"Homemade" Japanese Lunch

Menu:
- California roll with Salmon from Dubai!
- Okonomiyaki(Japanese pancake) from Japan
- Takikomi goman(Mixed rice??) from Japan
- Pudding from Juba (Of course, the ingredients are all imported though...)

We spend a few hours with chatting over one interesting experiment ;-)

Japanese Lunch

Seafood Tempura & California Roll

Sometime I really need Japanese food... Satisfied!
Even with African Japanese though ;-)

Container

This office building in refugee camp is constructed with 2 containers.
I recently learned there are several idea to utilize this kind of container as construction!
(I also learned it costs a lot here in South Sudan since the needs is quite high.)

< Other Innovation >
- Maternity House in Zambia done by Japanese NGO JOICFP

From their website
- I like the paintings which show names of the contributors in the shape of leaves! 

- Temporary Shelter for disaster recovery in Japan - designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban

From their website
- The project is ongoing in Onagawa-cho, Miyagi-prefecture

Dinner @ River Nile...

@ restaurant "Juba Bridge"

I've never imagined to have dinner at River Nile... Awesome!

Football with artificial foot

Juba vs Yei (counties) - Yei team got 6 goals!!

In South Sudan, there are a certain number of people who lost part of their body because of mine and other ordnance during the war time.
Today, there was a football match by those player. I was so surprised to see their great physical ability with artificial foot!
In the latter half, it became heavy heavy rain but they continue to play until the end. I look forward the next match!

New symbol

2 fountains came up in the town just a day before the independence.
New symbols in town! I see many people hung around there.
I cannot believe that people tell me there was only one "tire" on the ground a few month back!

Juba develop so fast... I can see much difference even within a few weeks!

Roots

Due to the limitation of the internet access, I have not been able to update since last week.(Still not stable at my accommodation...)
During these few days, I made 2 trips to the fields which are relatively close to Juba(capital).

Apart from those trip(hope I can update gradually), my friend introduced me a shop which is organized by one women's group called "roots project".
They create some accessories, T-shirts, bags and some small interior goods.


Bit expensive compared to the similar ones in Asian countries of course, but I like their initiatives! Hope they can improve their products and expand their activities more!

Since the building of shop itself is very nice with small inner garden, I think it would be nice if they start cafe or something, too...

Tukul

Tukul (bit bigger than the normal size which we can find in the city)

Thatch - My country also has this kind of culture for the old houses!

The inside is cool!

Finally, I had a chance to go into "Tukul", the local traditional house. It made from thatch, bamboo(surprised to learn bamboo is in Africa! for me, it is an image of China!), mud and etc... The inside is very cool!

Avocado juice

This became my favorite!
I used to like the avocado juice in Indonesia which has thick taste with chocolate syrup.
But here, it is more light and freshening taste which is mixture with lemon, I guess.
I like both taste but this became my favorite in South Sudan!

What women do all over the world...

Turkish ice cream - so sweet!!

is shopping and chatting, I believe.
We do same here in Juba, too. But the things we buy here is food only.
We talk about the selection of the items of each shops, career and personal lives(work life balance).
And sometime it is over ice cream! ;-)

Blood and tears...

"Tears of the desert" by  Halima Basir

Just finished one book about Darfur, Sudan.
For me, the image of "Darfur" was all about blood and tears before I read this book.
But I learned the beautiful nature and peaceful life in Darfur in the past period.

During reading this book, I repeatedly ask the same question as hers to myself,
"why do we need to suffer because of the skin color?"

My answer is simply just "Ego" which is in us all the human beings.

A new nation is born!

World's 193rd nation!

I could see the tears in some people's eyes. No wonder, it costed millions lives.
But, of course, we could see many many people's energy for the new future!!
The new history has just started!! Congratulations, South Sudan!!

Warming-up

UN family had a celebration lunch for the independence & new "country" team!

At night, local people's dance(male vs female??)! It was very energetic!!

Today, UN family had a celebration lunch. The staff from the South seems extremely happy, of course!!

I have never heard any negative comment for their independence from the local people at all.

Wish the newest country become the most peaceful and beautiful country in the world!

National Anthem

Kids at the "Way Station"

Today, many of the national staff were practicing the new "National Anthem"!
The currency will be change on 1. Aug.
Really the country will be born!

Way Station

One of the Way Stations

Until the departure to the final destination,
returned people spend several nights here

Women & Children Zone

"Way Station" is the place to stay a couple of nights before the departure to their final destination.
People can have food & medical services here as well.

Returnee from the North

The ship to bring returnee to the South -
Left: For people, Right: For furniture and their belongings 

Along the port, people are waiting for the IOM tracks
to carry their furniture/belongings until their final destination.

This is my first contact with returnee.
I met the returnee who arrived with IOM organized transportation from the North. They stay in UNHCR "Way Station" after their arrivals. Most of the women and children stays at Way Station during the day time, while the men come to port to guard their belongings.

*I will upload some photo of "Way Station" tomorrow.

Juba Prom!

Yesterday, there was a "prom" for Southern Sudan to "graduate" from Sudan!
Some people dressed up with the tailored outfits from the market called "Konyo Konyo market". And it looks really good!
Maybe I should try there! ;-)

Japanese foods in Juba

You will be surprised to see that there are few restaurants serve Japanese foods here in Juba!
The taste is ok but feel at home if I see the familiar name on the menu!