There are those questions that seem to perpetuate stereotypes of Africa as a safari, such as, “Have you seen any animals?” It’s turning out to be a theme, having to convince people that my life isn’t a daily reenactment of Lion King.
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| Picture I took while on safari in Uganda, however… |
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| …not what I see out my window in daily life. |
I had to redirect questions that assume I’m living in a hut or working at an orphanage. One of my least favorites had to be the entirely too open-ended, “So what’s it like??” To which I would answer equally as specifically, “Oh well, you know…”
The most commonly asked question was, “Is it weird being back?”
Living in South Sudan for only six months, where I’m not living in a tukul (hut) in a tiny village and I still have regular access to internet and pirated movies and sitcoms, I wouldn’t exactly say that I’m cut off. I’m certainly not like the Peace Corps volunteer that comes home after a long, difficult sojourn and erupts into tears upon first seeing the cereal aisle in Wal-Mart in all its variation and consumerist glory.
The biggest, most profound change that I noticed upon arriving back in the States was that everyone had a much bigger phone. The pop music on the radio was new to me, but still crappy, although it’s unusual that an indie artist like Gotye had such a big song. I’ve missed and will miss lots of great movies and I’m upset that I only got through half of the Hunger Games on one of my three flights back to South Sudan. Mitt Romney might be the president when I return again, but hopefully I can get in my absentee ballot in time to at least minimize that possibility.
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| No thank you |
I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s not weird for me to be in America. I’ve been there before. I grew up there. I know what to expect.
I did think I would have a bit of a struggle going in and out and then back into South Sudan again after spending a long two months in the US. However, after almost a month being back in Yei, I think I’m readjusting well. My Juba Arabic is coming back, someone has already confronted me about homosexuality in the West (it seems to be the normal introductory conversation when I first meet someone) and I take it as a good sign that I managed to get a 6-month visa from the Immigration Office in Yei (which doesn’t technically issue them any more…) with only a few jokes and lots of smiling. Just don’t tell the government.
Probably the biggest thing that will affect me when I return again to the US after a longer stay in South Sudan will be that my brain and emotions will be as polarized internally as our current political atmosphere. I’ll simultaneously love and hate my culture in the US. I already started to feel resentful about how impersonal, unfriendly and un-hospitable people are compared to the South Sudanese. However, I love that Western tendency towards direct communication, and I’m definitely proud of the American drive for innovation and self-improvement. That and India Pale Ales … You may think it’s random, but I really love America for its selection and availability of craft brews.
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| Makes me proud to be an American |
Jillian Sans Frontières 