Sake

Went on another short mission yesterday, but much closer and much better roads, so less dusty:) We went to talk to the local administration and police in Sake and spent quite a lot of time with the Indian battalion. Back in Goma we had a very good meeting with the big boss of UNPOL from Kinshasa.



IDP camp just outside Goma

The Indian battalion in Sake is one of the most lucky contingents in east congo, located beautifully by the lake. They are very hospitable but unfortunatley we couldn't stay for lunch this time.

Back in Goma

Rutshuru

Was supposed to leave for Bukavu yesterday but just ten minutes before I was supposed to go one of my bosses (have many, since this is the UN, and have no idea which one) said I'm staying on in Goma for a little while. Think he wants me to get a better introduction of the work since there's a bigger group in Goma, but am not sure. Am not sure when I'll be off to Bukavu, but should be 'soon'.

Went on my first mission today, to the town of Rutshuru. Was very interesting, and very very dusty. Am exhausted.


En route



Police compound in Rutshuru


In anticipation. Awaiting VIP from NY in Indian batalion.


Keeping VIP safe.


Nyiragongo, the very beautiful and still active vulcano outside Goma. It is monitored closely for any changes in activity.

Hardship in Goma

Didn't get a chance to swim unfortunately, but not bad for a meeting venue


Afternoon with some Swedes at the lake

Goma

Am at hotel restaurant in Goma. Is wonderful:) It's not as humid here as in Kinshasa, and the sun is shining. And the hotel is a wee bit cheaper. Arrived at around 14.00 yesterday, after a not so nice morning. Had to take the dispatch (UN-taxi) at 0430 to go to HQ to take a bus the airport. I hadn't slept much and it was a very bumpy ride so didn't feel too well... Bläää. The plane-ride to Kisangani was better in a decent sized UN-plane. From Kisangani to Goma, however, it was a small russian propeller plane, from the 70s judging from the interior (reminded me of an old caravan, with brown striped wall cloth). Luckily the strong vibrations and humming rocked me to sleep, so I was okey when I arrived.

In Goma I met the Swedish and Norwegian civilian observers that are stationed here. It's really beautiful with the vulcano towering over the city, and the lake to the other side. Am going to swim this afternoon:)

More Kinshasa

Some more pics



New car anyone?




Church Mecca?


EU sponsored street cleaning

Hotel Fontana

I stayed at Hotel Fontana in Kinshasa. Nothing wrong with it except the price: 75 USD a night... The very kitch lamp was in my room (the rest was much less exciting). The other pics show the view from the hotel porch, including the terras/sidewalk where I had dinner.

Food

The food in Kinshasa is great. There are some very nice restaurants where I've had both salad and ice-cream (I know, silly, but I'm still fine). The hotel where I stay has a good restaurant which serves a fantastic dorado. But, it's of course much more fun eating together with other people...

In the first picture I'm having dinner with three swedish UNPOL police: Carin, Jonas and Micke. It's at an Indian restaurant, on a roof terrace - the best location in town according to them. See top of second pic ( to the right, with the big mast sticking up).

Yesterday I had quite a different meal. I was going to have dorado again, too lazy to go anywhere futher than my hotel. But before I just crossed the street quickly to buy a sim-card. A group of Togolese polce that arrived a day after me and that are staying at the same hotel invited me to join them for a drink, and then food, on the 'terrace' (read side-walk). I had really good rice and beans and chicken. And a huge bottle of Primus beer (they come in 680 ml bottles...) When I returned to the hotel the guys in the reception, Francis and Papi, nearly fell over with laughter. They couldn't understand that I'd just had 'malema' - every-mans food.

Kinshasa City

Je suis arrivee!

Am here. In Kinshasa. It's great:) Didn't do anything but wait yesterday but got my UN-ID first thing this morning - woohoo! And now I'm waiting again. Am not sure for what. Think it's for confirmation whether I can do my security briefing this week (in French) or if I should wait until Monday and get it in English. The plan was that I'd go to Goma on Friday. Will see:)

Am at the UNPOL offices and a police kindly lent me his computer. Went to an internet cafe three times yesterday but they never had any power so am glad I can use internet today. The hotel where I stay say they'll have internet next week:)

It's great to be back in Africa. Kinshasa is same same as other African cities. Nice paved roads with loads of potholes. High-rise buildings in need of new whitewash. Lots of people and music everywhere. Dusty. Aircon even though its definately not needed today, is not that hot. And supermarket full of european (lots of belgian) food. Yup, I can buy sinaasapelsap if I want.

