Not long after our Aqabah honeymoon, we landed in Khartoum, Sudan. The honeymoon was over but our sojourn in the Arab world just beginning. Ken, working for the non-government agency (NGO) ADRA/Sudan, settled into the culture with excitement. His dream: live in a village close to the people, learn Arabic, in short become an Arabist.
Our experience in Khartoum was uneven. As newlyweds, we struggled with adjustments to married life after a brief courtship and whirlwind wedding as well as adapting to our new work and living arrangements. The Sudanese were welcoming and friendly while key members of the ADRA ex patriot staff were not. We enjoyed marketing at the souq but the cleaning process for every piece of food grew tiresome. The extroverted Ken loved visiting Sudanese friends in their homes for evening tea while the introverted Rebecca spent many evening wishing her life away. Instead of working as a project director, conducting baseline surveys and field training, Ken found himself thrust into the job of ADRA director with the headaches and stress of administration. We transfered to ADRA/Kenya after one year and Ken's dream of becoming an Arabist withered.Almost 24 years later, a glimmer of that dream appears with the invitation to join the archaeological dig in Jordan. Ken and Rebeccan return to the Arab world. Who knows what might happen?
No comments:
Post a Comment