You mentioned that the community was poor, but they called you Messi - do they have TVs?
The community is very poor, but they are surprisingly very in tune to the world football (soccer) scene. They don’t have TV’s, let alone electricity or running water, but there are a few shops/bars in the village that have a small TV and satellite that are generator powered. You will see tons of people huddled around the screen for a big match. Wearing a jersey is also a must while playing football here. We are in the middle of a 16-team tournament for the feast of St. John Bosco, and the games are taken very seriously with huge crowds and intense play.
What are some of the creature-comforts from that states that you miss? Doritos? Chips-Ahoy? Big Mac?
All the above! There are many things that I miss from the US -- cheeseburgers, cold cut sandwiches, my Dad’s BBQ. You name it and I probably miss it. Overall the lack of variety in food is what I miss the most, but I enjoy the special dishes such as fried chicken or beef that much more special because of the rarity. I surprisingly have had pizza a few times and ice cream as well, though not quite the same as I was used to in the States.
What is your oddest food that you have tried over there?
To be honest I really have not tried too many odd foods. The oddest would probably be Crocodile from the Nile River (it was very good). I guess the only other odd food that I eat is bread with ants in it. Sometimes ants invade our bread for breakfast, and about the only thing you can do try to shake it out hoping most of them leave. Lets just say there have been a few extra crunchy bites.
Is there anything that you've discovered in Juba that you're excited to bring back to the states?
What one thing of their culture would you like to bring back (does not necessarily need to be a tangible or material)?
Since these questions are very similar, I’ll combine them into a super answer! There are a few things that I am excited to bring back to the states. The overall joy the people (especially the children) have in life despite the lack of material items. It is a constant reminder of all that we have in the States vs. what we really need. I also like the problem solving and ingenuity of the people here. Anything can be made and everything can be fixed.
I also hope to bring back the faith and friendliness of the children. During Friday Adoration and Saturday Mass, the church is filled 95% by children. They are there not because they have to be there, but because they want to be there. After Friday Adoration we usually sing songs or play until the sun goes down. It is probably my favorite time of the week. The kids are also always so excited to say hello at anytime during the day, and always have something fun or interesting to talk about.
These questions got me thinking a lot about the good and the bad, and though I don’t want to be too negative, one thing I am not planning on bringing back is the sense of time. For anyone who knows me, I am always on time and even get frustrated when others are not, so the keeping of time is a big thing that I have had to adjust to. I have sat alone many times waiting, as the 10:00am meeting often doesn’t begin until 11:30am.
What's the grossest bug that you've discovered (Pic please)?
Oh man! There are so many gross bugs here. In general, the bugs are massive, and the grossest one was literally the size of my hand. While I don’t have a picture of that, I found one here that is not only big, but its antennae are longer than its body.
The community is very poor, but they are surprisingly very in tune to the world football (soccer) scene. They don’t have TV’s, let alone electricity or running water, but there are a few shops/bars in the village that have a small TV and satellite that are generator powered. You will see tons of people huddled around the screen for a big match. Wearing a jersey is also a must while playing football here. We are in the middle of a 16-team tournament for the feast of St. John Bosco, and the games are taken very seriously with huge crowds and intense play.
What are some of the creature-comforts from that states that you miss? Doritos? Chips-Ahoy? Big Mac?
All the above! There are many things that I miss from the US -- cheeseburgers, cold cut sandwiches, my Dad’s BBQ. You name it and I probably miss it. Overall the lack of variety in food is what I miss the most, but I enjoy the special dishes such as fried chicken or beef that much more special because of the rarity. I surprisingly have had pizza a few times and ice cream as well, though not quite the same as I was used to in the States.
What is your oddest food that you have tried over there?
To be honest I really have not tried too many odd foods. The oddest would probably be Crocodile from the Nile River (it was very good). I guess the only other odd food that I eat is bread with ants in it. Sometimes ants invade our bread for breakfast, and about the only thing you can do try to shake it out hoping most of them leave. Lets just say there have been a few extra crunchy bites.
Is there anything that you've discovered in Juba that you're excited to bring back to the states?
What one thing of their culture would you like to bring back (does not necessarily need to be a tangible or material)?
Since these questions are very similar, I’ll combine them into a super answer! There are a few things that I am excited to bring back to the states. The overall joy the people (especially the children) have in life despite the lack of material items. It is a constant reminder of all that we have in the States vs. what we really need. I also like the problem solving and ingenuity of the people here. Anything can be made and everything can be fixed.
