Sunday, January 23, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Helicopter commuting
I looked out my window this morning to see a helicopter fly along the coast of the lake, in my mind ferrying some executive from Geneva to perhaps Vevey where Nestlé has its global HQ. It made me wonder: Do CEOs who commute by helicopter step onto the helipad every morning and think "how awesome is this ?!" If not, they should.
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Little things that make a better day #4
Taking something apart, putting it back together, and discovering that it still works!
I just saved myself about USD500 worth of BMW workshop time, by dismantling my steeringwheel and cleaning a few bits of circuitry to fix my gearchange. To my intense satisfaction, upon re-assembling everything, it all worked again!!
I must qualify this by stating that i am not known for my DYI skills. Indeed I am well known among my more practical friends as being incapable of measuring the floor of a completely square room for carpeting. the result was room with half as much carpeting as was actually required. Since then, not a lot of faith in my engineering skills from my buddies...
I just saved myself about USD500 worth of BMW workshop time, by dismantling my steeringwheel and cleaning a few bits of circuitry to fix my gearchange. To my intense satisfaction, upon re-assembling everything, it all worked again!!
I must qualify this by stating that i am not known for my DYI skills. Indeed I am well known among my more practical friends as being incapable of measuring the floor of a completely square room for carpeting. the result was room with half as much carpeting as was actually required. Since then, not a lot of faith in my engineering skills from my buddies...
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Little things that make a better day #2
Owning an awesome car.
If you are even remotely like me, you get the idea of having a really awesome car. For me that car has, since I got my license in 1999, a BMW M3. Today, knowing that I have just that car parked in my garage makes every day a little better. Even given the draconian use of speed and intersection cameras in this country, there are roads, where you can, for the briefest of moments, let the engine take all 8000 revs and forget about anything that might have troubled you as you listen to the sweet, sweet music of the finest straight six ever built.
It's a little thing that makes a better day.
If you are even remotely like me, you get the idea of having a really awesome car. For me that car has, since I got my license in 1999, a BMW M3. Today, knowing that I have just that car parked in my garage makes every day a little better. Even given the draconian use of speed and intersection cameras in this country, there are roads, where you can, for the briefest of moments, let the engine take all 8000 revs and forget about anything that might have troubled you as you listen to the sweet, sweet music of the finest straight six ever built.
It's a little thing that makes a better day.
Little things that make a better day #1
A real, handmade, honest to goodness burger in a place you didn't expect it.
Having moved to Switzerland, a country known mostly for cuisine based purely on melted cheese, I was braced to only enjoy a decent burger whenever I made my way stateside or back to Copenhagen.
Lo and behold, a real burger arrived in Lausanne.
Once a week, I'll make it my lunch break outing. A brisk walk to Holy Cow, where the owner and crew slave over a huge hotplate in a tiny kitchen to turn out some of the best burgers I've had in a long time.
It's the little thing that makes a better day.
Having moved to Switzerland, a country known mostly for cuisine based purely on melted cheese, I was braced to only enjoy a decent burger whenever I made my way stateside or back to Copenhagen.
Lo and behold, a real burger arrived in Lausanne.
Once a week, I'll make it my lunch break outing. A brisk walk to Holy Cow, where the owner and crew slave over a huge hotplate in a tiny kitchen to turn out some of the best burgers I've had in a long time.
It's the little thing that makes a better day.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Expression of the week
Intellectual Karaoke:
When a professor using a powerpoint presentation spends the entire time facing the screen reading off his slides, instead of speaking to the class.
When a professor using a powerpoint presentation spends the entire time facing the screen reading off his slides, instead of speaking to the class.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Procrastination
OK - so now is the time. I've just finished 8 hours of Financial Statement Analysis, and my brain has been pummelled to a pulp with terms like Income Statement, Revenue Recognition, Special Charges, Non-recurring Items, etc... I think my mind actually shut down in self defence at some point shortly after lunch.
In order to restart my brain and restore current to my speech and language centers, I shall try to write a brief status to you all.
Firstly, the new job:
I've started as a Human Resource Consultant for a company called Nova100 (www.nova100.com). Basically, we do Talent Management and Employer Branding. We have a network of about 400 grad student "Nova's" (more each day) from all sorts of areas. We market these grad students (who are chosen based on academic and social skills, as well as drive and ambition) towards our partners, which are companies in the private sector. Conversely, we also market these partners toward the grad students, spreading the word that these companies are interesting, cool, good, employers. Surprisingly, a great number of companies spend next to no resources on marketing themselves toward employees - so we help them with that. It's an interesting business, especially given the current job market in Denmark (there's a desperate need for qualified people). My role in the company is taking care of our existing partner companies. I make sure the receive all the services we've sold them(Recruitment, events, workshops, etc...). It's a really interesting gig so far, and I look forward to really getting into the swing of it.
Secondly:
My MBA team just finished the International Marketing module, which we've been working on since January. We (a team of 5) wrote a 40 page report on how to introduce a piece of planning software into the California marketplace. We passed with an average grade, and I felt fine about it, all things considered. This being the first time we worked as a team, there were bugs that could use some ironing out. And I mean this in purely "team-dynamics" and "workflow-related" sense. The guys (and girl) are great people, but there were some significant differences in how we worked, that would have taken some real blood, sweat, and tears, to resolve into a better grade than we made. However, it's over now, and we are into Financial Statement Analysis, which is a far more painful story for a whole different day. When my brain has stopped bleeding.
Thirdly, the wonderful woman:
A few weeks ago I started seeing a wonderful woman. She's a former solo-violinist turned business major, who is currently taking her MBA alongside myself, while running her family business. All-round she's just really, really, cool. And hot. And smart. I'll stop now, before I embarass myself, but suffice to say that I'm smitten. It may just be that the sun is shining in Denmark, wreaking havoc on my hormones and things, but I doubt it.
Fourth:
Formula 1 season has started - and what a season. Truly, this is a season of firsts. Hamilton the McLaren Rookie giving Alonso what seems to be a serious run for his money. Honda trying to run an environmentally sound F1 team. Kimi not living up to expectations, etc... It looks like it could be a good one, this season.
Fifth, the car:
Yes, the other love of my life is soon to enter into my everyday. I've ordered a BMW 118i - it's gonna be blue. 143 horsepower, 18 inch wheels, sports suspension, iPod hook-up. It's gonna be great. After 4 months of not having my own wheels I am, as I may have mentioned in an earlier post, ready to get behind the wheel again.
Finally - what makes a slightly overweight, entirely un-attractive, 50-something man think it a good idea to hit on a super-hot 25-year old woman? Seriously, help me out here. She has swarms of Ferrari-driving boy millionaires trailing her around, basically flingin' money at her. She looks like several million dollars, and she's sharp as a crateful of tacks. On what planet does this guy look at her and think: "Yes, my slight paunch, bald spot, and ill-fitting suit will certainly send her into un-controllable fits of libidinous ecstasy" ? If anyone has any idea why this happens, and I've been seeing it a lot lately, please feel free to drop a comment.
Finally (I swear)
The weather here is awesome. You have to love a country where the first days of sunshine so fundamentally change the way we relate to each other as people. Seriously, as soon as the sun comes out in Copenhagen 2 things happen:
1: Every available square inch of grass, bench, chair, cafe table, staircase, veranda, terrace, etc... Is instantly covered in Danes. Even if it isn't really wamr enough to be sitting there. Briefly, it becomes sort of like the alps. Huge amounts of people in sunglasses, moonboots, and arcticwear.
2: People start smiling. Seriously, the very fundamental behavior of danes changes when the sun comes out. Copenhagen becomes suffused with this vibe of energy, and happiness. I hesitate to say, but ultimately find the word adequate, glee. The sudden release of D-vitamins into our systems by the rays of Sol does something to the Danish brain-chemistry. People become more patient, more tolerant, and more willing to give each other the time of day.
All in all, I highly recommend Copenhagen in the spring. Don't forget your arcticwear.
In order to restart my brain and restore current to my speech and language centers, I shall try to write a brief status to you all.
Firstly, the new job:
I've started as a Human Resource Consultant for a company called Nova100 (www.nova100.com). Basically, we do Talent Management and Employer Branding. We have a network of about 400 grad student "Nova's" (more each day) from all sorts of areas. We market these grad students (who are chosen based on academic and social skills, as well as drive and ambition) towards our partners, which are companies in the private sector. Conversely, we also market these partners toward the grad students, spreading the word that these companies are interesting, cool, good, employers. Surprisingly, a great number of companies spend next to no resources on marketing themselves toward employees - so we help them with that. It's an interesting business, especially given the current job market in Denmark (there's a desperate need for qualified people). My role in the company is taking care of our existing partner companies. I make sure the receive all the services we've sold them(Recruitment, events, workshops, etc...). It's a really interesting gig so far, and I look forward to really getting into the swing of it.
