Jub-ious

This picture was actually taken yesterday at the tail end of the flight that started in Yambio. I hope the blip community will forgive the indiscretion seeing as though when in Juba one has limited opportunities caged inside the compound.

The city from the air is unusual in not having a clear centre. It feels like a collection of displaced people's camps, semi-constructed buildings and UN and aid agency paraphernalia. And it feels fairly similar when driving around, although there are a few intersections where it bursts into life and where markets are a blaze of colour and clamour.

Yambio has more warmth as there isn't the criminality aspect to worry about or traffic police to dodge when moving around. Unless you know them and are greeted enthusiastically, adults there watch with bewilderment as you pass. Children burst into a singsong 'kharwaja how are youuuu' and it's refreshing that there is no follow up of 'give me [xxx]' [insert pen/money/sweets] as heard elsewhere.

It's best to reply with:

'I am fine. How are you?'

rather than any derivative as alternatives won't have been taught at school and the kids will stop in their tracks and adopt a bemused look.

Even cuter is asking them how they are in Zande: 'Ginipi?'

The younger they are, the quieter, shyer and meeker their response, so that the smallest are mouthing silently: 'Piaté'.

In Juba it's easy to miss these voices running after you, shouting at you as water is being pumped at the borehole or peeping at you through holes in fences.