At least we don't have killer cockroaches

A friend of mine sent an email from her post in Rumbeck, which is a town in Lakes State, South Sudan.  She sent some photos of very large cockroaches with fangs.  Apparently this one was attacking the cat! They seem pretty nasty.  Thankfully I haven't run into any in Bentiu yet. 

On my run yesterday I saw a bobcat I think, it had a long tail and spots, was a bit bigger than your average cat.  I hope it wasn't eating the baby mongoose.  It's almost like I live on a safari.  Almost. 

Here is a photo of the mongoose outside our office.  On my run this evening I saw a whole pack, about 40, babies and all. 

Today I made a vegetable curry and after that I was so bored that I decided to wash my yoga mat.  Something that was needing to be done for a long time, particularly considering the fact that the mat used to belong to my mother.  It probably had 3 years of dead skin cells and sweat mingled in it.  A nice thought as you move into downward dog. 

IRIN Africa | SUDAN: Road closures, bombings, landmines hit Southern food supplies | Sudan | Conflict | Food Security | Security

No bombings anymore but certainly not much food around:

IRIN Africa SUDAN: Road closures, bombings, landmines hit Southern food supplies Sudan Conflict Food Security Security

How to ignore the stench of ammonia when showering and brushing teeth

I'm all about trying to live simply and learning new things.  Like living in a container and using communal showers and toilets, where your knees touch the door of the cubicle and water stops frequently. 

On my second or third night here it must have been a hot day and there was some problem with the plumbing.  I was keen to wash off the sweat and grime of the day and was looking forward to a nice shower; it started off well, until the smell of ammonia hit my nostrils and I felt like I was washing myself in sewage as opposed to groundwater.  It was rather unpleasant, but worse still, after I managed to block my nose somewhat, I was trying to brush my teeth - there's something wrong about trying to clean yourself with minty froth and then inhaling the smell of piss at the same time. 

Trying to complete these tasks while stomping your legs about to ward off the aggressive mosquitoes - not my happiest moment.

If you have a choice, don't go to Bentiu

When I arrived at UNHCR HQ in Juba, South Sudan, colleagues asked me where I would be posted.  I answered as per my position description: one of 4 duty stations, Aweil, Bentiu, Kwajok or Wau.  One colleague had been to most of those duty stations and he advised, 'If you have a choice, don't go to Bentiu, that's the toughest place'.  Another colleague who had just returned from Bentiu told me that he wouldn't send a female staff member there. 

So, here I am! Bentiu (or more accurately, Rubkona), in Unity State, South Sudan.

I live at the UNMISS compound, which basically consists of a bunch of containers and four-wheel drives.  There are about 6 women here and around 200 men, but since everyone is entitled to R&R holidays every 6 weeks people keep coming and going.  We also get a spattering of NGOs, journalists and consultants passing through which keeps things interesting. 

Good things about Bentiu: sunsets, mongoose, Mr Mohammed's shop which sells freshly baked bread daily.  Good things about UNMISS: air conditioning, internet, a huge generator. 
Bad things about Bentiu: jumpy insects, large insects, biting insects, only being able to buy 5 sorts of vegetables at the market, if you're lucky.  Bad things about UNMISS: shared bathrooms and kitchen, having to get water at a collection point in a bucket and lugging it back to your room.