Erster Eintrag

Having been asked several times by different people, I figured I might as well start a blog about my 6 months in Sudan.

Why Sudan?
- I always wanted to go to East Africa for at least a few months, especially Sudan- I think I was 15 when it first entered my consciousness.  I was immediately fascinated by the landscape and really wanted to spend some time there.

So now 10 years later I am on my way to Sudan.
Of course it is not solemnly the landscape because of which I am going. Having made a short documentary about a charity project in Tanzania and seeing people being able to tell their story, I was just taken by the impact filming can have. The supporters of the charity where more able to see what their money and support did as it came through the beneficiaries themselves. But not being able to speak Arabic I figured I will spend some time there first and then see how my media skills can be used and learn Arabic first.

The more I read and learn about Sudan the less I think I know, as it is the human side of events that interest me. Teaching English will be an incredible opportunity to meet people. Whether I will come back with an idea for a documentary or have a chance to film there I don't know but I am very much open to it and shall post links to it if I get a chance to.

In 4 days I will arrive in Khartoum and travel to Shendi, the town north of Khartoum, as soon as my documents are processed.  There I will be living for the next 6 months. This blog might be about the bumpy bus journey, personal encounters with people, my struggle with teaching people English without having a common language to fall back on or something completely different.  Feel free to comment.

Rhea