And Every Day I'm Learning....

Today I learned that the Sudanese do not actually celebrate April Fools and that they do not find sarcasm (or me) funny. And I think we all know how funny I find myself.....I don't need anybody else! Apparently, hilarious translates into bat-shit crazy in Arabic! I honestly think these people might be just a little bit afraid of me!

Another little known fact, April Fools Day does not translate into Sudanese culture. They call it "April First," and do not recognize this holiest of US holidays. And one more little known fact, Neither does the Embassy or anyone who works at the Embassy.

All day I waited with a goofy smile on my face as I opened my emails....sat in stupid (and I do mean STUPID) meetings....ordered lunch from this "great" pizza place...expecting some sort of Tom Foolery from my colleagues.

Nothing.

Not. One. Damn. Thing.

When did it become not cool to harrass people? When did everyone start to waste the carte blanche you have on this day?

I remember, back when I first started working for the USG, we received a "NOTICE" at work about how they needed to cut back due to the budget cuts, and therefore, Business Class travel was no longer authorized. It went on to state that when traveling on official business that USG employees should pack a red vest so that they could assist fellow travelers with their luggage at the airport in order to earn their per diem money; how the use of commercial lodging was only authorized if there was no campground within a 50 mile radius; and how if an officer needed to travel to Sweden, but the cost of a ticket to Kuala Lumpur was cheaper than a ticket to Sweden, the officer was only authorized to fly to Kuala Lumpur.

It was AWESOME (or, in Arabic....Mumtaz!)

Naturally, being stereotypical USG employees, nobody read past the first three lines where it said that Business Class travel was no longer authorized and the whole place was erupted into chaos. (Don't mess with my F'in in flight movie and free drinks Damnitt! I'm serious!!!)

They literally had to send out a notice telling everyone the previous Notice was a joke for April Fools Day. Normally, I would blame society -- however, this time...I blame the USG for sucking the life, humor, and will to joke out of us!

There should have been a sign.