Can’t quite
believe a month has gone already, in some ways I feel I’ve been here for ages
and in others it’s like I only just arrived! Nigeria has a way of making you
feel so welcome it becomes home, but then it throws some interesting challenges
to test you – i.e. the food and power situation!!
I have
absolutely no regrets about leaving my UK life and coming here. I’m loving
being on African soil and am already planning my travels for when I leave here –
am planning on going to Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa
between Oct-Jan for anyone who wishes to join me along the way!!!! Africa has
definitely got a strong hold on my heart and desires for the moment.
Things aren’t
always easy, there are still cultural issues which I’m adapting to and ways of
life that are so different to our UK ways. I’ve become good at cooking and
showering in the dark, pretending I can’t hear the mice squeaking in my bedroom
at night, turning down dates, refusing to give out my phone number, and
discussing religious issues. But this is what also makes the experience! Being
in Abuja for 2 weeks in some ways was great – power, internet, supermarkets, fridges
etc – but I missed the feeling of being part of a community, in some ways I
could have been almost anywhere in the world. I love walking to work and having
people shout good morning to me, seeing children staring at me, making people
laugh just by smiling or waving at them! Whilst I most definitely am their
entertainment being a strange white lady living in their community and walking
to places – it makes me happy to know that seeing me makes them smile and maybe
I make their day by saying hi to them. I love seeing the shock of some of the
older women’s faces when they realize the person saying good morning to them in
WHITE!!! People want to talk to me or spend time with me. Many times I’ve had
my cab fare or a drink paid for to welcome me to their country – that’s not
something that would happen in London! Overall this wins out over power and
some of the other challenges here.
I’m making
lots of friends here in Calabar too, there is a quite diverse population here
(relative to the size) and a few other international volunteers working on
primate conservation and other VSO volunteers – so often it’s a nice mixture of
people when we go out. I find myself turning down invitations to go out in
order to have the odd quiet night in to rest! I’ve seen more Arsenal matches
here than I ever do at home, people are always amazed when I don’t want to
support Man U or another team, they can’t quite understand that a woman would
actively choose and support a team for 25 years so is therefore not up for
swapping sides now! I’m getting used to
the enormous bottles of beer they sell here, where to buy the odd chocolate treat
from, and how to dance to ‘Azuntu.’
I’m really
looking forward to December. It will be nice to have some time with the other
volunteers in Abuja, and to spend some time with GPI staff on our retreat. I’m
also looking forward to Christmas time – it is going to be an interesting mix
of people and food all celebrating at my house! Then time to chill, hike, swim
and admire the beautiful scenery in Obudu and Affi afterwards. Plus I also have
a parcel from England arriving soon – can’t wait!
No comments:
Post a Comment