Africa was #1 on my MUST SEE, MUST Do list for many reasons: the wildlife, the culture...the simplicity of the African lifestyle. I was in awe of the land that hadn't been touched by Hollywood, big macs and corporate big dogs. I wanted to go there...to broaden my perceptions and expand my horizons.

When I turned 25, I said to ma and pa...'hey, guys, I got a teaching job in Sudan, I leave in one month.'--Ya, that went over REAL well. After the drool began dripping from their gaping mouths, the questions began:

"Why would you want to go to Sudan? Do you know of the situation in Darfur? Do you know of the civil war taking place in the south? Are you crazy? Have you lost your mind? Do you want to die? Get raped? Kidnapped? KILLED?!?!?!"

Ya. I know about Darfur. I haven't been there yet but I will be.  I also know about the civil war, which ended in January (congrats Sudan!)...can't be ignorant to situations like this because I have a weekly column for a local Sudanese newspaper called the Khartoum Monitor(KM).

Just recently I signed a contract with a local school, to teach 3rd grade for another year.  I've decided that ya, my family is pretty much dead on...one has to be crazy to want to live amongst Sudan's malaria tottin' mosquitos and you know you've really lost it when you find it fun that your rommate is being held hostage in the bathroom by a mango sized SPIDER, or when bin Laden's rickshaw gang attempts to kidnap you during a coup attempt--or better still, when your student is actually the son of the family behind the coup attempts!!!!

Ahhhh....adventurous living. This is what its all about.

No, but really. I keep myself pretty busy working as a journalist for IRIN, which is the news agency of the UN. Writing is what I've always wanted to do...and now, I'm getting paid for it.  BRING IT ON SUDAN! BRING IT ON!

 The purpose of this site is to let you know what it's like to live inside Khartoum (translated it means 'elephant's trunk').  You will know what its like to teach abroad, try to establish a writing career abroad (wish me luck!).  And you will get to hear what its like to battle the intense desert heat, Sudan's pestersome goats, malaria...and  7 year old students who bring Uzi's to school (you think I'm joking? I know you think I'm joking...)

ENJOY!!!