First Impression

20 hours in the camps, 9 cups of tea, a new family, new language(s) and "very cold" weather. When we landed in the Algerian military city of Tindouf, Marianne was asked to marry one of the customs officers. Unfortunately for him, we were immediately rushed onwards to meet with the Saharawi coordinator of the project, Abba. Eivind was carrying his small Norwegian flag on the outside of his back pack, but then the Algerian police saw the flag and wanted it for themselves. And after a quite forceful persuation the flag was bequeathed.

We were escorted by the police to the Saharawi territorium in a old car while listening to the techno song Sandstorm. Watching the night turn dark we realized that there was no turning back. We had finally arrived!

We came into our new home, sat on the floor and got the traditional three cups of tea (sugger with tea). My name that usually is so hard to pronounce in English was the easiest of them all. The called me Sinia, a Saharawi name. Since I got a Saharawi name they called it out in joy, and I felt that I was a part of them already. But the language diferences made communication difficult. Abba translated what the many visitors said, but most of the time I tried to say all the Arabic words I could remember. I still have a long way to go before I become a real Saharawi.