4 countries in 4 weeks.

Ok, so it has been a month again since I last wrote but this time I feel like I really do have a good reason. :) Feb 1st I went to Ethiopia and returned to Juba on the 18th. Then on the 22nd Lynn and I went to Uganda and returned on the 24th only to leave again on the 26th to go to Khartoum, Sudan.

Ethiopia was a really good trip! I was able to go to Gambella and Jimma again, 2 places I visited the last time. I was hoping to go to one other place but things just did not work out so I had extra time in Addis which ended up being a very good thing.  I always have trouble with the internet  in Ethiopia so that is my excuse for not writing while I was there. Let me tell you, we in the States have much to learn about hospitality from our friends in Africa!! Tea and coffee several times a day, more food than we can eat, and long conversations about so many different things. Oh, and don't forget the laughter - so much time laughing and sharing.  I also got to see a school mate that I had not seen since 1992! It was such a good trip! I did realize that I am way more of an introvert ( yes, really! ME!) than I ever knew. Luckily I was with people who understood that and gave me time in the evenings to just be by myself. :) I am already looking forward to my next trip to Ethiopia in the fall.

Uganda was just a quick trip to see some co-workers there and get some "mega hugs" from their kids! We were in Arua and I think I could live there the rest of my life! Just the right size town, cooler than Juba most of the time, friendly people and the neatest old style houses. The flight back was an interesting one though. Our plane had room for 12 passengers and the 2 pilots. Well, for both legs of the trip we had 13 passengers! These are smaller planes and the isles are REALLY narrow so the 13th person sat in the last row with a butt cheek on the seat on either side of the isle!!!! The plane also did not have all the seat belts working and when we brought this to the attention of the co-pilot he said " no problem"! I will say the pilot landed the plane with one of the smoothest landings I have experienced! When we arrived in Juba we had to sit on the plane for a little over an hour while waiting  for the President to arrive, do an interview and then leave - luckily it was a cooler day or it would have really been miserable.

Now we are in Khartoum visiting friends and seeing some of the sights around the city. We will be heading back to Juba on the 5th and then on to the States on the 12th. Is it any wonder that I wake up wondering where I am??

Oh, by the way, the coffee in Ethiopia and Sudan is FAR better than anything I have had in the States!