Mobile Phones and Shakira
It is ironic that the first mobile phone I have ever had I got in Darfur. That's right, we have mobile phones. Of all the places for me to finally catch up with the world I chose to do so in Darfur. Within the the town of Nyala a company called Mobitel has built a network that works surprisingly well considering we are in western Sudan. It is amazing how far technology, food items and western pop-culture can reach. In Nyala, the main town in the Darfur region, I can get on the internet wirelessly, buy pringles "Texas BBQ" potato chips, and hear Bob Marley blasting out of someone's speakers as they drive by.
Most of this is not interesting to me. Wireless internet is nice, but it is a convenience and not a necessary service. The food? Well, most of the things like pringles are stale by the time they get here from Khartoum and the chocolate bars have melted and been frozen three or four times.
What I find interesting is the mobile phones. Not because I use them but because I find watching Sudanese people use them to be fascinating. They answer the phone saying "Hello" and then they continue in Arabic. Sometimes they talk so loudly and it seems as if they think the person is far away so they should yell.
A few weeks ago a young lady passed by me, wearing a veil and obviously was quite conservative. As she passed her mobile phone rang and it was loud enough for everyone in the street to hear. I recognized the tune but couldn't place it at first. Then I got it and burst out laughing. The tune was Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie".
But still, my favorite thing I have seen, and I have seen this more than once is the Motorcycle-Mobile Phone combo. Both in Nyala and Khartoum I have seen people screaming into their mobile phone as they ride a very loud two-cycle motorbike down the road. It is absolutely astounding to me. You can't stop for two minutes, say what you need to say and then go again? Who came up with that idea? Oh wow. I am laughing even now as I type this and think about it.
I'm out.
Most of this is not interesting to me. Wireless internet is nice, but it is a convenience and not a necessary service. The food? Well, most of the things like pringles are stale by the time they get here from Khartoum and the chocolate bars have melted and been frozen three or four times.
What I find interesting is the mobile phones. Not because I use them but because I find watching Sudanese people use them to be fascinating. They answer the phone saying "Hello" and then they continue in Arabic. Sometimes they talk so loudly and it seems as if they think the person is far away so they should yell.
A few weeks ago a young lady passed by me, wearing a veil and obviously was quite conservative. As she passed her mobile phone rang and it was loud enough for everyone in the street to hear. I recognized the tune but couldn't place it at first. Then I got it and burst out laughing. The tune was Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie".
But still, my favorite thing I have seen, and I have seen this more than once is the Motorcycle-Mobile Phone combo. Both in Nyala and Khartoum I have seen people screaming into their mobile phone as they ride a very loud two-cycle motorbike down the road. It is absolutely astounding to me. You can't stop for two minutes, say what you need to say and then go again? Who came up with that idea? Oh wow. I am laughing even now as I type this and think about it.
I'm out.
it's interesting how cell phones are so big in Darfur. I read an article in an old Economist the other day which stated that parts of Somalia have the most advanced cell network in the world. Bizarre.
Posted by
Paul |
3:55 PM
noel took us to the airport. on his way back, he slipped on an s curve and the subaru rolled completely and spun 360 degrees.
noel walked out without a scratch.
they, obviously, totaled the car and now we're using paul's parents' white volvo wagon.
very very sad.
Posted by
KJBLS |
12:21 AM
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