If you're interested in Djibouti you should become acquainted with Somalia. Because the two countries are geographical neighbors and both have a population of Somali's, the Somali's politics are also the Djiboutian's politics.
And if you've had a class with Dr. Jenista and are consequently addicted to reading up on the history, politics, and international relations of the international world, then you might find the following article insightful as it gives an overview of what's going on in Somalia:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/the-pen-is-mightier-than-the-gun-depends/article1645197/
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Summaries
I wish I could make recordings of my daily musings, moving pictures of people in action and life being lived. Then I would just copy and paste these things here for you all to get a fuller picture of my life in Djibouti. There is simply too much being digested, a sensory overload if you will, and I myself cannot type as fast as the information comes. Plus I'm just not a good story teller. I spend too much time in self-analysis mode... better as a journal-er, not blogger. I hope to get more pictures and videos on here in hope that you can learn through observation like I have. Plus there is a lot that I just can't explain in words; I've come to understandings that I'm not sure I can even articulate to myself. Evidence of my experiences will surely flow out of future conversations, decisions, and the like, and maybe then I will more fully grasp how this internship has affected me. But in the meantime, please don't be frustrated with me if you ask how my summer was and I just say, "ummm... it was hot?" This place has opened my eyes and influenced me in many ways. It is forever a part of me. Stick around and you'll see. :)
During the hottest time of year in the hottest region of the earth, one finds a lot more free time than she knows what to do with. Even the natives who have lived through many summers in Djibouti spend their days watching tv in air conditioning if they have it. It's difficult to get anyone to agree meeting with you before 5:30pm, until after the sun has started setting. Although Emily and I have adjusted to the heat and can use adjectives like cool, comfortable, and refreshing to describe 95 degrees, we still avoid the afternoon sun like the plague and resort to our small bedroom with a fan and air conditioner for many hours of the day. We've watched a lot of movies, we've spent a good deal of time reading books and surfing the internet, and we've found exercising to her various Bollywood dance workout DVDs to be a good alternative to the above activities. And I'm still running, too. I've been mentally challenged by movies and books and I've been able to reflect while running and hanging around the house. So the down time has been productive.
There are a handful of Djiboutians that I interact with on a regular basis and only now, 7 weeks in to this internship, have we become comfortable with our language and cultural barriers. I've considered sitting in silence with my language helper who does not speak English awkward and frustrating at times, but we've seemingly become more comfortable with the silence and are more effective in communicating through touches and smiles. I've noticed an increased level of comfortability with my English-speaking Djiboutian friends, too. We're learning more about each other, finding commonalities in our stories. You don't really think you can relate to someone from the other side of the world, but it's not true. I'm learning about human nature and the traits that are common among men regardless of the way the man has been nurtured.
Things aren't as new anymore. I'm getting used to the culture and the city, I'm learning Somali, and I can get myself around town. I'm adjusted to the heat and I finally have some friends here, but I'm still keeping a countdown until I'm back to familiarity. This internship has given me a greater appreciation of home, of course. And I think that I've been removed from it long enough to look at America objectively like I look at Djibouti. When I'm caught up in the details I forget that America isn't my home, either, that the people are no more or less valuable than Djiboutians, and that the American people are no closer to understanding Truth.
Two weeks until I hop on a plane and head back to the US to further process my time here and begin post-grad life. I still don't know what is next for me, but I'm sort of excited to figure it out.
During the hottest time of year in the hottest region of the earth, one finds a lot more free time than she knows what to do with. Even the natives who have lived through many summers in Djibouti spend their days watching tv in air conditioning if they have it. It's difficult to get anyone to agree meeting with you before 5:30pm, until after the sun has started setting. Although Emily and I have adjusted to the heat and can use adjectives like cool, comfortable, and refreshing to describe 95 degrees, we still avoid the afternoon sun like the plague and resort to our small bedroom with a fan and air conditioner for many hours of the day. We've watched a lot of movies, we've spent a good deal of time reading books and surfing the internet, and we've found exercising to her various Bollywood dance workout DVDs to be a good alternative to the above activities. And I'm still running, too. I've been mentally challenged by movies and books and I've been able to reflect while running and hanging around the house. So the down time has been productive.
There are a handful of Djiboutians that I interact with on a regular basis and only now, 7 weeks in to this internship, have we become comfortable with our language and cultural barriers. I've considered sitting in silence with my language helper who does not speak English awkward and frustrating at times, but we've seemingly become more comfortable with the silence and are more effective in communicating through touches and smiles. I've noticed an increased level of comfortability with my English-speaking Djiboutian friends, too. We're learning more about each other, finding commonalities in our stories. You don't really think you can relate to someone from the other side of the world, but it's not true. I'm learning about human nature and the traits that are common among men regardless of the way the man has been nurtured.
Things aren't as new anymore. I'm getting used to the culture and the city, I'm learning Somali, and I can get myself around town. I'm adjusted to the heat and I finally have some friends here, but I'm still keeping a countdown until I'm back to familiarity. This internship has given me a greater appreciation of home, of course. And I think that I've been removed from it long enough to look at America objectively like I look at Djibouti. When I'm caught up in the details I forget that America isn't my home, either, that the people are no more or less valuable than Djiboutians, and that the American people are no closer to understanding Truth.
Two weeks until I hop on a plane and head back to the US to further process my time here and begin post-grad life. I still don't know what is next for me, but I'm sort of excited to figure it out.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Somali militants claim Kampala blasts
Talking about this news with a Ugandan from Kampala while in a country with people of the same nationality as Al-Shabab changes the way I think about and pray for the situation and the people involved. Such a mess we humans are.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/wor
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