After a delay of one day due to airplane difficulties, we went to the N’Djamena airport for our flight to Forchana. Our plane, a 15 seater, had limited baggage capability. OK. Maybe we couldn’t all go if all our stuff, included ourselves, weighed too much. How much did I weigh? I had to tell them in hushed tones. We all did in hushed tones. Finally, they let us all on with our bags. Phew! The flight took off soaring into the sky giving us a view of the dry, arid, somewhat bare land. Villages sprouted out of nowhere with no road coming or going to them. I could only imagine how long it takes to go to/from them.

We landed in Forchana with its gravel runway and scrambling animals. Our entourage meandered past a man fallen due to an accident. I saw him moving back and forth in pain. We sadly could do nothing. Soon though, work consumed our lives with overtime everyday and no days off. Being there limited our time severely.

Luckily, we had an afternoon of freedom to explore the refugee camp nearby. Boys playing soccer welcomed us to the left while animals roaming us to the right signaled our turn to the right. Children, plenty of them, meandered around while mothers were busy working here and there. Students fled the school in their blue patterned “camo robes”. We stopped at the market to take a walk. Women sold deep tomatoes, large squash, and fresh purple onions. The woman smiled and waved. The men gawked. We kept walking to then return to the vehicles. Children after children ventured towards us until they became a small crowd. Not seeing white people often, they stood in awe of the white people in my group at times reaching out to touch them but never in disrespect. They ignored me with my “red” skin. I ventured to another group engaged in a shopping foray. What’s this? What’s that? I loved every minute of it. We walked by more stalls and more people then stopped by the butcher area cleaned but still with the scent of meat. The sun setting forced us to return to our vehicles. What a shame!!!

I had the honor of going on a road trip the last day. As exhausted as I was, I still woke up at 5 am to leave at 6. We met our military escort and set off in a whirlwind of dust in the air and dirt roads. Up one hill to stop at one major dip and so on. We passed people riding donkeys, horses, and camels. Livestock mostly ignored us. Tiny towns came and went. Round huts came out of nowhere with people busy living life in dryness. Dry river beds lined with large mango trees tempted us to stop and gather some. Mangoes, watermelons, and papayas…luscious and juicy…lovely! The overturned large truck reminded us this dirt road was not the safest. The severely damage car afterward reminded us as well. Then, we sped off to more adventure!

All of a sudden, we saw women surrounding our escort vehicle. They held a large purple headscarf in front of it while chanting and screaming. We didn’t know what to make of it. What I thought was a gun was actually a large knife. Men on horses smiled. We relaxed. Apparently, it is part of a wedding celebration. That’s what they told us. I don’t know. They all laughed and danced. No, I was not tempted to stop. Not for this even though I felt the celebratory atmosphere. They wanted to share.

Soon, we came upon pavement cheering at the sudden smoothness in Abache! After some time, the UN plane landed to pick us up for our return flight to N’Djamena. I couldn’t wait to embark only to see some of our team’s luggage removed. Too heavy! We tried to negotiate. No. We tried to reason. No. We tried to plead. No. We lost. Some of our equipment stayed behind but we made it on the plane and soon the comfort of a nice hotel. What a luxury to have warm water again!

Of course, I had to celebrate with a foray to the best French restaurant in Chad! I entered through the back entrance to an oasis from the dry, dusty outside. Wonderful salad and delectable ham followed up by Andouille sausage filled with meat I could not know but loved anyway followed up by scrumptious mango pie, yummy apple pie, and lovely crème brulee. Two hours later I could barely walk after eating the best meal in Chad. Lovely to the core especially with the chef seeking our approval during his forays into the restaurant floor. Wholeheartedly! This helped me when I had to leave Chad at 1 am. No need for dinner before that!

I can tell you…I have never worked so intensely in my life. The long days were worth it to assist refugees who fled Sudan. They are true refugees in the sense of the word. Soon, many will enter the United States to begin new lives very different than what they are in today. It will not be easy. It will not be smooth. Yet, they will make it and they will flourish. I am proud to be American!