10 Things I’ve Learned (on my 14th trip to Chad)
1. Only the refugees are always here.
Thousands of staff working for humanitarian agencies and the UN Refugee Agency have come and gone through the camps. Not one remains that is still around from my first trip in 2005. The refugees, they’re still here, only more of them.
2. Life can get harder, and families can get stronger.
Guisma’s mother, Achta, received me with warmth and affection. She sat with me and had her children come greet me, all of them smiling. She gave me a gift for Katie-Jay. There was a group of women sitting on other mats at her home, and more were coming with food. Achta’s mother died last week, and they were mourning in community.
3. I don’t want to hear this again: “They’re better than they were before they came here.”
That’s not necessarily true because you can’t measure freedom. Besides that, “before” should not be the standard by which we measure.
4. From a distance, even the desert is beautiful, rich, and inviting.
Walking next to those that live there gives you a less romantic perspective, but it might still be beautiful, rich, and inviting.
5. Real Madrid vs. Barcelona divides the universe.
6. Ideas, concepts, and plans can be very exciting.
Meeting the actual little ripples that are the motivation and reason for all the work makes it all not be work anymore.
7. I don’t always care what studies say.
Eastern Chad is a rough, harsh environment. It’s hot, dusty, and I am always thirsty. I don’t care how many studies say it’s bad for you, I love and miss my DIET soda with lots of ice (coke or pepsi, does not matter). If there was one of those 7-11 soda and ice machines out in the refugee camps, my work rate might double during the trips, and I’d be so much more happy.
8. It is invaluable to be able to wake up every morning knowing you are doing what you’re supposed to be doing.
9. If Umda Tarbosh lived in my neighborhood, we would be friends.
And I would take him out for burgers or tacos as often as possible, so I could hear more of his stories and how he sees the world.
10. Beautiful is beautiful.
A Long Day’s Journal
Exhausting. Up at 3:30am and out at the camp by 5. The players were all already up and getting ready for the trip to N’Djamena, for sure the farthest any of them have been from home.
Two players, Mohamed and Mohamed, had to leave earlier than the others because we could not all fit into one plane. They were nervous and talked to me, wanting to know why they were not traveling with the team. I explained and assured them everything would be alright. The older Mohamed thanked me and said that they wanted to talk with me because they could trust me. They feared that they were being sent home and would not be with the team on the journey. My only worry was that they would not be flying straight to the capital but would be making a stop in the scary Abeche airport. I’ve been through that airport dozens of times, and I still stress every time because it is crowded and pushy and a bit unhinged. It’s one of a kind.
As soon as they landed in Abeche…. Read more here.
i-ACT Team Arrives in Chad
Gabriel and James have arrived in Chad and are making their way to the east, where they will reunited with the Darfur United players who have spent the last 8 weeks eating, sleeping, and training together!
