Back to Africa


  Hello again from exotic Portland!

When last we left our heroine (::cough::) I had returned from Egypt to learn that I would be heading to South Sudan for the summer. Unfortunately, due to the belligerent and un-checked war-mongering between Sudan and South Sudan, I will not. The bombing on the north western Sudan-South Sudan border has escalated, which would have been fine-ish as I was destined for Juba, in the south east of the country. Fearing to travel to Juba would have been something like avoiding travel to Seattle if Montana had decided to go to war with Canada. I sense your incredulity, but lets be honest, those two will have it out eventually. But would that keep you from your inevitable "I'll do it once to say I did, but never again because it's super boring" trip up the space needle? I think not!

That said, it seems that Sudan has a mighty chip on its shoulder, which they are more than willing to see envelope both countries in destructive fire fight. The UN doesn’t find this to be sexy enough of a conflict to intervene, and Omar al-Bashir (Sudan’s president) has technically, officially, predictably declared war and promised to bomb Juba.

So after much deliberation and soul searching, weighing all the rational options like a professional, I decided . . . that Juba was absolutely the place for me and that I should depart with haste!!! I mean how can you miss all that?! Luckily enough for my mother (and probably the people of South Sudan), the organization I work for did not agree.

So instead of fabulous South Sudan, I will be spending the next 3 months on mission to support operations, proposal development and serve as an all around human swiss army knife to our offices in Zimbabwe, Kenya and Uganda.

Unlike my last adventure, I will be couch surfing and not in a 5 star hotel. This will be my first time across the equator (high five) and I will be working on some legitimately impactful programs for vulnerable populations. Which is a wonderful step away from my last trip coordinating a conference for 140 people. So this time if at any point anyone turns to me and demands “Where is my vegan/gluten free/blessed by the friggin pope dietary option!?” I will be obliged to say “I don’t give a rats ass.” While I eat a strip of bacon. In there face. Which is a fabulous feeling. 

Talk to you soon


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