Simple wood

Today's plan was to buy a cupboard for our new modest house on the top floor of the office building. One of Frank's Sudanese colleagues came with us to help us on our search and bargaining challenge, which tends to be a necessity here in Sudan. Together with one of the drivers we set off in good spirit this morning and they brought us to various wholesale places and fancy furniture shops. Frank and I kept looking at each other and sensing that it was not really what we were looking for. After 1,5 hour we finally paused our journey. Frank sighed and explained that we just wanted something simple and basic. That had clearly triggered the driver. His face lit up while he said: "My uncle is a carpenter. Maybe we can go and see him?". This sounded like a really good idea, so with renewed energy we all headed of to the wood workshop on the other side of town. Arriving in the wood work area surely felt differently than our welcome in the big factories and shops we had been visiting that morning. The friendly uncle with his long grey beard gave us a small seat and poured some nice tea for all of us. In the midst of the nice smelling wood and the dusty sand this man really took his time to listen to our ideas and wishes. After our joined sketch had been made, we thanked each other happily for doing business. While driving away I saw 'our' friendly uncle waving us goodbye from his tiny, dusty wood workshop. He was holding up his thumb as he wanted to show us that everything will be okay with our cupboard. That definitely underlined what I felt all along: Nothing beats a simple and straight forward wood workshop!

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!

Party eggs

The end of the year is approaching and therefore it is a common topic of conversation these days. Apparently, new year's eve is generally not celebrated as elaborately as the religion celebration days, like Eid. But according to a friend of mine, some people here at least tend to do 'something' to celebrate this special night and the start of the new year. Somehow, the word 'something' had triggered me and I asked her what this 'something' was. "Well", she said, "they just throw eggs at each other." She said it in such a way that it was the most common thing to do, but I couldn't help bursting into laughter. "They do what? Throwing eggs?", I replied. "Yes, I don't know how this has become a tradition, but some people just do it like that." I pictured myself walking happily on the street during new years and suddenly being attacked by flying eggs from all different corners. I smiled and said that it's maybe for the best that Frank and I will be spending new years eve back in The Netherlands. Fireworks and bonfires are one thing, but I assured her that I had never heard of people throwing eggs at each other to officiate the beginning of a new year. She started smiling and admitted that this throwing egg activity does have it downsides: "The egg battle can be fun, but once you reach your home you are just soooo smelly!"

Bye bye!

Last night we were surprised by a lovely farewell party organized by one of the communities nearby Kosti. As local customs required, it was a combination of speeches, dances, songs, hugs and a so-called 'certificate ceremony'. Golden-framed certificates are very popular here in Kosti and usually used to thank or honour someone. The handing-over of the certificates doesn't 'just' happen, but has the tendency to be a formal moment in the party gathering. During yesterday's ceremony  Frank and I received a colourful certificate in a shiny frame with lots of sweet words to thank us. I quote: "We want to say thank you for the good people for more things they are help us more and more. We are say non.forget you and remember you still alifes." Although English is very difficult for most of the community members, we felt that their message came from their heart. After all dances, songs and cups of sweet tea we eventually headed home with a complete  content and thankful feeling. Indeed an unexpected very special Christmas Eve in Kosti for saying "Bye bye"!

Outing food

The local staff had already shown us before that they really know how to enjoy team outings. But somehow they did surprise us again yesterday, when we went for our last team outing of the year. One thing that has become clear is the importance of food during an outing, especially the meat. Without meat, no outing! Instead of ready-made food, everything was being prepared freshly on the spot. And the amount of meat, vegetables and fruit was really no joke! To be sure that everyone would have full bellies during the whole day, there were enough ingredients for both breakfast (sheep) and lunch (chicken). In practise, this meant that the majority of the time people were cutting, stirring or supervising the cooking process. In the meantime people enjoyed themselves with card games, dancing, chatting and sleeping. Recreation at a maximum level, I would say! After having eaten all the food (-according to many people, the highlight of the day were Frank's freshly baked chips from the charcoal fire! -), it was time to say goodbye. We will surely miss these outings with the friendly staff, when leaving Kosti. But this was definitely a memorable concluding one, to be remembered by both our minds and our bellies!