Calabar, Nigeria....in case I didn't tell you before I left!
The trip over was fine, quicker than expected, because, as all things here that run on “africa time”, the connecting flight that I couldn’t possibly make, was available! I’ve been here for a week and half and I feel like I know it all! The new Canadian teacher arrived today, and I took her out and showed her everything...I’m a pro already! I’m even getting used to the lack of water and power...
What to tell...well, there are far fewer guns than I expected...not saying that they are not a part of my daily life, but they are not as prominent as other places I’ve been. My securing guard has an AK-47, which is comforting, and I have a dog, which is even more comforting, cause guards tend to sleep, but my dog does not!!!! I feel completely safe being out in the daytime, and in my compound at night. My house is great, I share with the only other young expat and we have two bedrooms with king size beds, three bathrooms, a living and dinning room and kitchen...and a cleaner, who also does all of the ironing! I have literally not lifted a single thing since leaving Canada...my security guard even carried my market purchases the ten feet from the van to my house! My roomate has lived here for a few years and so knows the important people, and so now, so do I! Being one of the few white chicks makes me memorable!!!
School is ridiculous, my kids are awesome, and at the same time make me crazy! It’s a busy, and oftentimes incredibly frustrating day that usually drives me to drink, but that’s part of the life here! I’ll leave it at that!
At home, well, we have a generator, so I have power from 4pm till 1am, and again from 4am till 7am, with an extra 5 hours on weekends. We have a borehole, so I have running water every day, which is better than anywhere else (cause life is so much more tolerable after a shower and brushing your teeth!). The internet is not great, particularly in rainy season, which is now, so if I don’t answer you don’t be offended! Life here is slower...things that would drive me crazy at home, don’t seem to matter here...when the power goes out, I sit outside and talk to my guards, or the other expat teachers, or read, or veg...there are good days and bad (this is a bad day!) but it’s an adventure...we’ll see how it goes after two years!!!!
I’ll try to write more regularly to tell you of the stupid shit that happens here...I’m sure it’s far more entertaining for me than you, but I’ll post it anyway, cause what else do I have to do!!!!!!! My facebook is not great here, so email me if you actually expect me to respond to anything...and even then, if could take a few days! Will post again this weekend, and will be on skype on sunday, cause everyone here is in church all day, so the email not only works, but it works fast!!!! Get skype, call me, email me....entertain me in Nigeria!!!! Peace!
You might have to resort to writing on paper! And reading books! Gasp!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you've arrived safely - too bad about the reasons for all the guards and guns. If everybody just mediated and did a little yoga, the world would be a calmer place.