Testimonials
Here are a selection of
testimonials about Sudan and
CITC Sudan
I am an American currently
serving a one-year contract
with Cambridge in Khartoum.
Although I?ve traveled
often, this is my first time
to live for an extended
period overseas. Thus, I
have had all the normal
apprehension in adjusting to
a new environment, and
specifically the
environment of a nation that
is still developing.
Still, I must say with all
honesty that I have enjoyed
my time in Khartoum and at
Cambridge very much. This is
for a couple of reasons.
First, the people of Sudan
are very, very inviting and
welcoming.
culture and Arab culture are
very hospitable in general,
but even in the Arab world,
Sudan has a reputation for
being especially hospitable.
I have been constantly
invited to spend time with
local people, learn with
local people about their way
of life, and share in
many exciting activities
(celebrations, weddings,
etc.) Also, the classroom
culture in Sudan is quite
different from some western
environments in that there
is a great reverence and
respect for teachers.
Students are highly
motivated and eager to learn
everything they can from a
classroom experience. This
includes everyone from
teenagers to government
officials that I've had the
opportunity to teach in my
classes. While I?ve
definitely enjoyed the
people aspect here, I
confess I knew from a
previous short trip that the
people have
the sensibility that they
do.
My fears in coming were
related more to the everyday
way of life and potential
safety issues. The second
reason that I've enjoyed my
time here is the fact that
the way of life is much more
?normal? and ?natural? than
I anticipated.
Nearly everything you could
possibly want or need from
the western world is here
(from high-speed internet to
satellite television to
peanut butter and jelly to
fish and chips). Also, there
is very little ?street?
crime as you may expect in
big cities in North America
or
Western Europe.
There are very few
burglaries and almost no
murders,
for example. Also, my wife
has been embraced openly and
respectfully by everyone,
including the very religious
men. Finally, there is quick
and easy transportation
everywhere you need to go.
Even the issues that I was
most concerned about (the
Darfur crisis and the very
hot weather) have been
different than you might
expect. In the five years of
the Darfur crisis, only one
time has any fighting come
near the outside parts of
Khartoum?and that was for
only 2 days, with high
levels of local and U.N.
security preventing anything
from entering Khartoum
itself. The other five years
of fighting have all
happened thousands of miles
and across many mountains to
the west.
The heat issue has been
difficult at times?some days
can be near 50 degrees C
(120 degrees F). However,
most homes have very nice
air coolers, and the school
environment and school
housing are equipped with
air conditioning. It took me
a couple of weeks when I
first arrived to adapt, but
now I feel quite comfortable
most of the time. As I said,
overall, my experience has
been quite fulfilling.
Adrian Troyer
atroyer@swissmail.org
My wife and I worked for
Cambridge International and
with Mr. Salah from May,
2004 till the end of
December, 2004. We
came to Sudan after teaching
in Turkey.
Overall, we found the
experience enjoyable and the
experience was once in a
lifetime. There aren't
many advertised teaching
jobs in Africa. The
students were some of the
best we have encountered
during our years of
international teaching.
Mr. Salah was one of the
best bosses I have ever
worked for. His office
was always open and he is a
good listener. I had a
lot of suggestions that he
listened to and implemented.
We did not agree on
everything, but on most
things we did. He
always paid us on time.
As far as the education,
it's what the students and
teachers make of it. I
enjoyed teaching my business
classes and students did
improve and progress.
Education really does make a
difference.
I found Sudan to be a very
safe place both in Khartoum
and traveling around the
country. The police
were always interested in my
traveling documents but no
problems occurred. Mr.
Salah helped make living in
Sudan as easy as possible.
When we were there, there
was only one mall but the
grocery store there was
reasonably well stocked.
Sometimes annoying was the
electrical outages from
several minutes to several
hours.
I would not say there is a
tremendous amount of sights
to see in Sudan, but that is
not a reason you should go
there. There is diving
in the Red Sea and one can
travel to other parts of
Africa. Be part of
Africa and you will
understand it much better.
It's a great story to tell
your grand kids.
We were able to save money
in Sudan. Khartoum is
not a cheap city but with
rent and electricity and
transportation support
provided, it's alright.
We were not people who spent
a lot of money, so we found
the place affordable.If you
have always wanted the
experience of teaching and
living in Africa, my vote
would be to go for it.
Mr. Salah will take care of
you the best that he can as
he has a vested interest in
keeping his teachers happy.
But also remember it's a
developing third world
country and you must lower
your expectations and be
flexible.
Let me know if I have missed
a few spots or if you want
more detail.
Joe Bulterman
International School of
Choueifat
PO Box 2077
University City Road,
Industrial No. 6
Nr. Cricket Stadium
Sharjah, UNITED ARAB
EMIRATES
+971 6 558 2211
+971 055 942 5049 (Mobil)
jbulterman@yahoo.com
___________________________________________________________________________
I was there for one year.
I love Khartoum, you will
make friends for life.
It's a progressive school
and is always expanding into
different areas. It's
very safe, you don't need to
worry about that. You
can drink alcohol in the
British Embassy where they
have a club there.
Some people have posted bad
things about the school
because they expect a
western mindset and can't
handle the heat and change
of culture.
You will get good
accommodation, A/C, and sky
tv.
The money is more then
enough, you can shop as the
locals do and live very
cheaply if you shop at the
markets. Multi
vitamins are very cheap.
You will find khartoum a
modern city. YOu can
fly to addis ababa on your
holidays, just an hour
flight.
Sam
samsun lawton-wright
lawtonwright@aberystwyth.com
___________________________________________________
Dear Salah,
I'm sorry that I didn't have
a chance to say "goodbye" in
person and to thank you for
your kindness to me while I
was in Sudan.
I had a good flight and am
settling in well in Libya.
I think we'll be starting
work next week, but in the
meantime, we're being
treated to sightseeing and
general Libyan hospitality.
Of course, I am very anxious
to get back into the
classroom.
Again, thanks for
everything.
Judy
judyc1948ca@yahoo.ca