Secondly:
My MBA team just finished the International Marketing module, which we've been working on since January. We (a team of 5) wrote a 40 page report on how to introduce a piece of planning software into the California marketplace. We passed with an average grade, and I felt fine about it, all things considered. This being the first time we worked as a team, there were bugs that could use some ironing out. And I mean this in purely "team-dynamics" and "workflow-related" sense. The guys (and girl) are great people, but there were some significant differences in how we worked, that would have taken some real blood, sweat, and tears, to resolve into a better grade than we made. However, it's over now, and we are into Financial Statement Analysis, which is a far more painful story for a whole different day. When my brain has stopped bleeding.
Thirdly, the wonderful woman:
A few weeks ago I started seeing a wonderful woman. She's a former solo-violinist turned business major, who is currently taking her MBA alongside myself, while running her family business. All-round she's just really, really, cool. And hot. And smart. I'll stop now, before I embarass myself, but suffice to say that I'm smitten. It may just be that the sun is shining in Denmark, wreaking havoc on my hormones and things, but I doubt it.
Fourth:
Formula 1 season has started - and what a season. Truly, this is a season of firsts. Hamilton the McLaren Rookie giving Alonso what seems to be a serious run for his money. Honda trying to run an environmentally sound F1 team. Kimi not living up to expectations, etc... It looks like it could be a good one, this season.
Fifth, the car:
Yes, the other love of my life is soon to enter into my everyday. I've ordered a BMW 118i - it's gonna be blue. 143 horsepower, 18 inch wheels, sports suspension, iPod hook-up. It's gonna be great. After 4 months of not having my own wheels I am, as I may have mentioned in an earlier post, ready to get behind the wheel again.
Finally - what makes a slightly overweight, entirely un-attractive, 50-something man think it a good idea to hit on a super-hot 25-year old woman? Seriously, help me out here. She has swarms of Ferrari-driving boy millionaires trailing her around, basically flingin' money at her. She looks like several million dollars, and she's sharp as a crateful of tacks. On what planet does this guy look at her and think: "Yes, my slight paunch, bald spot, and ill-fitting suit will certainly send her into un-controllable fits of libidinous ecstasy" ? If anyone has any idea why this happens, and I've been seeing it a lot lately, please feel free to drop a comment.
Finally (I swear)
The weather here is awesome. You have to love a country where the first days of sunshine so fundamentally change the way we relate to each other as people. Seriously, as soon as the sun comes out in Copenhagen 2 things happen:
1: Every available square inch of grass, bench, chair, cafe table, staircase, veranda, terrace, etc... Is instantly covered in Danes. Even if it isn't really wamr enough to be sitting there. Briefly, it becomes sort of like the alps. Huge amounts of people in sunglasses, moonboots, and arcticwear.
2: People start smiling. Seriously, the very fundamental behavior of danes changes when the sun comes out. Copenhagen becomes suffused with this vibe of energy, and happiness. I hesitate to say, but ultimately find the word adequate, glee. The sudden release of D-vitamins into our systems by the rays of Sol does something to the Danish brain-chemistry. People become more patient, more tolerant, and more willing to give each other the time of day.
All in all, I highly recommend Copenhagen in the spring. Don't forget your arcticwear.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Update from CPH
OK - so I know I've been REALLY lax in updating the blog. Suffice to say I've had lots to do. I've been to California, I've started a new job, I've passed an exam, I'm seeing a wonderful woman, Formula 1 Season has started, and I've ordered a car... More on ALL of these things soon. I promise.
Xo,
Peter
Xo,
Peter
Friday, March 02, 2007
Polite rioting...
So the last 36 hours have seen a fair amount of unpleasantness here in Copenhagen.
As the culmination of a very long process to empty out the "Youth House" in Copenhagen, because it's been sold by the city council, the police finally went in early yesterday morning. All of yesterday the result was sporadic rioting in the streets of Nørrebro. Until about 2:30 am, when everybody went back home. Then they got back up the morning, and have continued, albeit with far less gusto. Perhaps they can't find any more trashcans to burn...
These kids have been protesting, and trying to get the city to change the laws of the country in their favor. I'm actually not entirely opposed to that. These are kids that don't fit in anywhere. Given Denmarks history of social welfare, and making room for everyone, there has to be a way to accomodate these kids. Dialogue is good. They had my sympathy to some extent.
Right up until the first brick got thrown.
After that, I'm sorry buddy. I don't care how oppressed you think you are, and how unjustly you think you've been treated. You throw Brick 1 at a police officer who's out doing his job, and you deserve the teargas, the beating, and the arrest under which you will be placed. Besides, honestly, bricks? Dude, please... That's sooo last millenium. Throwing bricks in a world where explosives, firearms, and all means of weapon are available at the drop of a dime, is like lying down on the floor and screaming because you think you're being sent to bed too early.
They way these riots have unfolded kinda make me proud to be Danish though. You see, while all the silliness was going on in one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Denmark, everyday life sort of continued on. Literally, you had, rioting, fired, guys in balaclavas chucking rocks on one street. Shift left one street, and there's Jens taking his laundry to the laundromat, and Dorte taking her 2-year old for a walk.. Stores were still open on the street in question, up until last night, and didn't start to get wrecked before well into the night. I used to work at a bar/coffeeshop on that street a few years ago, and I can only imagine the exchange with the customers:
"hi, could I get a Latte, a gourmet blueberry muffin, and a seat by the window so I can watch some punk teenagers get their asses mace'd?"
"Absolutely, sir, that'll be 55 crowns, and I'll bring it right over to you. Hurry and grab a seat, I see the kids are building a barricade in the street now. Should get good in a moment, when the UNIMOG comes in to level it!"
It's surreal... And an indicator that we have it pretty good in Denmark, really. In a given African country, all those rioting would get dis-appeared, never to be seen again. Here, they estimate there were probably about 1000 people involved in the riots. All the cops did was bounce some gas their way to break it up. They only arrested about 300 people, and only those stupid enough not to heed the multiple "disperse, or you will be prosecuted" warnings.
Ok, I must away, that is all from me.
Until next time this is Peter, mildly amused in Copenhagen.
As the culmination of a very long process to empty out the "Youth House" in Copenhagen, because it's been sold by the city council, the police finally went in early yesterday morning. All of yesterday the result was sporadic rioting in the streets of Nørrebro. Until about 2:30 am, when everybody went back home. Then they got back up the morning, and have continued, albeit with far less gusto. Perhaps they can't find any more trashcans to burn...
These kids have been protesting, and trying to get the city to change the laws of the country in their favor. I'm actually not entirely opposed to that. These are kids that don't fit in anywhere. Given Denmarks history of social welfare, and making room for everyone, there has to be a way to accomodate these kids. Dialogue is good. They had my sympathy to some extent.
Right up until the first brick got thrown.
After that, I'm sorry buddy. I don't care how oppressed you think you are, and how unjustly you think you've been treated. You throw Brick 1 at a police officer who's out doing his job, and you deserve the teargas, the beating, and the arrest under which you will be placed. Besides, honestly, bricks? Dude, please... That's sooo last millenium. Throwing bricks in a world where explosives, firearms, and all means of weapon are available at the drop of a dime, is like lying down on the floor and screaming because you think you're being sent to bed too early.
They way these riots have unfolded kinda make me proud to be Danish though. You see, while all the silliness was going on in one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Denmark, everyday life sort of continued on. Literally, you had, rioting, fired, guys in balaclavas chucking rocks on one street. Shift left one street, and there's Jens taking his laundry to the laundromat, and Dorte taking her 2-year old for a walk.. Stores were still open on the street in question, up until last night, and didn't start to get wrecked before well into the night. I used to work at a bar/coffeeshop on that street a few years ago, and I can only imagine the exchange with the customers:
"hi, could I get a Latte, a gourmet blueberry muffin, and a seat by the window so I can watch some punk teenagers get their asses mace'd?"
"Absolutely, sir, that'll be 55 crowns, and I'll bring it right over to you. Hurry and grab a seat, I see the kids are building a barricade in the street now. Should get good in a moment, when the UNIMOG comes in to level it!"
It's surreal... And an indicator that we have it pretty good in Denmark, really. In a given African country, all those rioting would get dis-appeared, never to be seen again. Here, they estimate there were probably about 1000 people involved in the riots. All the cops did was bounce some gas their way to break it up. They only arrested about 300 people, and only those stupid enough not to heed the multiple "disperse, or you will be prosecuted" warnings.
Ok, I must away, that is all from me.
Until next time this is Peter, mildly amused in Copenhagen.
Monday, February 19, 2007
I've been remiss
OK, I know it's been a long time. I've now decided that I'm going to aim for just one post every month, so you're warned. Even at that rate, I am already late by a couple of days. I blame it on the fact that I had a rough weekend. And I don't mean I went out to o much. No, I ended my relationship with a girl I've known for quite some time. It's never a fun thing to do, and that didn't change this time. It was the right decision, but it sucked.
So now I am on my own again, certainly in that respect. Thankfully I have friends who have been great at keeping me occupied. Also, I am very actively seeking jobs, and now living in an apartment that will need to furnishing and setting up over the coming weeks. Add to that a not insignificant volume of material to be read for my MBA classes, and I am really a busy little bee.
