I'm back!

Oh, I'm back! Feel totally released. I started to appreciate clear water, fresh shower, straight roads... all the little things I took as granted before I had experienced the harsh life in D. R. Congo. Probably I would never have learned how lucky we are without living in black Africa for two months.

Just sorted out some photos we made in Jinja and posted them on Flickr, not yet have time for the ones made in Bunia. I was sick these days. As I turned better since yesterday we visited the Technical Museum today. But now I have to go to sleep as I am very tired and want to take advantage of the presence of Chris for another week or so. Bye thus.

First week in Bunia

In Christophe's office now. Outside, heavy rain. The weather is far different than I imagined. What I brought are just summer clothes that don't fit the enviroment and temperature here. I have to put on Christophe's pullover to keep myself away from cold and mosquitos.

Bunia is located close to the Congo and Uganda border, an hour flight from Entebbe. Living condition here is harsh. Tab water and public power supply is not constant. Water has been backed up in jerricans in case the water tank is empty and the pressure is too low to refill it. The electricity, if there is any, is much lower than sufficient to supply the normal lightening, so that all (foreigners') houses are equiped with generators which generates lots of noise besides power.

Christophe works from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and comes home for 1 and half an hour lunch break. Cooking and other house works are done by two Congonese workers. I would do some reading or learning during the day if there's enough sun light. Evening time we often go to the "MONUC House" or the military camp for dinner. The house we are living is guarded, as security is still an issue in Congo. Walking alone outside may cause danger so I'm recommended not to go out alone. Anyway there's nothing to see in the city except muddy roads.

Last Sunday afternoon, a friend of Christophe's was robbed at home. Four robbers, two guns. The friend and his guards were threatened and later were locked in a room. His house was searched up side down, all valuables are gone. Luckily nobody was hurt or wounded. This case gave me an alarm, a vivid picture of the security problems in Congo. Even the field UN staffs are in unsafety, how about the local people?

The week before I came to Bunia, we went to Jinja in Uganda. That part of the Victoria lake breeds the source of the Nile. We lived in a small resort with a beautiful garden directly facing the lake. During the week, despite having had a short walk to the source of the Nile, we stayed in the hotel, reading, eating, and relaxing.

Here in Bunia is completely different. People living here, except locals, are mostly working for the UN or other NGOs, others are militaries. Life is at the lowest standard, worse than many other African countries. When security or stability is an issue of a country, what more can we expect?

I am adapted, don't feel so astonished anymore as when I saw the "Bunia Airport" at the first sight. It is even not properly built as a bus station. Feeling happy to see Christophe everyday, I will stay in Bunia until September his next holiday and be back to Vienna together. Hopefully the weather will get better tomorrow.

Living in Bunia

Today Christophe sent me some photos of the house which he is living in Bunia. It looked much better than I imagined, could not let me relate it with the one sometimes lacked water and electricity supplies. However it's the situation he has to cope with. His redeployment to Kinshasa will take place in August on an undetermined date. I don't know yet where I'll be by then. The plan is that I go to visit him during my summer holiday starting at the beginning of July. Of course he'll be working most of the time, but at least it's cheery that we can see each other everyday. I'll most likely stay in Bunia until his redeployment then return to Vienna. In September he can probably take three weeks holiday. I look forward to seeing him again.

Fun in Congo

Well, I don't know why, but I never wrote how much fun it can be to work in a UN Peacekeeping Operation. Two days ago I went on a mission on the Lake Albert, and with my colleagues we did some boat rides with Uruguayan Special Forces on their little but powerful zodiacs. Apart from my butt muscles hurting because we never stopped bouncing on the waves (yes, there might be waves on large lakes), it was great fun. Very nice views, boarding small villages which otherwise you could not reach, not even by air, as they are located at the flank of mountains dropping straight into the Lake, encountering local population, discussing their problems, trying to help. Yesterday, for example, we board one of these villages, this time located in a swampy area. We had to walk for 15 min, pulling our zodiac before we managed to reach shore. Quite an experience.

And I haven't spoken yet from all the helicopter insertions you do in this kind of job. Just imagine. There has been a mass killing, or some militia exactions in a villages located kilometers away from any know and usable roads. Well you board a MI-8 or MI-17, you know those old Russian choppers used for troops insertion during the cold war, and there you go. You can take numerous aerial photos, and sometimes experience wild rides.

