Photos

I hope TrekEarth don't mind me posting this photo because it is a little personal, but I think it does have something to say.

The woman in the photo is Werkie. She is a cleaning lady at my old place of work and also a friend. She is an Ethopian refugee. Her husband is Eritrean. They have lived in Sudan for over 15 years. They met here. They have not been to either Ethiopia or Eritrea in all that time.

There are tens of thousand of refugees from Ethiopia and Eritrea living in Sudan. UNHCR and the Sudanese government have begun a process of repatriation of these refugees or, alternatively, sending to them to a thrid nation.

Every year there is a UNHCR sponsored emmigration 'lottery' for refugees in Sudan. The possible destinations are Canada, the USA or Australia. In the last year one of my friends has left Sudan (after 17 years) for Tasmania with his family (7 kids!). From what I hear he is very happy. Australia's programme for immigrants is well structured.

Just before I left Sudan for the summer Werkie and her family heard they have been given a place to stay in Winnipeg, Canada. They left yesterday - two adults and seven kids. I showed them some photos of Winnipeg on the internet. What they'll make of winter in Canada I do not know, but from my travels in Canada and their optimism I believe they have a good chance of making it.

Here Werkie is preparing coffee in the traditional Ethiopian style. The beans are roasted and ground at the time and the coffee drunk in small cups tht you can see. The coffee pot can be seen between the small stove and the little cabinet.

You should drink three cups of this coffee, for good luck. The first is always the strongest and is wonderfully spiced. The whole process takes about 90 minutes, but after a huge Ethiopian meal you can wait!

All the best to Werkie. With any luck I'll be able to go out and visit at some point in the next two years. I really love Canada, and now I have a better reason to visit (though I have to say I prefer Vancouver to Winnipeg).

BTW - the other person is a colleague whose is planning to drive across Africa when he has finished. I might even join him for the leg from Khartoum to SA - you would be amazed how many people travel this route.