In Life in a Tumble Dryer, you share with readers your experiences living in Khartoum, Sudan structured around letters to your cousin detailing friendships, survival tactics, and the bureaucracy. Why was this an important book for you to write? 

There never seemed to be a good time to share my stories about life in Sudan with my family or friends. Also, life is so different there that it is impossible to explain in a short time. One story may be interesting, but without the context, the deeper implications are lost. I love the Sudanese and want others to get to know them and appreciate the wealth of insight and wisdom they have to offer. With the horrible events going on at this time in the country, I feel I’m writing history as many of these people and places are no longer there. I was blessed to be there from the 1980s to the early 2000s. 

I appreciated the candid nature with which you told your story. Is there anything from your time in Khartoum that you now wish you had included in your memoir?  

Actually, there are many more stories that will be included in the next book in the Not How I Planned it series. In 1996, I joined the University of Khartoum as an Assistant Professor, and there are many stories soon to come.

How did you decide on the title for your memoir? 

Khartoum is very hot with temperatures over 115°F much of the year. Initially, the roads were very bumpy, but also the political climate was not favorable towards the work we were doing. There was a great deal of uncertainty and we found it best to have multiple plans in place. I never quite knew what to expect on any given day.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from your experiences? 

Sudan gets a lot of bad press, much of it deserved. But there is another side to the story that includes the hospitality, generosity, kindness, and strength of the Sudanese people. They care deeply about their families, their language and culture, and they are gracious to overlook the missteps and blunders of people like me who seek to offer technical assistance and genuine friendship.

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