There wasn’t much Valentine cheer going around the Medair compound. Not enough love-struck people. But I was looking forward to my satellite phone call with Joeie in Hong Kong. It’s been three weeks since we’ve talked and our voices sounded strange to one another. It might have been the long time or maybe the satellite connection. Either way, communication is a big concern for this year apart. Not just with Joeie, but with family and friends back home and even the MCBC community. Already, I’m starting to feel as though the world at home kept on chugging along at its steady and fast pace after I jumped off.

I admit, Valentine’s Day without Joeie is lonely. There aren’t even roses, flowers or chocolate. Although, thankfully, Sudan also doesn’t have the Valentine’s Day hype either. There’s only a satellite phone. But at least there’s a satellite phone. Actually, I’m glad there’s more than one because CG forgot to charge his. Valentine’s Day without any of that would have been even more lonely and far away.