So anyway, I really miss my car. I do. I had a great little car before I went to Juba, and now I don't. That's like me not having an arm. I cannot wait to get my job situation figured out, so I can start finding a new car. I really, really, really, miss driving. I borrowed a car recently, and realized once again how great it feels to be behind the wheel of an automobile. Unfortunately I was in the city, so there was no letting loose, or sideways dirt road antics. But it was great. Of course, I was re-affirmed in my belief that drivers licenses are given out far too recklessly, even in this draconian state of Denmark, where everybody hates cars. In Jube there was a certain collective agreement on what the rules were:
1) Stay on your toes, or you will die
2) Always respect the technicals - or you will die.
3) Potholes are not friend to yourself or your vehicle - but neither is dying, so choose wisely.
4) Always keep your eyes open for maniacs. They may not be bad people, but 6 months ago, there weren't nearly as many vehicles for them to relate to, so it's all a bit overwhelming. Give them wide berth
5) Ignore the traffic cops - they don't have vehicles or guns, and they can't write, so your license plate is safe.
Here in Denmark, however, it's havoc. Mostly because you have such a huge variety of ages and skill levels. Bushdrivers are mostly the same. City drivers, not so. But they are all firm in their individual beliefs that their way is the best. It's not. Mine is. It's simple. Stop being an ass. That goes for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Maybe mostly the bicyclists. Someone should let them all know that they are soft targets. Anyway, stop being an ass, and everything will be fine. Let people out from sidestreets. Don't run over babies. Don't travel at 20kmh below the posted limit unless there's a really good reason ("There's a strangely shaped lamp over there, and my driving instructor told me to slow down, if there was anything unusual around") does not constitute a good reason. Park in 1 slot - not crossing 2 separate ones - you should be made to pay for that transgression. Pay dearly. And I don't care how rich, blonde, stupid, old, young, blind, fat, etc... you are. If you can't fit your car in 1 parking slot, you shouldn't be driving it.
Ok, I'm done now. Just needed to rant a little. I miss my car...
I'll be back soon, possibly with more interesting news.
Until then, take care.
So now I am on my own again, certainly in that respect. Thankfully I have friends who have been great at keeping me occupied. Also, I am very actively seeking jobs, and now living in an apartment that will need to furnishing and setting up over the coming weeks. Add to that a not insignificant volume of material to be read for my MBA classes, and I am really a busy little bee.
So anyway, I really miss my car. I do. I had a great little car before I went to Juba, and now I don't. That's like me not having an arm. I cannot wait to get my job situation figured out, so I can start finding a new car. I really, really, really, miss driving. I borrowed a car recently, and realized once again how great it feels to be behind the wheel of an automobile. Unfortunately I was in the city, so there was no letting loose, or sideways dirt road antics. But it was great. Of course, I was re-affirmed in my belief that drivers licenses are given out far too recklessly, even in this draconian state of Denmark, where everybody hates cars. In Jube there was a certain collective agreement on what the rules were:
1) Stay on your toes, or you will die
2) Always respect the technicals - or you will die.
3) Potholes are not friend to yourself or your vehicle - but neither is dying, so choose wisely.
4) Always keep your eyes open for maniacs. They may not be bad people, but 6 months ago, there weren't nearly as many vehicles for them to relate to, so it's all a bit overwhelming. Give them wide berth
5) Ignore the traffic cops - they don't have vehicles or guns, and they can't write, so your license plate is safe.
Here in Denmark, however, it's havoc. Mostly because you have such a huge variety of ages and skill levels. Bushdrivers are mostly the same. City drivers, not so. But they are all firm in their individual beliefs that their way is the best. It's not. Mine is. It's simple. Stop being an ass. That goes for drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. Maybe mostly the bicyclists. Someone should let them all know that they are soft targets. Anyway, stop being an ass, and everything will be fine. Let people out from sidestreets. Don't run over babies. Don't travel at 20kmh below the posted limit unless there's a really good reason ("There's a strangely shaped lamp over there, and my driving instructor told me to slow down, if there was anything unusual around") does not constitute a good reason. Park in 1 slot - not crossing 2 separate ones - you should be made to pay for that transgression. Pay dearly. And I don't care how rich, blonde, stupid, old, young, blind, fat, etc... you are. If you can't fit your car in 1 parking slot, you shouldn't be driving it.
Ok, I'm done now. Just needed to rant a little. I miss my car...
I'll be back soon, possibly with more interesting news.
Until then, take care.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Back in DK - school, rain, and a real wardrobe
OK, so a month since my last post, from Mombasa.
I am now back in Denmark, and slowly re-adjusting to the real world. It took me a week to get over the fact that the water coming out of the taps is not necessarily going to kill me. Also, having alternatives to bottled water, coke, and beer, as your choice of beverage... Wow. I've re-discovered my love for coffee as something that's not only used to wake up in the morning, but actually a tasty drink for the middle of the day. One truly doesn't appreciate a latte and a croissant at ones favorite streetside cafe, before being without it for 4½ months. Also, having a greater selection of clothees than the 4 polos and 2 pairs of jeans I had in Juba is great. A vain thing to say, I know, but it really is great. Also, a larger wardrobe is necessary here in scandinavia. I had to get used to carrying/wearing an overcoat everywhere because a) the ambient temperature is that of penguin waste-matter, and b) the rain, which comes often, is not the temperature of a nice shower, but sooner the exact temperature that unexpectedly greets you on those rare mornings where the water heater has gone on a non-union break in the dead of winter.
And the internet! No more starting to download email in the morning, before leaving the office for coffee and a smoke, and still having a 5 minute wait when you get back to your desk... Needless to say, this excites me greatly.
So being back in the real world has its perks. However, it comes with some challenges. I have to readjust to the whole pattern of socializing here in the real world. Having a cellphone that actually works, and friends that live further away than 5 minutes by car, results in actually having to plan social activities, instead of just hoping in the car and rounding up everybody for a couple of drinks at Mango. Ultimately though, my friends are all I miss when I look back at Juba (and my pickup, but that's a whole other, genetic thing with me and vehicles... These flat paved roads all over the place make for some seriously unchallenging driving.). And I don't have much time for that these days.
I am currently staying with my girlfriend, in the apartment she shares with her sister. I have ended my employment with the company that sent me to Juba. Pretty much the only constant in my life right now is that on Thursday I start my MBA. I'm psyched. I suspect it will be challenging, tough, time-consuming, and frustrating at times. Much like dealing with the Sudanese government, really. I'll be going to school friday afternoon and saturday mornings, so I am looking for a job to fill the rest of my week. At the same time I am looking for my own apartment. Typically, the market for real estate is currently in a nosedive in Denmark, so I'll have to wait a few months before I can buy. So I have to rent for the first few months, which isn't so bad. But I do want to have my own place by the end of the year. I have been moving around in one way or another for the last 10 years, and I now want a place where I can actually unpack ALL my boxes because I know I won't be unpacking them again for at least 5 years. Even if I do leave Denmark for a while, I want to be able to come home and visit without having to rely on couches and guest rooms!
Anyway, there's lots going on here, but thankfully I am getting some time with my girlfriend, who is in the throes of a full time MBA, and my friends, who in some cases have a hard time understanding exactly what I've been up to for the last few months.
Now, I've gotta jet. I'll be back soon, to tell stories of Christmas in Maine. Until then, be goood, behave, and if you can't do that then don't get caught ;-)
Much love,
Peter
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Exit Juba, stage right...
In front of me, night over the
Behind me: 150 German tourists experiencing
Maybe if I stare out over the ocean for long enough, they’ll go away…
Not the case.
Gratefully, by the time the Germans started in on their set of “The Rat Pack performed at half speed, so as to accommodate pensioners” I was sufficiently mesmerized by the ocean, that I managed to ignore them.
I’m on the south end of the Kenyan coast of
I left
I’ll be back.
(Stay tuned – Jubajoe is not quite done yet. I travel to
Friday, November 10, 2006
Everybody was Kung Fu fightin'!
...and they were fast as lightnin'!
This was the song that greeted me as I dropped by the river recently with some friends/clients of mine after a dinner at one of the local restaurants. The thing is, that a couple of months ago, the surreality of it all would have truly made me stop and take notice. By now, it took a good few minutes and the comment of a recent arrival to make me notice it. It was funny though. Anyway, the last few weeks have been exciting - 2 stories come to mind particularly:
1: Sudani logic
About 2 weeks ago, my company was assisting an NGO in importing some vehicles (we offer this service, as we have a great deal of experience, and the NGO's rarely have the time away from saving the world). Now we've been helping to import vehicles since the end of last year, and never had any serious problems. However, that was about to change. As the vehicle crossed the border into Sudan from Uganda with Ugandan drivers behind the wheel, they were set upon by Sudanese nationals. LRA you ask? EDF? SAF? Rebel militia of some sort? No. Disgruntled out of work sudanese drivers... Upset that the Ugandans were "stealing their jobs" (by driving the last 200km of an 800km trip - go ficure) they beat the drivers and stole the vehicles. Stole them, you say? Surely that must be considered a terrible event in the eyes of the customer who will now need to go through the whole process of procurement again, delaying saving the world even more! Well...not really. You see, in a fit of Sudanese logic, the car-jackers delivered the vehicles to the end-destination in Juba... Think about it for a second. This only happens in South Sudan. Anyway, the situation has now been resolved and our forwarding partner has secured an arrangement with the military to borrow trained drivers to move the vehicles from the border crossing and into Juba.