Preparations

So, I'm going to DRC. Definately. Still feels totally unreal. But I just booked my ticket (for sunday, too early in the morning) and the whole flat is a mess from all my things I'm trying to 'organise'. Still have a long list of things to shop, mossie net being the most important I think. Then of course the small detail that I don't have my passport yet. But I've been promised it'll arrive on Thursday, 17.00 latest. So no need to worry:)

First stop will be Kinshasa to the UNPOL HQ to get my ID and some training. Then it's off to Goma on the very east of DRC (like the whole of Europe in between) and then probably to Bukavu, a bit further south. This hasn't been confirmed yet, but everyone is talking as if it is. So hopefully.

So what am I going to do in DRC? Well, I'll be employed by the Folke Bernadotte Academy (like SIDAs peacebuilding brother) to work in a monitoring team together with UNPOL police with the task to monitor the Congolese national police. That's the idea. I'll let you know later what it's like in practice:)

The purpose of this blog is just to update my friends and family on what I'm up to and post lots of pics. The blog was given to me by ECCP (this lovely organisation in the Hague where I worked until last Thursday) which saved me the effort of setting it up myself - I love it.

Thank you

I just wanted to thank all my lovely colleages at ECCP for the farewell party on friday. Was really flattered! Thanks especially to Rachel for preparing the survival kit - will definately come in handy - and to Charlotte for making me this blog. I love it, and it's green - it's as if I'd chosen the colours myself:) Will miss you all...

Sara

Zahid

Hoi hoi, my table-neighbor!

We have had a little discussion in the office as to whether you would like a proper blog or a twitter account.. I have lost – all the arguments were against Twitter. What has really convinced me is that with Blogger you can’t really post nice photos, and the text could be longer, and look: I am stupidly capitalizing on this opportunity and using more than 160 characters: kasfjery7aksjdh aksdjhf aidytf aksdhbf asdhfg klhsgd falkhsgd flaksgdf lkahsgdli asldifyl aksndfb asdfhalkjhf!

But I haven’t given up that easily and have secretly created a Twitter account for you:

http://twitter.com/SaraErlandsson

If you bribe me with a promise that you will be in touch regularly, I will give you the password!

Me, the plants and the arty mess on the windowsill in our office corner will miss you!

Blog and Twitt!

Zahid

Heloise

Sara,

Well - what can I say.... I am really sad you are leaving but at the same time really happy for you - RDC will be an amazing experience and I am looking forward to reading all about it on your blog! I will miss many things along the next few months. Our after-work drinks, our long discussions on work and life, playing the funny game with villages and fields, losing horribly at mini-golf because you're too good at it!

You've been doing an amazing job at putting gender on top of our minds, especially mine. :) We'll make sure all your efforts and work are taken forward - thanks for giving us a roadmap on that... ;) You know what my secret wish is (or not so secret?) - come back! Not just to The Hague but to the office...

Anyway, not to get too emotional I'll end there. If you wonder what the picture is doing there, it is just to leave you a memory of the meal we've been sharing so many times over the last few months... He he. If ever you feel a bit nostalgic about Holland or you miss us, just take a look at it. :)

Greetings my friend, enjoy this fantastic experience and don't forget to come back.

Heloise

Goele

Hoi Sara,

It feels like you just joined us and now you are already leaving... It felt quite 'natural' to have you in our team, as if you had always been there. So it's sad that you are leaving us.

I'm sure however, that you will have a great time in Congo and I'm looking forward to hearing your stories!

Take care,
Goele

Good night and Good Luck!!!

Dear Sara,

I just wanted to wish you the best of luck for your new adventure. I am sure you will have a great time in Congo, learning from the men and the women of that country. Rest assured that we will keep incorporating the gender perspective in our daily lives, and of course mainstream that issue along with others in which you are also keen such as food and wine testing.

Best of lucks and hope to see you here soon and listen to all of your Congo stories.

Darynell

Nej vet du va'...!

Hej Hej!!!
Varan favoritsvensk ska lamna oss!! Fy 17 va trakigt! Och inte bara ECCP men Haag ocksa. Du har haft en san positiv verkan pa var arbetsomgivning (Sara-skratten som ekar i korridorerna ar kanda men det vet du nog inte om...) och en rikting klippa i alla andra sammanhang. Jag hoppas du kommer tillbaks sa snart som mojligt och att vi har ett jobb som vantar pa dig har hos oss!!

Apart from that, which I'm sure everyone will agree on, I hope you will find your time in the DRC worthwhile whichever way it turns out (computer games and all) and above all that you'll keep us up to date. Dont forget my glamorous self and the great bunch of people waiting for you back in the Hague with cocktails and pink shirts and gender-biased issues to keep you busy!

KRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMM
jennypenny

KeesFRIENDS

Hi Sara,
Of course I want to write something about Gender (What else!). In simple English (according to Wikipedia) the word 'gender' “describes someone's personality or character. It says if someone feels or acts more like a female (feminine) or more like a male (masculine).” Simple isn’t it, but I have my doubts if you could agree to this.

So in proper English or German, Dutch or Swedish (again Wikipedia):
German and Dutch (no distinction in nouns — Geschlecht and geslacht)
In English, both 'sex' and 'gender' can be used in contexts where they could not be substituted — 'sexual intercourse', 'safe sex', 'sex worker', or on the other hand, 'grammatical gender'. Other languages, like German or Dutch, use the same word, de:Geschlecht or nl:geslacht, to refer not only to biological sex, but social differences as well, making a distinction between biological 'sex' and 'gender' identity difficult. In some contexts, German has adopted the English loanword Gender to achieve this distinction. Sometimes Geschlechtsidentität is used for 'gender' (although it literally means 'gender identity') and Geschlecht for 'sex'.[11] More common is the use of modifiers: biologisches Geschlecht for 'biological sex', Geschlechtsidentität for 'gender identity' and Geschlechtsrolle for 'gender role', and so on. Both German and Dutch use a separate word, de:Genus, for grammatical gender.
Swedish (clear distinction in nouns — genus and kön)
In Swedish, 'gender' is translated with the linguistically cognate sv:genus, including sociological contexts, thus: Genusstudier (gender studies) and Genusvetenskap (gender science). 'Sex' in Swedish, however, only signifies sexual relations, and not the proposed English dichotomy, a concept for which sv:kön (also from PIE gen-) is used. A common distinction is then made between kön (sex) and genus (gender), where the former refers only to biological sex. There are different opinions whether genus should involve biology but within the genusvetenskap which is strongly influenced by feminism it usually does not.[12] Sweden uses the words sv:könsroll and sv:könsidentitet (literally 'sex role' and 'sex-identity') for the English terms 'gender role' and 'gender identity'.

What I want to say is this: Become a friend (a real friend) of Sara, be a follower of her blog and in no time (or in a life time but that’s compared to the earth’s age still no time) you know everything about Gender.

Thanks for having you here and I wish you all the best where ever you go!!
Kees

Frank

VRAIMENT, ICI CHEZ NOUS, JE TE SOUHAITE LA BON CHANCE A BUKAVU.

UN PETIT CONSEIL: LA PATIENCE EST UNE VIRTUE!!

ENJOY YOUR ADVENTURE

FRANK

Charlotte

Dear Sara,

I can't believe you're leaving us already! Thank you so much for everything you have done here, both on the Portal and on Gender in ECCP & GPPAC - don't worry, we won't let that fall through the cracks! But above all, thank you for being such a nice and fun colleague!!!

I'm so happy for you that you get to go to 'the field' now, and of course can't wait to read the experiences you will be posting on this blog and twittering on the Peace Portal :-)

We never made it to go canoeing, but luckily you'll only be gone for a little while and we can do it when you get back. Of course, you'll have spent six months training on the River Congo, and will totally beat all us canal-cruising wimps :-)

Have an absolutely amazing time, and build loads of peace!!!

Love,

Charlotte

Peace portal team

Dear Sara,

We have only worked together for a month, but it feels like much longer... It is a pitty to see you leave, but I hope you will have a very interesting and exiting time in Africa. And...who knows, our paths might cross again... Thank you very much for your patience explaining all ongoing things around the portal, and do not forget! we will wait for your blog in the portal.

Very best, Vicky.

Hi Sara,

As happy and excited I am for you and your new job, it is also such a shame you are leaving us!I am sure we will see you when you are back. Thanks alot for everything and helping us out in our first weeks here. Keep us posted!

Take care,

Deniz

Ingrid

Hi Sara,

I totally understand this step in a new direction (so exiting!), but I am sorry to see you leave. Like the other colleagues you made me feel very welcome at ECCP. Thank you for that.

Enjoy your time in Congo and let us know all about your adventures! Wish you the best in good health!

Ingrid

Annabel

Dear Sara,

After a tumultuous preparation period, the time has come: you are leaving the Hague for Congo. How about a change in scenery?! It may have been sooner than you expected, but surely you are ready for a new adventure. We are both leaving the ECCP and, although in two completely different directions, both diving into the next step in our briljant peacebuilding carreer!
I hope you will enjoy the real field experience and return with a great deal of knowledge. Let me know when you will be back and we must meet to exchange experiences!

All the best,

Annabel