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Published: November 9th 2007
Today, I will leave Torit. The title entry same from Aibek, a colleague from Kyrgyzstan.
I have spent almost 6 months here, and surprisingly, I leave here with a greater feeling of emotion than I had thought.
As I said good-bye to Peter, our Ugandan mechanic's assitant, I shook his hand and he had tears in his eyes as I walked away. How does that not hit you in the heart?
Someone once wrote the "Outside of films and novels, Africa is a hard and unromantic place." To this, I somewhat agree.
As I walked around the camp this morning, saying my goodbyes to the local staff, Indian and Bangladeshi soldiers and fellow UNMO's. I realized that while I am so grateful to be leaving, a small part of me will miss the environment. The sam issues that frustrated the hell out of me in some respects, have made the time in Torit so very educational for me. I have learned about Islam, politics, the Bible, cultures and languages (I can say hello now, in English, French, Spanish, Portugese, Swahili, Arabic, and Thai.) Personally, I will miss being called "Captain Donald," it makes me smile.
I have seen the effects that history can and does have on the present and future of a nation. One needs to only explore the history of colonialism in Africa by the English, French, Belgians, Portugese, Italians... to see how profoundly it has affected the continent today. I have seen first hand the awful effects of human greed, that children die of measels while their leaders drive in sparkling new Mercedes sedans, and wear expensive suits. For the cost of one car, the lives of countless children could be saved. Think about it.
I look back on my time here with mixed emotions... I stepped of the plane in Khartoum on May 18, a wide-eyed newbie, not knowing if I would face hostile people at every intersection, or random gunfire in the streets. It was not at all that bad. (Although the drivers here are crap) When I deployed to Torit on June 6, I had been in the military exactly 10 years to the day, and I never saw Sudan as an option as I stood in Government House in Victoria, swearing an oath to Canada. I probably didn't even know Sudan existed. I feel I have grown personally while here, and while I expected to make a huge difference immediately, that simply does not work. I do however see success in the smiling faces and furiously waving hands of the children and the destruction of the remnants of war that pose a threat to the people here. I see success in the tears of an infant as a needle filled with measles vaccine pinches it's tiny arm. I enjoyed the shy smiles and shuffling feet of the kids as they accepted a small Izzy Doll.
For whatever it was, my time here is over. For what it is, it is a part of me forever.
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Gillian
non-member comment
Congratulations, Captain Donald. I think I know how you are feeling right now. Sometimes I miss being Teacher Gillian. You did good, soldier. xoxox