They stole the vehicles and delivered them... It boggles the mind.
Structural defects....:
One of the main arteries for trade into Southern Sudan, is the route from Uganda to Juba via Nimule. A treacherous road that at best is hardpack dirt, at worst a quagmire of mud, militia, and (like the rest of South Sudan) really interesting diseases. The one constant so far has been, that when the weary driver finally reaches the far side of the Nile from Juba, there is a two lane steel bridge there waiting to grant him access to the comforts of the metropolis.
Not anymore.
The bridge, originally put in place back in the seventies, and since then abused by the notoriously overloaded trucks of Africa, finally gave out on Monday. Fortunately only one side of the two-lane structure gave out, so traffic can continue to a very limited extent. All I can say is, the guy in the pickup must have aged about 40 years when he felt the bridge go under him...
In other news, it is now decided that I will not be returning to Juba in the new year. I know I mentioned this before, but it is now final. The decision wasn't easy to make, but it looks like I'll be doing a really exciting MBA program in Copenhagen, come January, and I figure I can benefit greatly from it. Also it will allow me to do even more interesting things in developing countries once I finish in just under 2 years.
So, with the inspirational words of Mario Andretti, I'll leave to go about your everyday (those of you who know me best, will understand why this quoe speaks to me) - have a good one!
"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." - Mario Andretti
This was the song that greeted me as I dropped by the river recently with some friends/clients of mine after a dinner at one of the local restaurants. The thing is, that a couple of months ago, the surreality of it all would have truly made me stop and take notice. By now, it took a good few minutes and the comment of a recent arrival to make me notice it. It was funny though. Anyway, the last few weeks have been exciting - 2 stories come to mind particularly:
1: Sudani logic
About 2 weeks ago, my company was assisting an NGO in importing some vehicles (we offer this service, as we have a great deal of experience, and the NGO's rarely have the time away from saving the world). Now we've been helping to import vehicles since the end of last year, and never had any serious problems. However, that was about to change. As the vehicle crossed the border into Sudan from Uganda with Ugandan drivers behind the wheel, they were set upon by Sudanese nationals. LRA you ask? EDF? SAF? Rebel militia of some sort? No. Disgruntled out of work sudanese drivers... Upset that the Ugandans were "stealing their jobs" (by driving the last 200km of an 800km trip - go ficure) they beat the drivers and stole the vehicles. Stole them, you say? Surely that must be considered a terrible event in the eyes of the customer who will now need to go through the whole process of procurement again, delaying saving the world even more! Well...not really. You see, in a fit of Sudanese logic, the car-jackers delivered the vehicles to the end-destination in Juba... Think about it for a second. This only happens in South Sudan. Anyway, the situation has now been resolved and our forwarding partner has secured an arrangement with the military to borrow trained drivers to move the vehicles from the border crossing and into Juba.
They stole the vehicles and delivered them... It boggles the mind.
Structural defects....:
One of the main arteries for trade into Southern Sudan, is the route from Uganda to Juba via Nimule. A treacherous road that at best is hardpack dirt, at worst a quagmire of mud, militia, and (like the rest of South Sudan) really interesting diseases. The one constant so far has been, that when the weary driver finally reaches the far side of the Nile from Juba, there is a two lane steel bridge there waiting to grant him access to the comforts of the metropolis.
Not anymore.
The bridge, originally put in place back in the seventies, and since then abused by the notoriously overloaded trucks of Africa, finally gave out on Monday. Fortunately only one side of the two-lane structure gave out, so traffic can continue to a very limited extent. All I can say is, the guy in the pickup must have aged about 40 years when he felt the bridge go under him...
In other news, it is now decided that I will not be returning to Juba in the new year. I know I mentioned this before, but it is now final. The decision wasn't easy to make, but it looks like I'll be doing a really exciting MBA program in Copenhagen, come January, and I figure I can benefit greatly from it. Also it will allow me to do even more interesting things in developing countries once I finish in just under 2 years.
So, with the inspirational words of Mario Andretti, I'll leave to go about your everyday (those of you who know me best, will understand why this quoe speaks to me) - have a good one!
"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." - Mario Andretti
Monday, October 23, 2006
Ok, some of you may already have seen this , but if not, then here's another version, off CNN / Reuters - more after the article:
JUBA, Sudan (Reuters) -- Unknown gunmen killed at least 38 civilians in a string of attacks in southern Sudan, regional government officials said on Thursday.
The south is hosting stop-start peace talks between neighboring Uganda's government and Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels who have long been accused of committing atrocities against villagers in lawless parts of the remote region.
Uganda's military said it suspected the LRA was behind Wednesday's killings, but the rebels denied it.
Southern Sudan's Interior Minister Paul Mayom Akec told a news conference armed men killed 38 people, including women and children, and burned cars in several attacks on roads between the southern capital Juba and the eastern banks of the Nile.
"It is not my immediate desire to talk about the identity of the attackers ... no matter whoever they can be, in order for us not to jeopardize the ongoing peace talks," Akec said.
South Sudanese Major-General Wilson Deng Kuoirot, who heads the talks' independent monitoring team, said 41 people had been killed in ambushes witnesses told him were carried out by young, dreadlocked men and women in "shabby-looking" fatigues.
"Our forces are doing everything possible to find out who is behind these killings," he told Reuters. The victims were mostly shot in the head and left in their charred vehicles, he said.
A Ugandan military spokesman in Kampala, Major Felix Kulayigye, said he suspected the LRA launched the attacks.
"We have known all along the people we are dealing with here are simply thugs. Now the world can see," he said by telephone.
Negotiations have stalled in recent days as both Uganda's military and the LRA accused each other of breaking a landmark truce signed in August that aimed to end 20 years of war.
An LRA spokesman in Juba, Godfrey Ayoo, denied they were behind the attacks: "We are not the ones who did it," he said.
U.N. confirms ambushes
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was due in Juba this weekend to meet mediators, whose efforts had been hailed as the best chance of ending one of Africa's longest conflicts.
Two decades of fighting have killed tens of thousands and uprooted nearly 2 million more in northern Uganda.
The LRA, which was once supported by the Khartoum government as a proxy force against its own rebels, set up bases in the south in the mid-1990s, from where they staged raids into northern Uganda and terrorized local Sudanese communities.
The Juba talks -- the latest in many attempts to end the LRA insurgency -- were plagued from the start by profound mistrust on both sides, which spiked earlier this week with the military and rebels both accusing the other of attacks.
A U.N. spokeswoman in Khartoum confirmed ambushes on two roads around Juba on Wednesday, but had no immediate information about casualties. A U.N. bulletin said all road movement was suspended around Juba for the next 48 hours.
Alright, so here's the deal. The representatives of the LRA and the Ugandan Govt. have been meeting for peace talks in Juba, for the few months. The Govt. of SOuth Sudan has been heading up the mediation team. They've been meeting about 100m from where I go for pizza some nights. The ostensible aim of the talks is to bring the LRA, who have been "fighting their war" (read committing atrocities, killing innocents, and "conscripting" child soldier) for the past 20-odd years. The talks were going well, but slowly, up until about 2 weeks ago. The mediators had managed to get the LRA to start coming out of the bush and meeting at two rally point - one near the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo, one near the Ugandan border, both places inside South Sudan. Then it all went pear shaped. The LRA decided to move a couple of miles away from the rally points, claiming the water sources were better elsewhere. Then they decided the UPDF (Ugandan army) were slowly surrounding them and just waiting to attack (not impossible, but neither has there been any evidence), and disappeared off into the bush again. Talks are slow, to say the least.
Now, just during the last week, come the above mentioned attacks. I haven't been able to confirm the numbers of dead, but people seem to agree they are on the high side. Tensions have been high here for the last few days, as some of the attacks took place within kilometers of Juba. The LRA have been denying involvement, and accusations have been flung around by pretty much everyone. Couple that with Museveni (president of Uganda) bringing 4 helicopter gunships in for "close protection", and shutting down the airport and most of the city, on Saturday, and you have an awful lot of tension in the air. Keep in mind that the late John Garang died when Museveni's helicopter inexplicably crashed, delivering Garang to Juba from meetings in Uganda. This sparked riots in both Khartoum and Juba, as well as the outlying areas of South Sudan (read: the rest of the d**n region...), killing a number of people. This hasn't been forgotten by anyone, and there are those (Museveni) who are very interested in finding a better reason for the crash than: "Uhm... we don't really know, but maybe the pilots were too afraid of Pres. M. to refuse the flight despite knowing the weather was bad..." Anyway, I digress from the matter at hand, the attacks: Yesterday, 16 members of something called the JIU - Joint Integrated Unit (an attempt to further the peace agreement between North and South by creating military units comprised of both SPLA(south) and SAF(north) troops) were arrested for impersonating LRA and staging the ambushes/attacks. Now, there could be many reasons for this, none of which are good. The good news for the LRA is that so far they seem to be off the hook for this particular round of deaths. That just leave them with 10' of thousands of deaths, and 100's of thousands of internally displaced Ugandans living in camp all over Northern Uganda...