But the best ever, was when I went to the Garamba Park, a UNESCO World Heritage where you have the last Congo white rhinoceros. Upon arrival, I took with two of my colleagues a small CESNA aircraft, up to Gangala-na-Bodio, another Park ranger’s base. When flying over the park, we saw numerous numbers of elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes and hypos. And I can hardly describe the sensations when the pilot dives close to the animals to offer us a better view, or when it landed, passing only a meter or so above the UN helicopter that lay stranded in the middle of the runway. Scary, but unforgettable.

I guess working with the UN is one of the most exciting jobs you can do. You go where nobody else goes (I mean foreigners of course), you use means which you could only dream of, and you don't have to be a military, nor work for a intelligence agency. Somehow, it's like being a "chevalier de la table ronde" but in modern times, the Grail being "peace on earth and security for all". Like the Grail quest it's an unending quest, with its perils and enchantments.

So, yes, there are positive things about this job, for those who wondered.

Paradise Holidays ... almost

I will not recount our last days as they are not really interesting, full of stress while considering the possible recovery of our passports and the purchase of another ticket for Yilin to get back to Vienna. At the end all went well, and both of us returned safely.

What was really a discovery for me was the fact that I loved so much doing nothing or almost nothing for two full weeks. Before I always wanted to discover the place where I traveled, or I felt I was wasting my time. I always believed that I was not a beach type of guy. However, this time I enjoyed so much to relax in the company of Yilin. The scenery was beautiful, the food (lots of seafood actually) was excellent, though more expensive than you would imagine on an island east of the African Coast, and most and foremost the coast where we were in the North was offering an incredibly beautiful scenery I would not stop enjoying. I became so lazy that I suggested Yilin not to move to the east coast like we had planned, and we eventually stayed another week in the same hostel, where we ended up having our stuff stolen ;-( Moreover, I had brought a pile of books which I devoured during the sunny hours of the day. So apart from our last days which were somewhat spoiled by this theft of our personal belongings, it was just perfect.

As for the national parks, that was cool too. It's kind of strange to feel you are the one in the zoo for once, but then when you think over it, I guess this is the way it should be and not the opposite. So, yes it's kind of magic to see elephants, lions, giraffes and so many other species in their natural biotopes, where men, if left without protection might just become a prey...

Now, more seriously, one of the most important problem on this island is the corruption of the local government which does not redistribute the wealth acquired from tourism to the population. Education, I was told by NGO people working there, is faltering and development is at an all time low. And mainland Tanzania has to cope with similar problems. But compared to neighbouring countries, Tanzania is pretty stable. It's just a pity they cannot take stock of this advantage.

Tanzania Photos

Just back from Africa - several days later than planned. Two days before the departure, our passports and some other stuff were stolen from the safe of the hostel we resided in Zanzibar. Of course cash is gone, but fortunately we got our passports back - the thief posted them back to the hostel manager... tschja, what can I say?

Somehow I don't feel like to write much today (have to get myself prepared for the new semester), just want to post the link of our holiday photos which you may be interested in. Our trip was otherwise wonderful though costly. The first week was in Arusha and the last two weeks in Kendwa. Tanzania, a country worth going - with a travel insurance with full coverage.

From Ituri

Well, look like I will write something like, really, those here don't know how to deal with the disarmament of remaining militias in Ituri. Disturbing, as some people's life are at stake. So basically, it gets on my mind and makes me tired of people reinventing the same wheel all over again. Good though that Yilin recomforts me everyday. The sound of her voice does the trick, and redynamizes me for another day. That won't save the populations from militias and the army, who are actually worse than the militia, but it'll save me from getting insane...

Africa

Finally I decided to go to Africa, to the continent where Christophe has lived for two years. Since he left, many people asked me how it could work out - a distance relationship - even a weekend one is difficult. A further question would be "how often do you see each other?" "Once every three months" I answered. "Oh! Will it work out?" with their eyes widely open. Being asked I often kept silence, just smiled. A few words couldn't explain, especially to someone who would never have understood.

I won't say that it is a cheerful situation, and I sometimes didn't feel joyful either, but it happened, and I accommodated it. My "special someone" wants to go after his dream, he will be away for a while, so I respect his choice, letting him free to do something his enthusiasm leads him to – that simple. (He will likewise respect my choice if I one day meet the chance of my life.) All in all, distance doesn't separate us. However it does require a lot of efforts – confidence, trust, faith and loyalty besides love. Daily phone calls keep us in touch. We learn to value each other more since we've gone through difficulties together, we know that we are always there for each other even though we are so far apart, which brings us tightly closer together.

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