An Uduk Thanksgiving

So we have arrived safely in Doro, South Sudan. 

It’s been a great first week. I shan’t bore you with everything that’s happened, but let me tell you about a funny experience on our first day here.

Would you believe that the Uduk people (who are the biggest tribal group in the refugee camp) celebrate thanksgiving! So last Thursday we were invited into the camp to one of the Uduk churches who were having a celebration. About 6 of us spent the afternoon in an area called Borfa.

Thankfully one of the American guys with us spoke pretty decent Arabic and 2 of the Uduk men spoke English which aided communication. When we arrived the men were ushered to sit in a circle, with the ladies in a different group. As kwagas (white men) we were made to sit on chairs, and we sat around talking. The girls meanwhile had to sit on the ground and helped the local women prepare the food.

We were served 2 cups of Chai tea (with lots of ginger and lots of sugar), followed by 2 cups of coffee (espresso sized cups, 1/3 filled with sugar and topped up with coffee. You don’t mix the sugar in, and you keep getting it topped up until all the sugar is gone!). It’s amazing!

Us men then had to go and greet another village group a few minutes walk away (while the girls continued cooking). When you enter a village you have to shake everyone’s hands (everyone!). So you will go round the youth circle, then the women, then the elders, then the men (maybe 20 or 30 in each circle).

We had the Chai and coffee routine again and then they brought out this massive platter of food for us. Mainly nuts or bean based, all salty and peanut buttery. There was lots more chat and then we asked permission to leave (repeat all the handshakes), and returned to the initial village (repeat all the handshakes) and arrived just in time for the food to be ready there (all the same stuff as before!). I drank about a litre of water just to stop my mouth drying out completely! It was tremendous, we were all stuffed! (And the girls did eventually get fed and watered too)

We have since been assured not every day is like this!

This week has seen us start our “Intensive Mabaan language course”. I’m sure there will be humorous stories to follow .

P*

Below: The inside of our new home for the next 6 months. Complete with some Sarah homely features.