The upshot of this all is : Don't worry. Juba town is safe and stable. There haven't been any attacks in the city, and there won't be. I am taking good care of myself, and will be on the first plane out of here, if stuff starts to get hectic. For right now, the plan is that I'll be here until the beginning of December.
Hopefully I'll go to South Africa and visit my Aunt, Uncle, cousin, and god-daughter for a few days, before transiting through Denmark. I fly out of Nairobi on the 19th, land in Copenhagen on the morning of the 20th, and then turn around and fly to Maine on the 22nd. That means I am transitioning from around 40-45 degrees of heat to probably negative 20 degrees... in less than a week. My system is going to kill me, I'm sure.
However, I won't have a lot of time in Denmark to freeze. I have 2 days in which to meet with my employer and hand over all my stuff, collect all my cold weather gear from my parents house, go to an application interview for the MBA I'll hopefully be starting in January, see some family and friends, and then fly out. For those of you I don't manage to see - I'll be back in DK on a more permanent basis (like 21 months permanent...) on the 29th of December.
That is all for now. I'll be back with more, as the situation develops.
Reporting Live from Juba, this is JubaJoe - back to you in the studio, Tom.
JUBA, Sudan (Reuters) -- Unknown gunmen killed at least 38 civilians in a string of attacks in southern Sudan, regional government officials said on Thursday.
The south is hosting stop-start peace talks between neighboring Uganda's government and Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebels who have long been accused of committing atrocities against villagers in lawless parts of the remote region.
Uganda's military said it suspected the LRA was behind Wednesday's killings, but the rebels denied it.
Southern Sudan's Interior Minister Paul Mayom Akec told a news conference armed men killed 38 people, including women and children, and burned cars in several attacks on roads between the southern capital Juba and the eastern banks of the Nile.
"It is not my immediate desire to talk about the identity of the attackers ... no matter whoever they can be, in order for us not to jeopardize the ongoing peace talks," Akec said.
South Sudanese Major-General Wilson Deng Kuoirot, who heads the talks' independent monitoring team, said 41 people had been killed in ambushes witnesses told him were carried out by young, dreadlocked men and women in "shabby-looking" fatigues.
"Our forces are doing everything possible to find out who is behind these killings," he told Reuters. The victims were mostly shot in the head and left in their charred vehicles, he said.
A Ugandan military spokesman in Kampala, Major Felix Kulayigye, said he suspected the LRA launched the attacks.
"We have known all along the people we are dealing with here are simply thugs. Now the world can see," he said by telephone.
Negotiations have stalled in recent days as both Uganda's military and the LRA accused each other of breaking a landmark truce signed in August that aimed to end 20 years of war.
An LRA spokesman in Juba, Godfrey Ayoo, denied they were behind the attacks: "We are not the ones who did it," he said.
U.N. confirms ambushes
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was due in Juba this weekend to meet mediators, whose efforts had been hailed as the best chance of ending one of Africa's longest conflicts.
Two decades of fighting have killed tens of thousands and uprooted nearly 2 million more in northern Uganda.
The LRA, which was once supported by the Khartoum government as a proxy force against its own rebels, set up bases in the south in the mid-1990s, from where they staged raids into northern Uganda and terrorized local Sudanese communities.
The Juba talks -- the latest in many attempts to end the LRA insurgency -- were plagued from the start by profound mistrust on both sides, which spiked earlier this week with the military and rebels both accusing the other of attacks.
A U.N. spokeswoman in Khartoum confirmed ambushes on two roads around Juba on Wednesday, but had no immediate information about casualties. A U.N. bulletin said all road movement was suspended around Juba for the next 48 hours.
Alright, so here's the deal. The representatives of the LRA and the Ugandan Govt. have been meeting for peace talks in Juba, for the few months. The Govt. of SOuth Sudan has been heading up the mediation team. They've been meeting about 100m from where I go for pizza some nights. The ostensible aim of the talks is to bring the LRA, who have been "fighting their war" (read committing atrocities, killing innocents, and "conscripting" child soldier) for the past 20-odd years. The talks were going well, but slowly, up until about 2 weeks ago. The mediators had managed to get the LRA to start coming out of the bush and meeting at two rally point - one near the border to the Democratic Republic of Congo, one near the Ugandan border, both places inside South Sudan. Then it all went pear shaped. The LRA decided to move a couple of miles away from the rally points, claiming the water sources were better elsewhere. Then they decided the UPDF (Ugandan army) were slowly surrounding them and just waiting to attack (not impossible, but neither has there been any evidence), and disappeared off into the bush again. Talks are slow, to say the least.
Now, just during the last week, come the above mentioned attacks. I haven't been able to confirm the numbers of dead, but people seem to agree they are on the high side. Tensions have been high here for the last few days, as some of the attacks took place within kilometers of Juba. The LRA have been denying involvement, and accusations have been flung around by pretty much everyone. Couple that with Museveni (president of Uganda) bringing 4 helicopter gunships in for "close protection", and shutting down the airport and most of the city, on Saturday, and you have an awful lot of tension in the air. Keep in mind that the late John Garang died when Museveni's helicopter inexplicably crashed, delivering Garang to Juba from meetings in Uganda. This sparked riots in both Khartoum and Juba, as well as the outlying areas of South Sudan (read: the rest of the d**n region...), killing a number of people. This hasn't been forgotten by anyone, and there are those (Museveni) who are very interested in finding a better reason for the crash than: "Uhm... we don't really know, but maybe the pilots were too afraid of Pres. M. to refuse the flight despite knowing the weather was bad..." Anyway, I digress from the matter at hand, the attacks: Yesterday, 16 members of something called the JIU - Joint Integrated Unit (an attempt to further the peace agreement between North and South by creating military units comprised of both SPLA(south) and SAF(north) troops) were arrested for impersonating LRA and staging the ambushes/attacks. Now, there could be many reasons for this, none of which are good. The good news for the LRA is that so far they seem to be off the hook for this particular round of deaths. That just leave them with 10' of thousands of deaths, and 100's of thousands of internally displaced Ugandans living in camp all over Northern Uganda...
The upshot of this all is : Don't worry. Juba town is safe and stable. There haven't been any attacks in the city, and there won't be. I am taking good care of myself, and will be on the first plane out of here, if stuff starts to get hectic. For right now, the plan is that I'll be here until the beginning of December.
Hopefully I'll go to South Africa and visit my Aunt, Uncle, cousin, and god-daughter for a few days, before transiting through Denmark. I fly out of Nairobi on the 19th, land in Copenhagen on the morning of the 20th, and then turn around and fly to Maine on the 22nd. That means I am transitioning from around 40-45 degrees of heat to probably negative 20 degrees... in less than a week. My system is going to kill me, I'm sure.
However, I won't have a lot of time in Denmark to freeze. I have 2 days in which to meet with my employer and hand over all my stuff, collect all my cold weather gear from my parents house, go to an application interview for the MBA I'll hopefully be starting in January, see some family and friends, and then fly out. For those of you I don't manage to see - I'll be back in DK on a more permanent basis (like 21 months permanent...) on the 29th of December.
That is all for now. I'll be back with more, as the situation develops.
Reporting Live from Juba, this is JubaJoe - back to you in the studio, Tom.
Monday, October 09, 2006
C4 and H5N1
Firstly - apparently the honeymoon is now over for Juba. As you can see below, some persons as yet unnamed, have started blowing up radios. Or, more accurately, started packing radios with explosives, and letting innocent people blow themselves up. Now, aside from the obvious damage, targetting radios has an other, far more devastating effect. The radio is at the moment the most reliable means of communicating to the public. The local radio channel is used to broadcast not only news, but also public service announcements and advisories, to the entire Juba community. Making people afraid of the radio, which is presumably the purpose of the exercise, may slow the proliferation of radios. Worst case, you could potentially have large portions of local society not hearing things first hand, and thus being out of the loop. I don't think it's going to come to that however, as radios have been in the marketplace for quite some time now.
Secondly - if the exploding radios don't get us, the birdflu certainly will. H5N1 has been confirmed in the Juba chicken population, but there has not yet been a confirmed case of chicken -> human infection. So for now we're fine, although I find the ducks are circling me with a certain menacing glimt when I stop during my daily runs...
That is all for now. This afternoon, I go to climb the local Jebel (mountain) with a bunch of friends. Unlike most other mountains you are likely to encounter in, say, the rest of the world, this one has mines, so you really do need a guide to show you the way.
Pictures and more to follow,
Jubajoe out!
PS, to everyone in Denmark, I just want to take the opportunity to let you know that two of my very good friends have just had their birthdays. So congrats all around to Marie C-P and Martin, also known as Lunds. I hope you both had wonderful days in the company of those closest to you. Sorry I couldn't be there. P.
Police urge vigilance after
bombs planted in radios explode in Juba
void using locally purchased electronics.
Police have urged the public to remain
vigilant following a spate of
bombings that has killed at least four
people in and around the southern
Sudanese city of Juba since Sept. 28.
