Did I mention it is hot here?

The next day we reported to the United Nations compound for our induction training. I am pleased to say we were very well briefed and prepared prior to our departure Canada so our days in the classrooms and the information we received did not come as shock to us. The problem was not the subject matter but rather the heat and the time change. The heat because during that first week it went up to 51C and the time change because many were waking up through the night with all of us wide awake 0530 hrs no matter we did. It took about a week to get our systems anywhere near normal.

Between the heat and the erratic sleep patterns and the various drugs were are on for malaria, yellow fever, this flu that flu a couple of our folks ended up in the hospital. One from bites from a mysterious bug which left huge welts that took almost two weeks to go down. So nightly that member literally covered themselves in cream with a nightcap of anti-inflammatories..not fun. The second member gave us a real scare with an increase in blood pressure followed by a bout of dysentery. The poor guy spent four days and three nights in the hospital. The UN doctors and nurses were great and when he was transferred to the local hospital he received the best of what they could offer. even had a VIP room. The hospitals are not what we would have in Canada but he was treated very well none the less. The members all volunteered to stand a post with their comrade to make sure that he was safe and able to relax. I think in fact there were even a couple of arguments as to who was going to go and sit with him all night. I am very proud of that officer and of our people for looking after their own in a very foreign environment. For example when he was checked in the nurse wanted the name of the other patient. we explained that no he was not another patient he was just going to stay to make sure our friend was ok. Now remember there is a fairly serious gap in mutual language...Eventually we realized the nurse wanted to know who the co-patient was going to be...Here it is expected that a friend or family member stays with you in hospital to ensure the patient can get assistance for whatever they need like a drink of water or a steady hand to help them to the facilities. The hospital even serves two meals for the patient and the co-patient. It was noticed that our guy was feeling better when the requests being put to the co-patient were becoming more lets say...exotic.. Unfortunately the day he was to be released turned out to be a Friday. Friday is a Holy day like our Sunday and not a doctor could be found to sign his release papers so our man got tucked in for another night. At one point during his stay I was visiting when an orderly came and haltingly told the patient the co-patient and myself that the patient was required for some tests. So the co-patient and I said good bye to the patient expecting he would be going down the hall and be back as the orderly had indicated in five to ten minutes. An hour late we were starting to get a little concerned when in wheels our guy and the orderly. Once the door closed the patient told us of his adventures.. Once leaving his hospital room he was taken down stairs for a couple of tests. They were done quickly and efficiently from their he was wheeled out of the examination room and directly out the door into the street and before he knew what was going on he was snugly packed in the front seat of an ambulance between the orderly and the driver with neither of them able to speak English. The hospital is smack right in the middle of Khartoum with the streets teaming with vehicles and people. Before our man can ask the ambulance squeals off lights and sirens wailing into the packed streets. Telling us his tale he did say at that point he was a little concerned...but up a street across four lanes of traffic and down another to an abrupt stop in front of another building and he is whisked in to the front of the line for another test. Once the tests were completed they retraced their tracks lights and sirens back on. We had a good laugh on that one. Throughout the whole time that member never bitched, never complained or felt sorry for himself. I am very proud to serve alongside a fellow like that.

Over the next week the Canadians deployed out to the Team Sites. We are all far flung across the country in some very interesting and challenging posts. The good thing is that I managed to get them all posted with the blessing of the Commissioner two to a Team Site. They can then support each other during the good and the tough times.

Easter was kind of quiet here as all our guys had flown out and we were here just the three of us. Easter is not a holiday as we work everyday here until you get time off every month or two. The day before Easter I got a frozen turkey at the PX and got it home. Sitting in 110 degree heat on the way home being cuddled up with a large frozen bird wasn’t the worst thing which could have happened. The next day after many international emails and calls, Mombo our resident expert Chief was able to find out how to cook the bird. The emails actually went to my other roommate’s folks who in turn emailed his Aunt in Florida who in turn emailed his folks back who in turn called him… It worked out great! We also invited some camp mates of ours a group of officers from Russia. We tried to be good hosts with what we had and they were great guests. We compared cop stories (go figure) talked about home (and cooler climates) and toasted our families with Barbican. Barbican is a non alcoholic malt beverage….sort of like near beer except it comes in various flavours…..yaaaa you can imagine….But hey it was good fun! They are a good bunch. We are now pestering them for a real Russian meal….caviar perhaps (not likely!)


At this point our contingent has worked everyday since reporting for induction training in Ottawa light years ago. We are all tired as we are on everyday but as we are all away from home it is good that we are focused on the job and not sitting around thinking of home. I am getting reports of some solid work by our people ranging from looking into the case of a mentally challenged youth who is living on the streets of a village many miles from his home community and organizing efforts to get him re-united with his family to our people responding (remember they are advisors) to a fatal car crash. They responded and did their best for the injured and then attended the village with the deceased to help the relatives. When they arrived with the body 200 relatives where waiting for the sad reunion with their family member. Our people are also co-locating and heavily involved with training our Sudanese colleagues. Sometimes the police stations they are attending are 30 minutes down the road and other times they are and overnight long range patrol away. Bottom line is we are supplying a much needed product to these officers and are being well received.