my walking shoes

the insoles from my trusty converse.

i've been in sudan for 151 days. give or take. on at least 149 of those 151 days, i've worn a pair of white chucks i brought with me (at the last minute) from home. as it turns out, sudan's dusty -- and, more often that not, unpaved -- roads haven't been very kind to them (see above banner.)

the rubber toe bits are cracking. the canvass is stained and tearing, and i'm pretty sure i'll never be able to get rid of the sand that's constantly rattling around inside them. what's more, i realized a few days ago that i've actually managed to wear holes through the insoles.

i'm hoping i can still get a good 76-some days out of these guys. by then, i'll be on my way to ethiopia, and hopefully kate can bring me a new pair.

so, while i can't do much to solve those first few problems, the insoles, i figured, could be replaced. a few days ago, on my way home from work, i stopped by a shoe repairman who regularly sets up shop along al-hurriya street, a stretch known mostly for electronics.

i showed him my problem, and he offered me a solution: a pair of replacement insoles made out of carpet. they set me back 1 sudanese pound, or about 40 u.s. cents.

my new, stylin' carpet insoles installed. don't be jealous.