I also hope to bring back the faith and friendliness of the children. During Friday Adoration and Saturday Mass, the church is filled 95% by children. They are there not because they have to be there, but because they want to be there. After Friday Adoration we usually sing songs or play until the sun goes down. It is probably my favorite time of the week. The kids are also always so excited to say hello at anytime during the day, and always have something fun or interesting to talk about.
These questions got me thinking a lot about the good and the bad, and though I don’t want to be too negative, one thing I am not planning on bringing back is the sense of time. For anyone who knows me, I am always on time and even get frustrated when others are not, so the keeping of time is a big thing that I have had to adjust to. I have sat alone many times waiting, as the 10:00am meeting often doesn’t begin until 11:30am.
What's the grossest bug that you've discovered (Pic please)?
Oh man! There are so many gross bugs here. In general, the bugs are massive, and the grossest one was literally the size of my hand. While I don’t have a picture of that, I found one here that is not only big, but its antennae are longer than its body.
Were you hot in your Santa suit?
Yes, I was very hot in the Santa suit. In December, temperatures were in the high 90s daily with a scorching sun that made it feel like being in an oven. We are entering into the extremely hot season now, and this week it reached 105°F. It is so hot here that I don’t bother flipping over my pillow anymore because the other side is just as hot.
What kind of a community is Juba? Farming?
The city of Juba is a government/NGO community. In South Sudan, about 80% of people are employed in the Public Sector, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was the makeup of Juba as well. The village of Gumbo, across the Nile River from Juba (see the map on my homepage for a better idea), is where our compound is located. Most of the people rely on subsistence agriculture for living, but farming is not done at a commercial level yet. Only 4% of the country's arable land is effectively used, and therefore, despite the fertile land most food is imported from Uganda.
What did the kids get for candy?
The kids got some small hard candies, caramels, and suckers as a Christmas gift from the parish. They enjoyed the sweets very much!
Did the snow Audrey sent work?
My sister and Advent Pal Audrey sent a nice little gift to me for Christmas, including my favorite candies (Snickers and Swedish Fish) and some Snow in Seconds. The snow worked better than expected with a very real look and feel. I’m excited to use it for the feast at the end of the month.
Besides the obvious friends and family response, what do you miss the most about America?
The thing I miss most about America is the freedom to go wherever you want and do whatever you want. In the States I loved going new places, seeing new things, and having new experiences. Though I enjoy the occasional downtime, I wish I was able to see more, do more, and go on more adventures, but the lack of things to do, unpaved roads, and safety issues make these difficult to do. However, the free time has allowed me to take up a few new hobbies such as reading and guitar.
I hope you enjoyed this first attempt at a mailbag. Let me know what you think and submit more questions for the next round!
Yes, I was very hot in the Santa suit. In December, temperatures were in the high 90s daily with a scorching sun that made it feel like being in an oven. We are entering into the extremely hot season now, and this week it reached 105°F. It is so hot here that I don’t bother flipping over my pillow anymore because the other side is just as hot.
What kind of a community is Juba? Farming?
The city of Juba is a government/NGO community. In South Sudan, about 80% of people are employed in the Public Sector, and I wouldn't be surprised if that was the makeup of Juba as well. The village of Gumbo, across the Nile River from Juba (see the map on my homepage for a better idea), is where our compound is located. Most of the people rely on subsistence agriculture for living, but farming is not done at a commercial level yet. Only 4% of the country's arable land is effectively used, and therefore, despite the fertile land most food is imported from Uganda.
What did the kids get for candy?
The kids got some small hard candies, caramels, and suckers as a Christmas gift from the parish. They enjoyed the sweets very much!
Did the snow Audrey sent work?
My sister and Advent Pal Audrey sent a nice little gift to me for Christmas, including my favorite candies (Snickers and Swedish Fish) and some Snow in Seconds. The snow worked better than expected with a very real look and feel. I’m excited to use it for the feast at the end of the month.
Besides the obvious friends and family response, what do you miss the most about America?
The thing I miss most about America is the freedom to go wherever you want and do whatever you want. In the States I loved going new places, seeing new things, and having new experiences. Though I enjoy the occasional downtime, I wish I was able to see more, do more, and go on more adventures, but the lack of things to do, unpaved roads, and safety issues make these difficult to do. However, the free time has allowed me to take up a few new hobbies such as reading and guitar.
I hope you enjoyed this first attempt at a mailbag. Let me know what you think and submit more questions for the next round!
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