The long road to my destination

March 8, 2010 | Category: Uncategorized

So I left off my last post talking about my adventure into the heart of Africa. Well it has been a real adventure and I have collected lots of wonderful memories that I want to share. I have now arrived back home but let’s take a step back….

I am beginning my journey at the Toronto airport about to get on the biggest jet I have ever seen. It is a city in the sky with more than 600 passengers and crew. The only problem is that I have four flights in the next 48 hours to reach my destination of Juba, South Sudan.

After 12 hours of sleep and movies I first arrive in Dubai. I was excited to get to my hotel so that I could have a quick shower and a nap before I had to get back on a plane and head for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The hotel was very nice and from the -13 degree Celsius temperature I left in Canada, the 23 degree Celsius temperature in Dubai was like a dream. A short lived one though. I had about 5 hours to rest my head before I jumped aboard my next flight. I had a short layover in Addis before catching the next flight to Nairobi.

I can’t say much about Addis as I never even touched soil but what I saw was nice ?!?. I got a small glimpse out the airport window – and I have heard nice things… I guess I won’t count it as a country I have visited  On to Nairobi.

I was excited to reach Nairobi because I would be spending almost a full day there on my way through. I was staying at the Gracias Gardens, a lovely but small hotel complex not to far from the Plan office. The reason I was stopping in Nairobi was to pick up my permit for Sudan along with the equipment we would be using for the training I would be doing in Juba. I got a great night sleep and was able to charge all my electronics – a big plus.

I got up bright and early – about 5:00 AM – to catch my next flight to Juba. My boss was a little weary of the airline I was taking as she had never heard of it – but I am just crazy enough not to care. Turns out the flight is quite nice. Jetlink, look it up. I looked out the window as we got closer to the ground. I could see fairly clearly how endless the terrain looked and how sparse the human activity seemed. As we approached the runway I looked out over Juba which is one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. The airport…not so much.

It is a rather old building in which the baggage is put on carts, normally attached to a truck or large golf cart, that are instead pushed and pulled by two young men. Everyone crowds around a whole in the wall where these men toss your bags through in order for you to claim them. After I get my bag I have to throw it up on the counter in order for the customs agent to inspect things. At this point the person who has been tasked with picking me up is in the ear of the customs agent telling him not to bother. He picked up the sweater on top of my bag and then moves on to the next bag. I think I could get used to traveling with Plan! We walk outside and the heat finally hits me. We are a long way from winter. We’re talking 43 degree, melt rubber, roast me, heat. I wipe my brow – multiple times and make my way for the respite of the vehicle. We jump in the Toyota LandCruiser and jack up the A.C. The driver tells me to expect this to be the coolest weather I see for the 8 days I am here. Ouch.

On our way into Juba I start to notice how different things are. The buildings, the people, the roads, the dirt. Different. Oddly enough though I don’t feel out of place or uncomfortable. It just feels like I am coming back, like I have been here before. I have read about, watched, and dreamed of this day that it feels natural to be living it.

The Holiday Hotel is in the heart of Juba. I will call this place home for the better part of my trip. I am half expecting a tent with communal bathroom facilities and a lovely mess hall where I can get food and bottled water (by the barrel if I can). What I get is a fully functioning hotel with a king size bed, air conditioning, full bathroom with warm running water, and a t.v. There is even a full on restaurant within the compound that serves everything you can think of – including ice cold….coke. I throw down my bags, jack up the a.c. and fall fast asleep. I can sleep in tomorrow as it is Sunday. You best believe I sleep in…until 12. But today isn’t all play, I am getting in a truck to head to prepare the first training site for Mondays workshop. Excited to be here. Little time to rest. Lots of work ahead.

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