What I see in Juba: An attempt to describe a complex city

As I was driving home yesterday evening, Juba became new to me again.  

I looked around and realized why I've been struggling to describe it.  There is a lot going on here, and I'm concerned with painting an accurate picture.  And because I've also struggled with taking and posting photographs, I haven't shared it that way much either.  But on the drive home, I decided it was time.  

When I don't have my head in the sky - because as cliche as it is to behold an African sky, I've seen some of the most beautiful skies since being in Juba - I see such a slew of interesting things. 

I see colors. 

I see neighborhoods with modern homes or offices situated next to villages with mud huts.  I see functioning solar panels and non-functioning electrical wires.  I see women in skirt suits, slacks, skinny jeans and various African fabric skirts and head wraps.  I see babies on mothers' backs and people carrying things on their heads, sometimes.  Sometimes I see people carrying things in their hands or in a bag that's slung over their shoulder. 

I see accidents and arguments.  

I see dancing and celebrating.  

I see people selling things and cooking things and washing things and sitting on things. Imagine that.  I see fourteen hands tearing and dipping bread into one large silver bowl while sitting outside in the moonlight.  I see goats, sheep, cows, chickens, dogs, cats, lizards and birds sporadically placed throughout the city.  

I see people walking and riding bicycles and driving vehicles.  I see traffic working itself out organically, most of the time, sometimes traffic police help.  I have only seen one stop sign in Juba.  I see people crossing the street with an impressive trust.  I see toddlers riding in the forward position on boda bodas. I see people riding in the beds of trucks, sometimes sitting and sometimes standing.  I see soldiers riding in the beds of trucks, sometimes sitting around a machine gun.  

I see red berets.  

I see signs that read "Thank you people of South Sudan for choosing freedom".  I see corner markets and supermarkets.  I see a football (/soccer) stadium and a university.  

I see Juba's portion of the River Nile - the White Nile - and various boats passing by.  I see two lone mountains off in the distance, one of which I've seen much closer while visiting a friend in a place called Rock City.  The mountains are made of rock.  I see trees and flowers and grass, although naturally, I see much more green during the rainy seasons.  I see a lot of earth.  Earth roads are still the majority.  I see asphalt roads, too, and some sidewalks. 

I see anger and I see joy.  I see despair and I see hope.  I see death and I see life.  

I see the fruit of hard-working, faithful people.  I see people shaking hands every day, and sometimes, when it's been a long time, I see people put their right hand on each others' left shoulder before they shake hands.  

I see faces from a vast array of backgrounds.  I see some faces that have been permanently scarred so there is no confusion about where they come from and who they are.  I see endless possibilities in the striking eyes of children.

I see people loving God.  

I see people loving each other.  

I see people creating an undeniably good current with their lives and their dreams and their love.