My House and Daily life

Somebody recently emailed me to suggest that I describe my daily life. Here, I get so used to it that I forget that the readers back home are interested...

Just recently, I have been waking up at 6 a.m. to go running with Andrea. We run to the air strip (1KM), run the length of the air strip (1km), and then run back. Then we stretch and prepare for the day. For me, that means putting on a pot of water for coffee and a bath. This usually takes 2 kettles' worth. So, I drink my coffee, eat some granola and then do a splash bath, which involves a basin and that's about it.

After all that, I walk a km to school through some twisting paths in the bush.
Reaching school is no simple task you see. As one of the few Kewajas (white folk) in Ikotos, walking down the street is like being a rock star. From the moment I leave the compound, I am waving to children and greeting old grandmothers. From a distant compound, through the maize fields I hear "Kewaja! Kewaja! Bye, bye!" I don't know how the children see me from so far or why the only English they know is "bye,bye," but I never fail to greet them because, as a kewaja, I'm representing all kewajas. I am reminded of the movie "101 Dalmatians." If you recall the film, at one point they must send out a distress signal throughout the town, using dog barks. It starts with one dog, and then with a chain of dog barks, every dog is aware that the puppies are in danger. It is the same here. One kid will spot me, and then, the cry goes out to all that I am here. Many kids will drop what they are doing and run towards the edge of their compounds to wave. Can you imagine being late for work and having to greet every person you meet on the street? In Washington, it would be quite a sight! So, as I said, its not just the children, but also the people in the market, men repairing bikes, old people, etc. I have to budget them into my walking time.
Once at school, I am safe from rock starism, and can feel at ease with my students. Although, I am called "Madam" here at AIC Luther Secondary School. I have also told them it is ok to call me Meghan. Even in WV, I don't care for being called Ms.Baird-- that's for people who aren't young and have fun, right? When I worked at Potomack Intermediate School, after school, at the gym, I'd see my students in the bathroom and they say "Hi, Ms.Baird!" and there goes my youth. Anyway, Madam isn't so bad really. So, I usually have about 3 classes a day and some of those 3 might be a double period (80min). Actually, most days there are 2 double periods at least and then a single period as well. School begins at 8:20am and goes until 4:40pm (geesh!). However, on the days when I don't have morning class, you won't reach me there-- I'm at home taking a slow coffee break and/or sweeping my porch, doing dishes, etc.. At 10:20, we have a break in which the teachers have hot, sweet tea and mandazees (a fried, bread/doughnut thing--not sweet). Then, at 1:00, we have lunch break. The students eat something called "beleyla," which is lentils and sorghum mashed into a paste like stew. Its actually quite good, I think, but the teachers refuse to eat it, so the cooks make us Asita (mashed corn or sorghum paste) and then either janjaro (beans), greens, or meat (blacchh!). The students all eat outside on the grass or sitting on logs. The girls, no matter the grade, usually all sit together; and the boys do the same. With the exception of me, the teachers sit in the staff room. I prefer to sit with the girls so that I can get to know them and offer advice every now and then. I'd like to think of myself as a guide to them. So, later, anywhere between 4:00 and 4:40, or sometimes at 5:00 or 6:00, I walk home, back through the maize fields and the market, to fi bet tie (my home)-- greeting people again. In the New Sudan, some important phrases you need to know in Juba Arabic are: "Inta ghi rwa when?" (You are going where?); Ana ghi rwa fi bet (I am going home); or "Ana ghi rwa fi medresa (I am going to school); "Ana ghi rwa fi suuk (" "to the market), but if you say this one, you better be prepared to tell them what you are planning to buy, because any old stranger will ask; and you need to know this phrase, "Inta Jammin when?" (You are coming from where?). I don't know why everyone is so nosy, but they are, so I tell them and then I ask them the same. But when you are running late, most importantly you need to know how to say "ana ghi rwa gwam gwam!" (I am going quickly quickly!) and usually people will just smile and say "kwes, kwes, salem taake!" (good, good, peace be yours).
When I reach home, most of the time there are some small girls at the house with whom I laugh with a bit and then attempt to help Andrea cook dinner. I eat dinner with Andrea, Jordan, and Calum because it is just easier than cooking on my own. A lot of the time, I get home so late, that the food is already cooked and I just plop down and chow down. Most days I offer to do the dishes...sometimes that doesn't actually happen because of time. Then, in the evening, if there is not a snake bite or a scorpion bite victim that comes to the compound, the 3 of us (Calum is sleeping) talk a bit before bed. "Snake bite!?" you ask, yeah, so the Scotlands have this contraption made of basically a car battery and some electrical wire and a probe, that sends electrical currents through the body from the bite, and brings the venom back down. Experts say that its impossible for it to work, however, every time the person walks away better--most of the time. Our nights are lame in that we go to bed sooo early. All that socializing all day really tires a person out. I learned at the South Sudan conference in Torit that missionaries have their own midnight...9p.m.! I don't know about the NGO people though, they seem to never leave their compound unless in a vehicle, so they can probably boogie on down later than us (sorry NGO people, but its true). One other thing that is tiring, is speaking in a Sudanese accent all day. Its like being an actor for 15 hours straight, everyday. For me it reminds me of having to talk to southerners in the U.S., except worse. Well, actually, in some ways its better because at least the Sudanese don't drag out their sentences while their talking. :)
Welp guys, that is a typical weekday...at some point I'll let you in on the weekends, which is a bit different, but no less busy! Here are a few pictures to help you visualize.
Also, before I forget, I want to tell you guys about a great experience the other day. I was walking home from school through the market (fi suuk) like I always do, and some old men, who were sitting on the veranda of a shop asked me to come have a soda with them. After sitting, I was told that those are all the chiefs of Ikotos County. The head Parliament chief was there, along with others who are the heads of their village and the court judges here in Ikotos, the town. They thanked me profusely for teaching their young ones. The head chief said that he knows its no simple task to leave my family and volunteer in a foreign place. He told me to feel free to roam anywhere I'd like in this area and gave me a list of all the Chiefs' names and titles. He said that if I want to go footing through the mountains, then to go and feel safe and nobody will bother me. He also said that he will repay me with soda whenever I'd like. That day I had 2 500ml cokes! The next day I sat with them and had one there and they gave me one to go. Then, yesterday, I told them that I was feeling sick to my stomach all day, the head chief sent someone with me to a shop to get 2 sodas and told me to go home and rest! So, as you can see I'm spoiled here.