about that right now!

Bright sides of the campsite: cooked food (and the ladies love me because I speak Arabic to them); clean water for the shower (from the bucket but better than Malakal) and good East African company.

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 ..... This is where I left this post when my computer "died"because of a water bottle spill. Sadly, and indeed, a bad start to campsite life with a dead computer. So, the computer has been transported back to Juba (after running around with it for 2 days to find sun to give it a drying tan), to be shipped to Germany for the hubby to take care of it.

Since, then (since Tuesday and today is Saturday), I've been running with my flash drive from one empty laptop to another to get some basic paperwork done. It's been frustrating and we're expected around 3 laptops in; but with the IMC paperwork, the supply chain issues in South Sudan and the very unreliable WFP flights, I'm not sure when those will come in (right now, I'm using the country director's laptop to write this!)

IMC Compound (17/7/2012)

This is not meant to be long. I will write later about the field and what I saw. I'll leave this for our compound. Oh, and speaking off: with every day, I get used to how to do things around here:

- Wake up at 6:30 am and run to pee in the fly-less latrine (flies are asleep at this point still)
- Team meeting at 7:30 (of course make coffee before that!)
- Work on daily action plan until 5:30 - 6:00 (includes lunch time)
- Fill a bucket with water, carry it to shower, get stuff from tent, go to shower, and enjoy a cold bucket water (but it feels good after a sweaty day in the field).
- Get around dinner time with the team and chat, share daily anecdotes, laugh and listen to music
- Saturdays are fun (party) nights at Club Willy (our common area's name by night...it goes by Cafe Willie by day)

Oh, and I have to mention that using the latrine around noon time, comes with heavy insecticide use to kill all the flies and maggots (if successful!). Fun! Sadly, I'm the longest staying here among current team members (they always rotate). Everyone leaves between end of July until mid August and here I am, staying here until end of September.

Oh well! Bring it on South Sudan!

Maban, South Sudan
21.7.2012

*IMC: International Medical Corps

*WFP: World Food Program