Three people died Sept. 29 after
explosives-laden radios and electronic
equipment blew up in Juba. The previous day,
a man died in Lainya County after turning
on a radio purchased in Juba.
Lainya is about 80 km (50 miles)
southwest of Juba.
Police have discovered TNT in at least 10 other
small radios and tape recorders at markets in Juba.
Authorities have not determined a motive for
the attacks, although they believe that the
perpetrators were not individually targeting
the victims. Authorities also claim to have had
knowledge that 'terrorists' had smuggled explosives
into the region before the blasts started,
but they have not identified any suspects.
Information about whether the explosives-laden
equipment showed signs of tampering was unavailable,
but using any electronics purchased in Juba in
the last month is inadvisable.
Secondly - if the exploding radios don't get us, the birdflu certainly will. H5N1 has been confirmed in the Juba chicken population, but there has not yet been a confirmed case of chicken -> human infection. So for now we're fine, although I find the ducks are circling me with a certain menacing glimt when I stop during my daily runs...
That is all for now. This afternoon, I go to climb the local Jebel (mountain) with a bunch of friends. Unlike most other mountains you are likely to encounter in, say, the rest of the world, this one has mines, so you really do need a guide to show you the way.
Pictures and more to follow,
Jubajoe out!
PS, to everyone in Denmark, I just want to take the opportunity to let you know that two of my very good friends have just had their birthdays. So congrats all around to Marie C-P and Martin, also known as Lunds. I hope you both had wonderful days in the company of those closest to you. Sorry I couldn't be there. P.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Chairs available at the Mighty Nile:
This picture was taken from the bar at Mango Riverside camp, one of the finer establishments in Juba. So far it is the only camp that has managed to maintain a sort of Safari-feel to it, the competitors long since succumbing on that account to disproportionate growth, poor location, a desire to do other things than accomodate guests, etc... It's a great place to go for a drink on either a friday or saturday night, or a sunday afternoon.
Political update
"In a press conference held Sunday (the 24th of September) evening after his return from the US, president Omar al-Bashir has restricted the movement of all the Americans in Sudan at a geographical limit of 25 kilometers, as from the Republican Palace in Khartoum."
I doubt this has made it to any major news outlets in Europe, and probably not the States either. But the entire US Embassy in Khartoum, has just spent their weekend here in Juba, so I really don't think its anything bit a nutty demagogue flexing his crazy-muscle. The reason, apparently, is that during Bashirs recent visit to the States, he was restricted in his travels. Turns out he came through Havana (not your best bet any day, I am guessing, if you wish to pass through US Immigrations without hassle), an country from whence anyone arriving into the States has their visa annotated with a travel-restriction. This is hardly surprising, given US - Cuban relations over the past decades. Nevertheless, a mistake was made, but regardless the apologies made to Bashir, he had to go and metaphorically stamp his feet like a toddler not getting candy at the supermarket... Scary, is what it is, considering the that he is the man who can make or break the future of Darfur.
I doubt this has made it to any major news outlets in Europe, and probably not the States either. But the entire US Embassy in Khartoum, has just spent their weekend here in Juba, so I really don't think its anything bit a nutty demagogue flexing his crazy-muscle. The reason, apparently, is that during Bashirs recent visit to the States, he was restricted in his travels. Turns out he came through Havana (not your best bet any day, I am guessing, if you wish to pass through US Immigrations without hassle), an country from whence anyone arriving into the States has their visa annotated with a travel-restriction. This is hardly surprising, given US - Cuban relations over the past decades. Nevertheless, a mistake was made, but regardless the apologies made to Bashir, he had to go and metaphorically stamp his feet like a toddler not getting candy at the supermarket... Scary, is what it is, considering the that he is the man who can make or break the future of Darfur.
Snapshot from Juba
Ok, I have been remiss in posting for the last couple of weeks, on account of being busy and pre-occupied with all sorts of other things. I am currently trying to find out whether or not I should spend another 6 months in Juba, meaning I would return to Denmark briefly, for Christmas, and then be down here until the end of June next year. The alternative is to try and get my MBA, by starting courses in January, in Copenhagen. I've yet to decide, as I have yet to hear what my management is willing to do to keep me. Something that certainly needs to be sorted out before anything can be decided. Clearly, this is some fairly momentuous stuff for me, so much of my brainpower outside work has been allocated to it these past weeks.
Anyway, I have had the great fortune to fall ill this weekend, so I have a little time, to sit down and get a little writing done for y'all. First up, a little insight into my everyday, through means of a still life:
You'll notice a number of things here. First, theres the preponderance of chargers. Since this picture was taken I've added a VHF radio and its charger. Once in a while my laptop will get involved as well, making for a full house! There's my sat-phone charger (but no one can reach me on the sat-phone unless I am standing outside pointing it just so), my cell-phone charger (a phone that really has no pattern whatsoever to its functionality - some days I get calls, some days I don't. It makes no sense, but a sign of my acclimatization to Juba is that no sense is now perfectly acceptable to me), my iPod and dock (gotta have the tunes in the evening, when I am working out of my room, or trying to fall asleep despite the 3mm partition separating but by no means isolating me from my snoring neighbor), my A/C remote to control me exact level of coolness. There's my Tootbrushing kit, allowing me to brush my teeth without having to hike to the bathroom. My Malaria meds to keep me from, you know, dying of nasty bugborn disease... My book, which I have actually finished since I took the picture (I recommend it, though. Part of a 3 volume series, it takes a different slant on some classic Fantasy subjects) Memorystick with the company logo. Always nice to have, so I can carry around quotes, documents etc between clients, ministries and sundry others who should, but don't, have a printer. There's my lighter, fluid, and cigarettes. While I am a smoker, I don't smoke much down here, despite it being something almost everyone does. Its a great means of socializing, however. I do some of my best work while having a cigarette with my clients. Finally, there are my dog tags (I'm probably paranoid, but if I get knocked out in an accident, while driving around by myself, I'd love for those who find me to call the right people the first time), and my journal, which I have not been writing in enough either.
All of these things make up a little part of my life here in Juba - I'll try to post some more pictures like it, as things progress. I have, for example, since this picture was taken, acquired the aforementioned radio AND switched rooms. Thats right, I now have my own bathroom. No more sharing with the rest of the camp. I also have a bigger room, and a bed that I actually fit in, which is truly great. Anyway, I have more posts to write, and in order to do so, I will now end this one.
Anyway, I have had the great fortune to fall ill this weekend, so I have a little time, to sit down and get a little writing done for y'all. First up, a little insight into my everyday, through means of a still life:
You'll notice a number of things here. First, theres the preponderance of chargers. Since this picture was taken I've added a VHF radio and its charger. Once in a while my laptop will get involved as well, making for a full house! There's my sat-phone charger (but no one can reach me on the sat-phone unless I am standing outside pointing it just so), my cell-phone charger (a phone that really has no pattern whatsoever to its functionality - some days I get calls, some days I don't. It makes no sense, but a sign of my acclimatization to Juba is that no sense is now perfectly acceptable to me), my iPod and dock (gotta have the tunes in the evening, when I am working out of my room, or trying to fall asleep despite the 3mm partition separating but by no means isolating me from my snoring neighbor), my A/C remote to control me exact level of coolness. There's my Tootbrushing kit, allowing me to brush my teeth without having to hike to the bathroom. My Malaria meds to keep me from, you know, dying of nasty bugborn disease... My book, which I have actually finished since I took the picture (I recommend it, though. Part of a 3 volume series, it takes a different slant on some classic Fantasy subjects) Memorystick with the company logo. Always nice to have, so I can carry around quotes, documents etc between clients, ministries and sundry others who should, but don't, have a printer. There's my lighter, fluid, and cigarettes. While I am a smoker, I don't smoke much down here, despite it being something almost everyone does. Its a great means of socializing, however. I do some of my best work while having a cigarette with my clients. Finally, there are my dog tags (I'm probably paranoid, but if I get knocked out in an accident, while driving around by myself, I'd love for those who find me to call the right people the first time), and my journal, which I have not been writing in enough either.
All of these things make up a little part of my life here in Juba - I'll try to post some more pictures like it, as things progress. I have, for example, since this picture was taken, acquired the aforementioned radio AND switched rooms. Thats right, I now have my own bathroom. No more sharing with the rest of the camp. I also have a bigger room, and a bed that I actually fit in, which is truly great. Anyway, I have more posts to write, and in order to do so, I will now end this one.
Friday, September 08, 2006
Gunfight at the Juba Corral
Ok, first off: Nobody got hurt.
Two weekends ago, I was invited to a dinnerparty down by the Nile. An Indian company is moving in to town, and I happen to know a couple of the guys heading it up. They have started building a new accomodation-camp, and wanted to show it off. My friend, who runs programs for a major US NGO, and myself went. We had an excellent time. We laughed, we drank, we made merry. We headed back towards ourown camp at around 2 PM.
