Keep Your Hands to Yourself

I'm not sure how to say this in a nice way.

I got felt up on the bus today.

The bus was pretty full. I was sitting on an inside seat looking out the window. The person next to me snapped and got off and a man sat down. I didn't look at him, it's something I generally avoid. But I did see out of the corner of my eye that he had a big bag with him. I felt something touch me and I figured it was the bag since he was still shuffling around and getting settled in the seat. I moved my arm anyway, then felt it again. Just as I looked down to see his hand on me he snapped and got off. By the time the synapses in my brain connected what was going on it was too late for me to do anything. It happened really fast.

How do I feel about it? Like a huge idiot.

I'm disappointed in myself for not realizing quicker what was happening. He got away with it and thats upsetting.

It's not the first time something like that has happened here. This was perhaps the most blatant, though. Everytime something like this happens I think that the next time I'll be ready with the right response and right way to handle the situation. But I'm always caught off guard.

I don't want to be scared and constantly on guard against every man that sits next to me on the bus.  Even before this I've been realizing that, out of necessity, I have become slightly wary of every new non-ex-pat man I interact with here. There are different cultual norms. I have to be kind of a jerk sometimes. I hate that. But its better than accidentally sending the wrong message. ...Which I can still do just by my mere presence, apparently.

Being a woman here, esspecially a single woman, is really hard. ...But I don't want to become hardened.

I dunno. Forgiving him, and myself, and will try to find my voice more quickly if there is a next time.

New Eats and Treats

We had some friends over for a little shindig last weekend. We asked folks to bring a snack to share. One of my friends showed up with a big bag of fried locusts! They look like giant grasshoppers. She got them for a mere 5sdg (about $1.30)! I'm a big fan of trying new foods. I was excited to dig in.

Whats that, you'd like a close up?

I ate a couple of them. I liked the crunchiness. I did not like the aftertaste or the little bits of wings and legs that remained in my teeth. ...Overshare?

My friend videoed me eating it. Its not very exciting. I take a bite, pick up a leg off the floor. And make a lying "Mmmm."

I also videoed my roommate. I am under strict orders not to post the video. So I won't. But it was much more entertaining. She debated for almost a full minute and needed a lot of encouragement. But she did it!

When I told the boys at the centre that we ate them it was met with laughs and questions. When they asked how many I ate and I told them I ate 4 or 5 they were really impressed and told me that I was very strong. There is one area of the country in particular where the people are known for eating jaraat (locusts) and the boys who originate from that area were very pleased that I had tried them.

My language helper and friend, Sana, was amused but not surprised when I told her that I tried something new this week. I think she has grown accustomed to my curiosity about new foods.

Also, I had my first dream in Arabic last night! That has to be some sort of good sign!

This Week I:

Came within inches of hit and probably seriously injured by a rickshaw going wayyyy too fast. (To which a police officer sitting nearby, laughed).

Celebrated my one year Sudanniversary with cupcakes for the boys and pizza with my roommate.

Was talking with some of the teenage boys at the center and told them that I like to eat my eggs with the yolk not set. They were entirely discusted and one of them made gagging noises. Which I have never heard them do before.

Went into a hardware shop and completely shocked the men working there when I asked for what I needed in Arabic. They just stood and laughed at me for a minute. I get the laughter response a lot.

Accepted the fact that winter in Sudan is over. It hit 100 degrees two days ago. I am sad about this.

Had my first lesson in driving stick shift with my roommate. I wasn't pitiful. We practiced on a soccer field. Much to the amusement of the guys sitting around nearby. But when she wanted me to drive to the next place where we were going nearby I stalled out, lost confidence, and said let's try real roads another day. It was also my first time driving in over a year, and in Sudan at all. But I'm really excited to learn.

Brought my mp3 player and a small speaker for the boys to listen to music while they worked. We listened to some stuff I had picked for awhile then they started making requests. Their first request? Justin Beiber. I kid you not. (What is embarassing is that I actually have two of his songs). Requests to follow were Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Rihanna, Eminem (I told them he was a potty mouth and I would never listen to his music and the shouldn't either), Santana, and Celine Dion. They were fine when I told them I didn't have some of the others they requested, but when I said I didn't have any Celine Dion they couldn't believe it. Most 'hip' Sudanese who listen to American music love her. Which I find really funny. The best part was them singing along to "Baby, Baby, Baby" because they don't know the words, just the sounds, so it was this big mumble of them murmering the chorus. It was awesome.

Knocking My Socks Off

As you may recall, before Christmas I started working with the older boys in making sculptures out of wire. Cars, bikes, and things. The response from the bazaar where I sold the pieces was really positive so we've been continuing on with it. I was a little worried that after a few more weeks that enthusiasm would falter a bit. Though there are a few of the boys that I can't get to make or do anything, overall they are still digging it. AND they are taking bottle tops, cans, old flip flops, and all sorts of other bits of junk around and using them to make this stuff even more amazing. There are a couple of them who use their spare time to work on their creations. These boys are clever.

Donkey cart made with an old flip flop, bottle tops, tin can, and wire. Complete with a whip in the drivers hand.

Small radio made mostly out of bottle tops and wire. Plus two little turn knobs on the side made from an old shoe.

Rickshaw!

Lizard. Made from wire and donated beads.

Bottle top helicopter...

...with a top that spins!

:)