Juba, Here I Come…

So, the moment is finally here! In the coming few days I’ll be back in Juba, South Sudan.

Visa
Yes, even a returnee like myself needs a visa to (re)enter Sudan. You see, the thing is when we refugees fleed to the West, most of us tore our passports on the plane or at the airport just before seeking asylum. I thought it was a dumb thing to do (tear the passport), and I swear I gave mine to the authorities to kinda prove my identity. Years later, it expired and since we asked for protection from the Sudanese government, the authorities had to provide us with some kind of travel document.

So, here I am years later going back to my country with a foreign travel document. To enter Sudan legally, I have to get a visa or risk deportation.  And if I enter, I will have to register within two weeks or so, just like any other foreigner. Sudan has rules too you know…

Flight Route..
Because I am going to Juba, I thought I had to pass via Khartoum; stay a day or two; make some pics and get some stories to blog about. But I was wrong, I got a ticket straight to Juba with a brief connection at an East Africa city!

Great, right? I’ll leave Europe like today and be in Juba tomorrow bypassing the Sharia Capital of the World- Khartoum!

Pocket Money and Gifts…
Juba is expensive, is expensive, is expensive! And this returnee is so broke he can’t even pay attention to this warning. But God is always our side…

As for gifts, I have not gotten any. Even if I wanted to take some gifts, I would not know where to start. A ‘friend’ of mine said: just tell them the bag with gifts got lost… What I’ll do is give each of them a big warm hug and smile at them like I’m selling a tooth-whitening product.

Juba, Friends and Nite-life
The first I’ll do is blend in, which would not be a problem considering how simple I am. The last time I was in Sudan, people did not believe I came from Europe because I did not look or dress like I come from outside. I loved it everytime I heard it.

(to be continued..)