As we rolled up on the main gate, I noticed about 8 locals scattering from the gate, and the 2 police guards were out of their guardhut. This is very un-characteristic, as they usually sleep through the night... As the guys had scattered, I assumed the coast was clear, so Friend and I exited the vehicle and went through the gate. As we crossed the compound, one of the staff comes barrelling by, no shirt on, cocking an AK47.
Now, weapons are strictly forbidden in the camp, and this guy had no business with one. Friend and I ducked behind a row of rooms (right by #37), and waited. 1 shot was loosed, and then nothing. I stuck my head around a corner, and made eye-contact with the rifle-wielding staffmember. He looked calm, was holding his weapon safely. We made eye-contact, and I went over to him, feeling that someone needed to makesure everything was right, until the head of the camp showed up. Turns out he was tucked up in bed, listening to the BBC world service, and had heard nothing. As I approached the gate, I realised there was a guy lying on the ground. For a second some really unpleasant scenarios played out in my head, but then I realized he wasn't bleeding. Not shot, just beaten, and keeping his head down. I agreed with Rifleguy that I would go get the boss. As I went to the boss's room, there was one more shot. Hoping Rifleguy had not just executed Guy on the ground. Having woken the Boss, we went up to the gate. Boss instructed Rifleguy to make the weapon safe, and the story was laid out.
Turns out Guy on the ground, and about 14 of his friends, had rolled up and tried to abscond with a couple of vehicles that were parked in front of the camp. In the face of entirely underwhelming response from the guards they had almost made it. Until Rifleguy showed. However, he was not intially Rifleguy, he was simply Guy who doesn't know when the odds are against him. He tried to stop the guys, and promptly had his ass handed to him by some of the punks. Realizing these guys were not easily dissuaded and were in some case carrying knives, he made a rapid decision and took off into the camp. At this point it seems some ofthe punks lost their nerve and took off, leaving just the ones Friend and I saw upon our return. Having escaped into the camp, and with the guards realizing that, while their carreers might be able to survive a couple of vehicles disappearing under their noses, letting 8 punks rampage through the camp that houses several members of the Southern Sudanes cabinet would not bode well for them. This was when Friend and I rolled up. Now, I have no idea whether they heard Rifleguy coming, or it was the arrival of our vehicle, that made them scatter, but scatter they did.
Now, for those of you wondering "so, what about the second rifleshot?" I can tell you this. Guy on the ground, having woken up, tried to make a truly ill-advised escape. The second shot was, if you will, a shot across the bow. It served to remind him exactly what the balance of power was, and led to him staying prone until the police cuffed him to the guardhut. There he stayed until the next morning. Juba Police does not yet have radios, so he had to wait until the morning shift showed.
During this time, he had a good long think, and promptly gave up 4 of his buddies who have been arrested. The remainder are still wanted, but I suspect neither they or any other representatives of Jubas burgeoning underworld will be coming around any time soon.
NOTE:
It strikes me just now, that my stories, varied as they are, may paint an unfortunate picture. Let me underscore the following. The overwhelming majority of the local population welcome the expat community, and are truly thankful for the effort being made by the international contingent. However, in any situation were law and and order are at best sporadic, there will be those who try to take advantage of it.
Do not let these people mar the impression of Southern Sudan as a country in its infancy, filled with potential and the desire to develop and move forward.
Now, with the sermon over, I must away. I have been in Nairobi for the last week, and fly back to Juba in the morning. My suitcase awaits, maw gaping in anticipation of being filled.
Until next time, take care.
JubaJoe.
Two weekends ago, I was invited to a dinnerparty down by the Nile. An Indian company is moving in to town, and I happen to know a couple of the guys heading it up. They have started building a new accomodation-camp, and wanted to show it off. My friend, who runs programs for a major US NGO, and myself went. We had an excellent time. We laughed, we drank, we made merry. We headed back towards ourown camp at around 2 PM.
As we rolled up on the main gate, I noticed about 8 locals scattering from the gate, and the 2 police guards were out of their guardhut. This is very un-characteristic, as they usually sleep through the night... As the guys had scattered, I assumed the coast was clear, so Friend and I exited the vehicle and went through the gate. As we crossed the compound, one of the staff comes barrelling by, no shirt on, cocking an AK47.
Now, weapons are strictly forbidden in the camp, and this guy had no business with one. Friend and I ducked behind a row of rooms (right by #37), and waited. 1 shot was loosed, and then nothing. I stuck my head around a corner, and made eye-contact with the rifle-wielding staffmember. He looked calm, was holding his weapon safely. We made eye-contact, and I went over to him, feeling that someone needed to makesure everything was right, until the head of the camp showed up. Turns out he was tucked up in bed, listening to the BBC world service, and had heard nothing. As I approached the gate, I realised there was a guy lying on the ground. For a second some really unpleasant scenarios played out in my head, but then I realized he wasn't bleeding. Not shot, just beaten, and keeping his head down. I agreed with Rifleguy that I would go get the boss. As I went to the boss's room, there was one more shot. Hoping Rifleguy had not just executed Guy on the ground. Having woken the Boss, we went up to the gate. Boss instructed Rifleguy to make the weapon safe, and the story was laid out.
Turns out Guy on the ground, and about 14 of his friends, had rolled up and tried to abscond with a couple of vehicles that were parked in front of the camp. In the face of entirely underwhelming response from the guards they had almost made it. Until Rifleguy showed. However, he was not intially Rifleguy, he was simply Guy who doesn't know when the odds are against him. He tried to stop the guys, and promptly had his ass handed to him by some of the punks. Realizing these guys were not easily dissuaded and were in some case carrying knives, he made a rapid decision and took off into the camp. At this point it seems some ofthe punks lost their nerve and took off, leaving just the ones Friend and I saw upon our return. Having escaped into the camp, and with the guards realizing that, while their carreers might be able to survive a couple of vehicles disappearing under their noses, letting 8 punks rampage through the camp that houses several members of the Southern Sudanes cabinet would not bode well for them. This was when Friend and I rolled up. Now, I have no idea whether they heard Rifleguy coming, or it was the arrival of our vehicle, that made them scatter, but scatter they did.
Now, for those of you wondering "so, what about the second rifleshot?" I can tell you this. Guy on the ground, having woken up, tried to make a truly ill-advised escape. The second shot was, if you will, a shot across the bow. It served to remind him exactly what the balance of power was, and led to him staying prone until the police cuffed him to the guardhut. There he stayed until the next morning. Juba Police does not yet have radios, so he had to wait until the morning shift showed.
During this time, he had a good long think, and promptly gave up 4 of his buddies who have been arrested. The remainder are still wanted, but I suspect neither they or any other representatives of Jubas burgeoning underworld will be coming around any time soon.
NOTE:
It strikes me just now, that my stories, varied as they are, may paint an unfortunate picture. Let me underscore the following. The overwhelming majority of the local population welcome the expat community, and are truly thankful for the effort being made by the international contingent. However, in any situation were law and and order are at best sporadic, there will be those who try to take advantage of it.
Do not let these people mar the impression of Southern Sudan as a country in its infancy, filled with potential and the desire to develop and move forward.
Now, with the sermon over, I must away. I have been in Nairobi for the last week, and fly back to Juba in the morning. My suitcase awaits, maw gaping in anticipation of being filled.
Until next time, take care.
JubaJoe.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Impulse post
Ok. I am in a predominantly Arab country, it's the end of august, and about 40 degrees celcius. I just walked by a local construction worker, playing with his cellphone (awesome, that these people are in a situation where they can afford cellphones, no?) Which ringtone do you think his phone was playing, transporting me instantly to The Twilight Zone?
Jinglebells.
JubaJoe, Tripping out...
Jinglebells.
JubaJoe, Tripping out...
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Rain Rain, go away...
A few words on the rain, and a few more on the skillset required for electricians in Juba...
So, I woke up this morning at the sound of the rain pounding (and, I later discovered, leaking through) the roof of number 37. I decided I should do a little bit on the rain in Juba...
It doesn’t rain often here, but when it does, it truly pours. I’ve gone to school in Norway, just outside Bergen, where precipitation is a way of life for 8 months of the year. So the frequency of rain here is manageable. What impresses is the intensity of it.
The way it works here, is as follows:
1: You start out with say, a sunny afternoon like the one below and you wait. That’s number 37, the first one on the right, by the way.
2: The wind starts to blow, and the clouds start to come in, along with distant thunder if its been a really hot day. This is Mama Nature’s way of telling you to get your behind under cover, or get it soaked. And the wind is intense. We have branches coming off trees, dust getting kicked up, frogs flying everywhere (there are almost as many frogs in Juba as goats, at the moment. I have no idea why)...
3: Then comes the water. It starts out as a drip, but within about 45 seconds it generally turns into a full-on downpour. We’re talking drops the size of eggs here, people. It really is amazing how rapidly it will soak you, if you are caught unawares. But what really amazes me, is how you notice the sound of it. Much more so, I feel, here than at home in DK. It starts out with the first few drops, and then it is as if God turns his radio to static noise, and cranks the volume up slowly but surely. It’s kinda cool...
4: The aftermath.
