http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Kej woman/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Kej woman en-us Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:28:59 BST Sat, 26 Jul 2008 22:28:59 BST Working in the dustBy DianaComing back from the holidays was a mix of excitement and sadness. On the one hand I was coming to a new job to a new town to new people. On the other I had had so much fun for three intense weeks in Lima Washington DC and New York...it was hard to come back to the rhythm of life in Africa. A week in Kampala for my introduction to my new employer Malaria Consortiu http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Sudan/South-Sudan/blog-243372.html So before you say ldquowhat the hellrdquo let us give a bit of background. As the end of the year approached Dan and I faced some tough decisions. With so much welldeserved attention to Darfur in western Sudan by international agencies South Sudan is in a complicated position. Many donors have started to pull out the relief efforts especially in areas such as Kajo Keji which enjoy http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Sudan/South-Sudan/Kajo-Keji-County/Wudu-boma/blog-226854.html What we doing out here I can only answer for myself. Diana will handle her section.Dan's SectionI guess the best answer is that I am doing something that I actually feel that I can do and that not just anyone plucked off the street can do. Imagine that. I know I struggle to. Putting up with the stress of Sudan while bringing some limited skills and background is what I do. And yes not ev http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Sudan/South-Sudan/Kajo-Keji-County/blog-210832.html As some of you know every two months we get RR Rest and relaxation from our respective employers meaning we MUST leave so that we donrsquot strangle ourselves or someone else. When it came time to start planning where we would go there was no question ETHIOPIA. Some people would choose Dubai South Africa even Egypt for a week of vacationing but it has been a dream of Dan for about 10 http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Ethiopia/blog-206594.html There were a few things I knew before coming to the Kej. I knew for example that I would finally try out the rural life that I would meet wonderful people both from South Sudan and from other countries and that I would finally see Dan after months of separation. I also knew that there were going to be some things that would be difficult to get used to things that would be uncomfortable and t http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Sudan/South-Sudan/Kajo-Keji-County/Wudu-boma/blog-188682.html As part of my lsquoGuest Blogrsquo for Diana I figured it might be good to highlight the extraordinary aspects of life in Kajo Keji as she is covering the daytoday life. I hesitate to write about these things for fear of needlessly freaking people out but they are indeed a part of life in Sudan and canrsquot be ignored. Besides people back home do ask about the safety issue here so http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Sudan/South-Sudan/Kajo-Keji-County/Wudu-boma/blog-188261.html Before departing many of you asked me ldquohow do you get to Kajo Kejirdquo ldquoSimplerdquo was my answer. You take a flight from Entebbe to Moyo a town in Northern Uganda and from there someone from Danrsquos office will pick us up to go to KK. Hmmm. In all fairness it is that simple. However the journey to KK does pose its difficulties. First the plane. Eagle Air flies to http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Sudan/South-Sudan/Kajo-Keji-County/Wudu-boma/blog-176766.html The journey to Kampala can only be described one way LONG. Twenty hours after departing Washington DC I reached Entebbe the airport closest to Kampala after a short and not sweet stop in Amsterdam where security is even tighter than in the US. Tired but excited I arrived into Entebbe on Friday 15 June at 8 PM. Dan was literally a sight for sore eyes. He and the hotel driver picked me up http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Sudan/South-Sudan/Kajo-Keji-County/Wudu-boma/blog-173702.html My journey to Kajo Keji KK So the day finally arrived. After a string of goodbye parties meeting with friends saying goodbye to my family and closing up shop in Washington DC my home for the last 6 years I headed to the longawaited realization of a dream. Certainly when Dan my boyfriend and I talked about moving abroad to do field work during a trip to France last year I donrsqu http://www.travelblog.org/Africa/Sudan/South-Sudan/Kajo-Keji-County/Wudu-boma/blog-173189.html