The Weekend

On Saturday Kristoffer took us to the UN compound - very interesting.  We had to go into a security station to get a visitor pass.  While entering the station, a woman guard asked where we were from.  When she heard we were from the States, she shook our hands and asked about Obama.  We went to the commissary to buy a few things.  I was surprised to see how small it was compared to the size of the compound.  Kristoffer said they were building a new and bigger one.  There were things there that they could get cheaper than at a grocery store, because they didn't have to pay duty on them.  It was interesting to see cigarettes for like $14 a carton - they do smoke over here (and lots of European expats smoke here).  We then went to see Kristoffer's office.  He has a beautiful view out his window.  The grounds were lovely.  Across the street from the UN is the US Embassy.  Kristoffer said I shouldn't try to take a picture of it, because I'd be in trouble if I did.

On the way to the UN we got into one of the funniest traffic jams I'd seen.  There are no signals here at all.  No one has the right of way - everyone just goes.  It was interesting to see how it all resolved itself.  I took pictures and if I can figure out how to do the picture thing (Lisa would really have to do it) I'll try to post a few.

Sunday we went to Mass.  The name of the church is Consolata Shrine.  It has Italian priests.  The church is made of cinder block.  No color on the walls - just cinder block.  There are very high ceilings,  There are a lot of very small stained glass windows.  It was almost a high mass with the incense going a lot.  The choir was amazing!!  A lot of the hymns were familiar.  They had guitars, violins and drums.  The singers swayed with the music.   It was lovely.  The other thing that they said when they were singing the "Lord Have Mercy" prayer is they called the Lord Bunna!  The church was pretty full.  The other thing that surprised me was that there were so many men there.  

Sunday afternoon Lisa and Kristoffer had another visitor.  Her name is Sylvia.  She came from Canada the other day.  She works for a foundation that is run by Professor Coplin at Syracuse; Lisa and Professor Coplin have a great relationship.  She is on her way to Sudan to visit a clinic run by the foundation.  The clinic was started by John Dau, who was one of the "Lost Boys" from Sudan and has also been a student of Coplin.  She might want Lisa to do some work for her.  Her views and her experiences were so interesting.  She has lived in Darfur for over a year while working on helping developing several clinics.  She has worked for humanitarian causes for years.   After Sylvia left, the next visitor was Aminata, Lisa's boss at UNICEF.  She was a lovely lady, she is from Mali.  She was taking leave next week and taking her 16 old son to Mali to be with her family to finish his high school education.  He is an American citizen (born in Urbana, Illinois) and will go to an American school in Mali.  

Well I guess that is where we are right now.  Today we get to meet Charles, their driver.  Can't wait to see how he drives on these crazy roads.