Bless him

We currently have two Sudanese colleagues from our fieldsite, Motot, staying with us. They've been in Juba nearly a month as they were set to attend an IT training which got delayed and now a peace building training - so they've become permanent residents of our compound. The thing I've found about Sudanese is that when given the option, they like to eat. Who can blame them? - many times in their home communities they don't eat much. The Juba team house must seem like Golden Corral. It slightly gets annoying, though, when one of us goes to eat and the food is finished. I've slightly been frustrated when this has happened to me because I, once again, try to relate our cultural norms to the situation - (don't take seconds or thirds until everyone has had firsts) which don't really apply.

Most of the expatriates are out of Juba at the moment at various workshops or in the field so Simon (one of the visitors) and myself were eating lunch together by ourselves. I made a comment about how excited I was to have salad (the cooks had prepared a fresh salad partially from our garden and everyone knows how I love to show excitement for my food) when Simon says to me. "When I came here, I was having trouble with my eyes, now, I see better because I have all these vegetables." Bless him. This just made my heart melt and eyes tear up. Of course we've all heard that carrots are good for your eyesight - and maybe it is a myth, but I doubt he's heard it. Maybe this new diet is making a difference. This is why I love Sudan - a meal can revolutionalise a life. Kids, eat your vegetables.