45 From the Sahara to North Dakota
After two years in the Sudan, we thought it was time to come back to the States. I wanted to continue my university geography career so the break would come at the end of academic calendar in May. Early in 1976 I began looking for university positions. Communication from the States was slow, six weeks for a letter to arrive, but deadlines were already passed. Not knowing what to do, it was easy to stay, particularly with the welcoming nature of the Sudanese and the University of Khartoum. I also needed to complete some research projects. So, we happily stayed, and the University instead, gave us home leave to visit the States.
Map of Nile up to Khartoum by Chris Lett, July 2019, Creative Commons Licensing Chris Lett.
Since only two round-trip tickets were provided, I chose to remain and let Mary and the twins go. That gave me some distracted time to work on my projects. It might have been advantageous to return and begin looking for jobs beginning in 1977. Nevertheless, I used the time productively and traveled extensively in Sudan. I explored Darfur in the west, Dongola in the North, and many communities to the South: Geneina, Nuba Mountains and Eastern Equatoria.
When Mary and the twins returned to Khartoum in 1976, we decided that we wanted another child but not by cesarean birth as would be required in the States. (The twins were born cesarean in 1972.) The current medical practice in the US dictated that “once a cesarean, always a cesarean.” This was not the practice in Khartoum. We found a Sudanese obstetrician who confirmed this. We decided to proceed.
Khartoum January 1977. Photo by Rick Bein.
The timing to return to the States in the summer 1977 was going to be necessary since the twins would be ready for Kindergarten in the Fall and there was no kindergarten in the Sudan except for the expensive private American School. The cost equaled my entire salary.
The 1976-77 year went well, my research progressed, and Leila was born in May. I realized that I would have to return to the States without a job. We knew we could stay with my parents while I looked for an academic position. So off we went to Colorado to prepare for our next adventure.
Sudan and the rest of the world. Map by whereismap.net
I applied at a number of universities and got an offer to come to the University of North Dakota for one year. Arriving there in August, the Department chair, William A Dando warmly welcomed me, and I dove into my teaching assignments. Bill Dando also offered to review my research writings and pushed me to write more. With his tutelage, I wrote eight papers on the Geography of Sudan, published three of them, and became involved with the professional geography societies of the States. I owe a debt of gratitude for this man’s support. This was a lifesaver for me as my improved academic credentials provided a strengthened application for university positions for the fall of 1978. Although it was late in the year for th