Saturday in Bunia

I have been in Bunia for almost five days now. My two country director's came out to Isiro earlier in the week to check on work out there and then brought me back with them here to Bunia on Thursday. While I did not want to come (being a bit of a hermit) I am glad for the time here. I have gotten to know the team here, what they are individually doing, their projects, how I can work with and thru them, etc.

We, here at Medair, are also in the process of saying goodbye to our current Country Director and our head of the Psychosocial program--- a wonderful Dutch couple who was worked here for the past 3 years. As they prepare to leave within the next 10 days, we had two parties here at the house in Bunia for them; one with just the Medair staff and then one in the evening with other expats from other NGO's (non-governmental organizations). Two completely different parties.

The one with the Medair staff was heart-warming as they have worked together for so long. It's a small family within a family here. The national staff dressed in their best, did skits, gave speeches, sang beautiful songs about the Dutch couple and what they have meant to this Congolese Medair team.

The party in the evening was a little different; numerous Westerners from different parts of the globe, sharing, eating, drinking, and dancing. Relief/ aid workers... they (or I guess I should say "we") have a look about us. I cannot even describe it, but usually when we get together you can guarantee that a good time will be had. I have never NOT enjoyed myself in these types of situations, however last night was particularly fun. Possibly the company, possibly the atmosphere, possibly the diversity of the situation, or maybe it was the dancing--- but it is nice to see everyone letdown and enjoy themselves as well. We never see this in Isiro--- there are only two of us and we make up the soul NGO there in town.

Nonetheless, it was great to meet other people from the field, to hear what they are doing, where they are from, what they do at home, to work on my french (yes, most conversations were in french and by the end of the night my head was pounding), just to make those connections. People never seem to know where Kansas is OR they relate it with "Dorothy" OR they get it confused with Texas. Even other Americans out in the field are taken back by meeting a Kansan out here. I usually just smile and try to clear up all of those misconceptions about Kansans... we are quite interesting people, if I do say so myself.

I am headed back to Isiro tomorrow.