I don’t have any pictures of this part, but it’s pretty intense. I’ve mentioned the state of the roads before, but it serves as an excellent example. Because there is so much clay inthe soul around here, the drainage is deplorable. Obviously there are no rain gutters or any type of storm drains, sewers, etc... So there is nowhere for the water to go, but downhill. And go it does, taking dust, dirt, trash, road, frogs, and sometimes goats with it.
It leaves some roads useless until the water dries out, and forces you to take alternate routes. It’s unfortunate really, as the rain does tend to make life miserable for many of the locals, and particularly the IDP’s (Internally Displaced People = refugees, from other parts of Sudan) who have nowhere to shelter but under WFP/UNHCR issue tarps rigged up on sticks. And for them, the water just comes in under the tarp, instead of down from above. Gratefully, the water tends to dry out fairly quickly, which of course carries with it a different set of challenges, but at least they can shelter themselves from the sun.
A quick word on the skillset required from electricians in Juba.
Those of you who have either received my e-mails through May and June, or read all the earliest posts on this blog, will know that I have a somewhat strained relationship with the electricians that operate in the my camp where I live. This relationship was not improved today...
First, the power in my office went. Then it came back, I thought, Turns out it only kinda came back. The lights and A/C came back up after about 19 minutes, but the circuit supplying power to the outlets, and thus the internet, printer, computer, etc.. was fried. This was cause for much hemming and hawwing, and scratching of beards among the electrical engineers... The probed, poked, changed stuff to no avail. You see, they couldn’t find the circuit. How did they test the different breakers to see which circuit it was, you ask? Let me tell you. There was an electrician, and a electricians assistant. The electrician is a short, rotund, gentleman of middle eastern descent (Imagine Willow, with darker skin and about 50 pounds more bodymass, and you’re in the ballpark). The assistant, a tall, lanky Sudanese guy. So the Electrician stands on a stool in order to poke at the fusebox, and hopefully determine the error. At the same time, Assistant is on the ground staring at an outlet, waiting for a little light to come on, indicating resuscitation... Now, neither of the gentlemen speaks english as their first, second, or third language. Maybe their eighth... So the dialogue went something like this:
Electrician: Ok, light is on?
Assistant: No
Electrician: Light is on now?
Assistant: No
Electrician: Is on now?
Assistant: No
Electrician: Is on?
Assistant: No
Electrician: On?
Assistant: No
Electrician: On?
Assistant: No
Electrician *grunts inquisitively*?
Assistant: No
Electrician: Swears vigorously at fusebox, in arabic, indicating his failure to locate the bad circuit...
It was unbelievable...
So, I woke up this morning at the sound of the rain pounding (and, I later discovered, leaking through) the roof of number 37. I decided I should do a little bit on the rain in Juba...
It doesn’t rain often here, but when it does, it truly pours. I’ve gone to school in Norway, just outside Bergen, where precipitation is a way of life for 8 months of the year. So the frequency of rain here is manageable. What impresses is the intensity of it.
The way it works here, is as follows:
1: You start out with say, a sunny afternoon like the one below and you wait. That’s number 37, the first one on the right, by the way.
2: The wind starts to blow, and the clouds start to come in, along with distant thunder if its been a really hot day. This is Mama Nature’s way of telling you to get your behind under cover, or get it soaked. And the wind is intense. We have branches coming off trees, dust getting kicked up, frogs flying everywhere (there are almost as many frogs in Juba as goats, at the moment. I have no idea why)...
3: Then comes the water. It starts out as a drip, but within about 45 seconds it generally turns into a full-on downpour. We’re talking drops the size of eggs here, people. It really is amazing how rapidly it will soak you, if you are caught unawares. But what really amazes me, is how you notice the sound of it. Much more so, I feel, here than at home in DK. It starts out with the first few drops, and then it is as if God turns his radio to static noise, and cranks the volume up slowly but surely. It’s kinda cool...
4: The aftermath.
I don’t have any pictures of this part, but it’s pretty intense. I’ve mentioned the state of the roads before, but it serves as an excellent example. Because there is so much clay inthe soul around here, the drainage is deplorable. Obviously there are no rain gutters or any type of storm drains, sewers, etc... So there is nowhere for the water to go, but downhill. And go it does, taking dust, dirt, trash, road, frogs, and sometimes goats with it.
It leaves some roads useless until the water dries out, and forces you to take alternate routes. It’s unfortunate really, as the rain does tend to make life miserable for many of the locals, and particularly the IDP’s (Internally Displaced People = refugees, from other parts of Sudan) who have nowhere to shelter but under WFP/UNHCR issue tarps rigged up on sticks. And for them, the water just comes in under the tarp, instead of down from above. Gratefully, the water tends to dry out fairly quickly, which of course carries with it a different set of challenges, but at least they can shelter themselves from the sun.
A quick word on the skillset required from electricians in Juba.
Those of you who have either received my e-mails through May and June, or read all the earliest posts on this blog, will know that I have a somewhat strained relationship with the electricians that operate in the my camp where I live. This relationship was not improved today...
First, the power in my office went. Then it came back, I thought, Turns out it only kinda came back. The lights and A/C came back up after about 19 minutes, but the circuit supplying power to the outlets, and thus the internet, printer, computer, etc.. was fried. This was cause for much hemming and hawwing, and scratching of beards among the electrical engineers... The probed, poked, changed stuff to no avail. You see, they couldn’t find the circuit. How did they test the different breakers to see which circuit it was, you ask? Let me tell you. There was an electrician, and a electricians assistant. The electrician is a short, rotund, gentleman of middle eastern descent (Imagine Willow, with darker skin and about 50 pounds more bodymass, and you’re in the ballpark). The assistant, a tall, lanky Sudanese guy. So the Electrician stands on a stool in order to poke at the fusebox, and hopefully determine the error. At the same time, Assistant is on the ground staring at an outlet, waiting for a little light to come on, indicating resuscitation... Now, neither of the gentlemen speaks english as their first, second, or third language. Maybe their eighth... So the dialogue went something like this:
Electrician: Ok, light is on?
Assistant: No
Electrician: Light is on now?
Assistant: No
Electrician: Is on now?
Assistant: No
Electrician: Is on?
Assistant: No
Electrician: On?
Assistant: No
Electrician: On?
Assistant: No
Electrician *grunts inquisitively*?
Assistant: No
Electrician: Swears vigorously at fusebox, in arabic, indicating his failure to locate the bad circuit...
It was unbelievable...
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Wait, am I in the right room?
Ok, I need to relate something that happened to me today. It could, I suppose, have happened anywhere in the world, but the fact that it happened here does not surprise on any level at all.
I live, as you all know, in a tiny cabin that is about 3m x 3½m. My own little space, where I sleep, read, relax, and am alone. The number of my private sliver of heaven? 37.
The way it works here, thankfully, is that I hand in my key in the morning, and when I arrive in the evening, after working, it has been cleaned and made nice. Great deal, and it has worked without fail up until now. Imagine then, if you will, my surprise at entering my room today, and finding it empty. By box that holds all things valuable, my suitcase, my towels, my damn running shoes – all gone, as if by pixies... After a quick double take, to make sure I had let myself into the right room (the locks are not, in fact, particularly advanced and it was absolutely possible I had let myself into the wrong room, due to lack of attention. But no, there it was on the door, ”37” writ large. Off I went to the reception, to investigate. Had there been cunning thievery afoot, or perhaps a particularly well-orchestrated practical joke. Happily neither the former or latter were the case. It seems my neighbor was to be transferred to another room today. And, well, clearly 36 and 37 are easily mixed up... Thats right, the maid had come in and emptied the wrong room...
What is there to do but laugh?
Equilibrium was soon restored, and I now have my safe haven to myself again.
Furthermore, I have been off the radar for the last few days, due to unwanted visitors in my tummy. Now I am back to vertical, and moving around Juba again. Which means, dear readers, that soon there shall be more news of my exciting life in Juba.
See you soon!
I live, as you all know, in a tiny cabin that is about 3m x 3½m. My own little space, where I sleep, read, relax, and am alone. The number of my private sliver of heaven? 37.
The way it works here, thankfully, is that I hand in my key in the morning, and when I arrive in the evening, after working, it has been cleaned and made nice. Great deal, and it has worked without fail up until now. Imagine then, if you will, my surprise at entering my room today, and finding it empty. By box that holds all things valuable, my suitcase, my towels, my damn running shoes – all gone, as if by pixies... After a quick double take, to make sure I had let myself into the right room (the locks are not, in fact, particularly advanced and it was absolutely possible I had let myself into the wrong room, due to lack of attention. But no, there it was on the door, ”37” writ large. Off I went to the reception, to investigate. Had there been cunning thievery afoot, or perhaps a particularly well-orchestrated practical joke. Happily neither the former or latter were the case. It seems my neighbor was to be transferred to another room today. And, well, clearly 36 and 37 are easily mixed up... Thats right, the maid had come in and emptied the wrong room...
What is there to do but laugh?
Equilibrium was soon restored, and I now have my safe haven to myself again.
Furthermore, I have been off the radar for the last few days, due to unwanted visitors in my tummy. Now I am back to vertical, and moving around Juba again. Which means, dear readers, that soon there shall be more news of my exciting life in Juba.
See you soon!
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