Meet a Boy.

Not sure why I haven't done this sooner. But I'd like you to start meeting some of the amazing boys in my life. ..Lets clarify that---the boys I work with at the centres. If you get my newsletter you'll see this again there. :)

This is Kubri. (Not his real name because we’re not supposed to use their real names). He is about 7 years old. (Though he’ll tell you he’s 11). I met him last summer while we were running the drop in center. He was the youngest boy there. Super cute, clever, and ornery with a big ol’ attitude. Also very quick to get upset and lose his temper. He was also very addicted to the glue that nearly all of the kids that live on the street sniff. Once the drop in center finished and we took in new boys to the live-in center he joined. He stayed for about 2 days and ran away. The teachers would find him on the streets a few days later and bring him back. He would stay for a few days and then run away again. And be brought back. Then run away again. This cycle kept up for a while. There was one time where a few of the young street girls came by (as the staff knows them and will let them in to get some food and sleep from time to time as long as they don’t have any glue with them), and snuck in some glue, gave it to Kubri, and then they all ran off together. It’s hard to see that. But there was a turning point. At the end of Ramadan last year when there was a break from school one of the young married guys on staff took Kubri to come stay with him for the break. So Kubri lived with him and his wife for a week. He came back full of pride at getting to stay with the teacher. Even bragged about how his toothbrush was still there. Since then he hasn’t run away. His temper has calmed down considerably. He is one of the brightest boys in the class and is always asking me how to say different things in English. He still gets upset sometimes and gets frustrated very easily when we work on something that is new and he doesn't understand right away. He is one of the few boys that have absolutely no family or connections that we know of. He’s not exactly sure how old he is, has no recollection of his mother or family because he has lived on the streets for as long as he can remember. But glory to God, not anymore! He has found a home and knows how it feels to be loved. His potential is being acknowledged and utilized. Rescued from a life on the streets.

What a privilege to see.

Hey, I can speak Arabic!

The past few days have been encouraging.

My class at language school finished book 2. So we had 3 days of tests--3 written and an oral test. I don't have my score yet for the last one, but we all did pretty well and the teachers and director of the school were all pleased with us. These were the first Arabic tests I had, and it's nice to sort of see actual grades and marks to gauge how I'm going with language.

I mentioned before that though I've been sort of stressed and overwhelmed the last few weeks, that my time at the centres has been one of the things I enjoy the most and is probably the least stress inducing part of my day. Which is awesome. I think that in large part has to do with the fact that I have enough Arabic now to really sit and chat for a long period of time with the boys. I think a big part of the stress of being there in the beginning was not being able to communicate effectively or joke or chat. ...which led to sitting there feeling kind of lonely and out of the loop and stupid a good part of the time. Having language has helped immesely, and not just my confidence. I can also figure out what is going on, lead programs on my own, and join in the lunchtime dialouges. Being there is less stressful and mentally draining than it was in the beginning. I still feel awkward sometimes, but really my time at the centres is generally the highlight of my day. At both of the centres the boys and some of the staff call me their sister. The director of the older boys centre fancies himself as my Sudanese father. I'm happy to be another one of his daughters. I feel like a part of the centre family and that feels fantastic.

There is also a girl from the States here visiting for 2 months. Getting a taste of what life is like here before she goes to grad school to see if this is a place she would like to be. Earlier this week I wrote her down some survival Arabic, and took her on two bus routes. Showed her the handsigns, landmarks, things to look for and be aware of. Cultural tidbits. That was totally me a year ago and it is so encouraging to look back and see how far I've come. I remember the anxiety of taking the bus by myself for the first few weeks. Feeling unsure of myself and knowing I would be totally helpless if I got lost. It's more or less a piece of cake now. And that is pretty incredible to me.

Still dealing with some immense frustrations at present. Mostly related to our house having problem after problem. None of which are easy fixes. But at least some things are going right. If I didn't love and feel invested in the work with the boys it would be hard for any of this to feel worth it. So I'm thankful that God doesn't give us more than we can handle and that he fuels our souls and hearts always in the most perfect and timely ways.

Nothing

Hi. It's been a little while. Sorry about that.
Life has been busy. Too busy. But still good.

I've been a little stressed and overwhelmed, if I'm being completely honest. But probably the one thing that is stressing me the least is my time with the boys at the centre's, which is wonderful. We're doing some cool stuff and most of them are actually into it most of the time. That's good. I think mostly now that my Arabic is getting better, it makes the time with them more enjoyable for me because I'm doing a lot more talking and interacting and a lot less sitting stupidly which I did in the beginning.

I'm sitting here trying to think of a cute story or anecdote about the last two weeks to share. But...I've got nothing. Right now I feel like I'm been functioning in overdrive for a few too many days and my mental capacity is kind of spent.

One think I have been doing lately is trying to write limericks in Arabic. It's hard to try to find rhyming words in your second language (I have a second language!), but it is immensely satisfying to succeed in it.

Anyway, I promise to be back with something more worthwhile next time.

Until then some thoughts that I have found encouraging this week:

"O my soul, be anxious for nothing. It is enough that your Father loves you." Frances J. Roberts

"If you spend your time putting more love into the world, then it is reasonable to believe that you are going to benefit from a world with more love in it." Mark Boyle

"The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes our life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see." Hebrews 11:1

"Comparison is the thief of joy." Theodore Roosevelt

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!

:)