A little bit about my life in Sudan

Well, I have been encouraged to write some more, so I thought I would drop a not so brief update about life here in Sudan.

Basically, I work six days a week as a finance director for an international relief organization. It is very challenging, but very interesting as well. We work in 5 different parts of Sudan, so I need to coordinate all of the accounting from the field, compile reports for donors, prepare for audits, help with strategic planning and budgeting. Every day is different, and my job has no routine. Some days, I miss having some mindless work to pass the time, but for the most part I welcome the challenge and the opportunity for growth afforded in this job. I also get along quite well with my boss. We share many similar ideas on where the organization needs to go and what we need to do to get there, and it is motivating to have a plan to work towards. I also feel supported when the inevitable challenges and surprises come along, and I feel like my work is appreciated and is contributing to something worthwhile. All in all, it is a pretty ideal job for me.

I’ve been asked how this experience compares to my time in Malawi. Well, there are far more differences than similarities. Job wise, I felt more like a finance manager in Malawi, doing more of the work of inputting and reconciliations and such. In Sudan, I am more involved in higher level decisions. The challenges are greater, the responsibility is greater, but I guess overall the rewards may be greater as well. I think I may have evolved into this role had I stayed in Malawi as well, and am grateful that I had a chance to get my start in accounting there. Life wise, my time in Zomba (a smaller town in Malawi) was quieter, but I was surrounded by more of the beauty of the countryside. I lived on the side of a plateau, with beautiful views, nice trails, waterfalls, and the like just minutes away. In Khartoum, I live in a large capital city. It is much more functional than beautiful. But city life has its advantages, to be sure. There is generally more to do, more people to hang out with, and amenities and food options are easier to come by. It is hotter in Sudan, more humid in Malawi. The work weeks are longer and often more demanding in Sudan, but then I get vacation time every 3 months and the opportunity to explore another part of the world. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably already read about my time in Holland, England and Egypt. In 4 weeks, I am heading to Malawi for Christmas, and will be traveling to Mozambique to bring in the new year with some friends on a beach overlooking the Indian Ocean. I love that this job compensates me enough that I can afford to take some adventures and can take the opportunity to see new places (and revisit places like Malawi that are dear to my heart).

In other news, I have begun the process of formalizing my plan to stay here for 2 years. Even though I signed a one year contract, this was mainly due to not wanting to commit to staying if things didn’t work out (since I didn’t know my boss, or much about my job or where I would be living). But as most of you know, my plan all along was to stay here for 2 years unless things really weren’t working out. I am excited when I think of what we can accomplish as an organization in the next couple of years, and I am excited about the part I get to play in moving us forward. For those keeping track, this means I am committed to stay here through June 2009. So, at least I don’t have to think about my next step for a bit. I am confident that the experience I gain here and the contacts I make will make my next transition a bit smoother than my last one. I am grateful for the time I had back in Canada and the luxury I had to be able to spend time with friends and family, but I certainly learned some good lessons about planning and job transitioning that should serve me well in the future.

Of course, one of the other benefits of this job is that I have the ability to come back to Canada to visit at least annually. At this point, my plan involves coming back for a month in May (subject to a close friend’s wedding date being set). If I do come back in May, I would likely consider returning for Christmas. This leaves me with a couple of weeks in September 2008 to do another fun adventure. So if you’re going to be in Africa/Europe at this time, let me know and maybe we can meet up. I know it’s a long time away, but I need to do lots of advance planning. And it gives me something to look forward to on those weeks where there are 8 financial reports due and our payroll file needs to be fixed so people can get their monthly pay. J

As for day to day life in Sudan, some weeks I revolve around my work schedule, and use whatever time I have left for rest, relaxation, and winding down. During less busy times, I am generally able to play a couple games of squash or tennis during the week. I try to attend a weekly study group with friends from a church that I don’t go to often enough (but may start going to more frequently now that things are cooling down). It was easier to listen to teaching from my church in Toronto, which I could do in the comfort of my air conditioned home. But now that I know this will be home for a while, I am making more of an effort to really engage in the community and build a few more roots. I am hoping to start some Arabic lessons in the near future as well. I have a few friends that I generally get together with at least once a week for a movie or a games night. It’s amazing how fast the time can pass. I can’t believe I’ve been here 5 months already.

Basically, life is good. Sure, I miss friends and family, as always. Fortunately, the Internet is making it easier and cheaper to maintain regular contact (good old Skype). And it’s not long until I get to visit again. I don’t miss winter. I don’t miss Toronto, though I do miss many people who happen to live there. I guess I would rather be here doing a job I love than there doing a job that is paying my bills. I guess we will see what happens in the future, but for now, I am quite content right where I am, doing something I enjoy that affords me opportunities to do, see, and learn things that are beyond what I could have dreamed of a few years ago.