Star date 10.08.2007
So as a US citizen I was gleeful for the upcoming Columbus day holiday. (Who doesn't get really excited about this holiday?!?!) Since we work Sunday through Thursday we had Sunday off.
As mentioned below, I agreed to stay and a new-comers apartment while he is in South Sudan. After a long, boring Friday with no internet or tv I decided I had to get out. So on Saturday I went swimming (shocker I know--do you see a pattern here??). By the time I got to the rec site it was about 11 a.m. and after swimming for 1 1/2 hours I was parched! (Don't worry Mom--plenty of sunscreen so I didn't burn at all--barely a shade darker in fact). Since I forgot my water bottle my friend said I should use the distiller in the kitchen. So I bad in, swimming cap and all, grab a glass of luke warm water. As I finish, I notice the security guard grab one of the big 5-gal plastic water jugs, fill it up with tap water and dump it in the distiller. Now, I may not know much about the distiller's inner workers, but I've never seen one filled that way. So I'm counting my blessings that the stabbing pains in my stomach Saturday night went away and I haven't been sick!
Anyway, to continue to fill the hours of my weekend I decided to take my friend up on his invite to watch the rugby quarter finals on Saturday. It was France versus New Zealand for those who aren't closely following this!! France was the underdog--and the house was full of French (and Irish) who were eager. Apparently France had beaten NZ in a stunning upset in the early rounds. The first half didn't look good. The Kiwis (the team is called the "all blacks") started off with their pre-game war chant (impressive) and proved to be agile against the French kicking game leading 13-0 at half time. (Ironically--the kicking game strategy also failed as they missed their three penalty kicks) But the French roared back and made a ridiculous amount of tackles in the 2nd half holding off the All Blacks and beating them 20-18. Needless to say, everyone was ecstatic.
So arriving home around 12:30 a.m., I tried my key. Nothing. I push, banged, etc. Nothing. So I went down to get the guards help. More pounding and banging later, nothing. Frustrated, sweating in the wretched heat of the 3rd floor stairway, and with a moaning dog on the other side I gave up. The guard called someone, who called someone who called me back. The conversation when something like this;
"Who are you?"
--I explain
"And you have the key?"
--"Yes"
"And you have the right key for the right door?"
--"Yes--it's not the key/lock, it's the other part (the little tongue that sticks in). The metal is broken."
"Ok--I'll call someone"
I give up and take my stuff downstairs where at least it's cooler.
1 a.m. my phone rings.
"Hi. This is XX. I'm the Asst. GSO (comment: I don't really understand what the GSO is in charge of but it seems to include all of the buildings). Can you explain what's going on because it's not clear."
--I explain who I am and that I'm locked out etc. And that there's a dog.
"well, I'm glad that you actually have a key. You'd be amazed at how often that's the problem. And I do have an extra set but it doesn't seem like that's going to help you in this case."
--I agreed.
So she called the carpenter to come break me in.
1:30 a.m., the carpenter arrives Banging and hammering ensue. He points to the deadbolt.
"where's the key"
--"I don't have it. No one has it. We only use the bottom lock."
"well, it's the bolt."
More banging and hammer and I watch as he breaks in to the door by ripping out the deadbolt. It was actually harder than I thought--comforting to know!
The dog, Cooper, was cowering in the corner when I finally got in around 2 a.m. he's big, but turns out he's a big chicken. A bigger chicken than Lily.
So between the microwave fire, the lack of internet and tv, and the lock situation...I'm starting to loose faith.
Sunday I napped (since Cooper woke me up at 6:30 to go outside) and watched tv I have downloaded from iTunes and movies. Thank goodness you can get Grey's Anatomy on iTunes people!!
So now I'm happy starting my workweek. Yeah. Work. I know--right? Did you think you'd hear me say that??
More soon,
Bye from "the 'toum"
Jane
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