Sooo honey!

There are many ways of saying that you like something. But what I heard yesterday afternoon really tops everything! We were playing outside table tennis with a few Sudanese colleagues and guards. Some of them were really competitive so the games soon turned into an exciting competition. The time flew by and we were all having a really nice time in the Sudanese winter breeze. One of the drivers who stood next to me couldn't stop smiling and said "I am so happy that you are Frank are back in Khartoum". I wanted to say that I also enjoyed playing table tennis again all together after such a long time, but before I could even finish my sentence, he sighed: "It is just so honey! Soooo honey!". He lifted his hands as if he was thanking the clouds for this special 'honey' moment. Considering that the Sudanese honey here is extremely nice, I guess it was indeed the sweetest for him to say. As sweet as honey!

Shoe spectacle

Buying comfortable sport shoes for women is a real challenge here. Fortunately, two of Frank's Sudanese colleagues looked very eager and determined to support me in my sport-shoe-shop journey. After having passed by a few places where they supposed to sell all kinds of shoes, we had to conclude that sport shoes for women was the one thing these shops didn't have. There was only one place where people said we could find what we were looking for: the store where they sell international sport brands. I had visited that specific store before a few months ago and I knew that the prices there were really above Sudanese standards. But my two 'shopping companions' didn't hesitate and couldn't wait for us to get in and try on all different shoes, colours and sizes. It became a true spectacle! They even let me run around the shop every time I tried on different shoes! Since we were the only costumers, the sales men of the store were obviously also enjoying our 'show'. After some time the ladies had decided on the shoes I should get, and to be quite honest, I couldn't even refuse if I wanted to. Because the sport shoes were so precious, I had to promise that I would wear them every day from now on. Starting now: Ready, Steady, Go!

No time is no time

We are back in Sudan, in Khartoum to be specific. Although it is the capital city of the country, there are surely some aspects that remind me of the 'remote life' in Kosti. The office in Khartoum (which is also our house) is not too close to the markets and city centre, so it is not always easy to find good and affordable vegetables and fruits at walking distance. Fortunately there is a friendly man who owns a large cart full of fresh vegetables with which he goes around the area to sell them for a good price. For the past few days I have been trying to 'catch' this man to buy some of his tasty products. I found out that it's easier said than done; I was either too early or too late. In order to make a strategic vegetable-buying- plan I asked one of the cleaning ladies in the office about it this morning. "What time does this vegetable man come exactly?", I asked her. She started smiling and said "He has no time! He comes when he comes!". I started smiling and tried: "But does he come around 8 o'clock or around 13 o'clock?". I could have guessed that my attempt was in vain when she lifted her shoulders and continued smiling:"No time is no time". I guess I just need to use my senses to know when he is close-by; I can already smell the tomatoes entering the street!