Day Twenty: The Harmattan is Here

The dust storm was nothing compared to the arrival of the Harmattan. When I left my room this morning there was a haze over the hallways and through the sky...kinda like a San Francisco evening. But as it turns out this is the Harmattan, a short season in Nigeria where the Sahara winds blow and bring a thin layer of dust through out the country.

My throat feels like it is coated in dust and swallowing feels well, kinda nasty. The giant mountain behind the school grounds could not be seen all day, as if it had just simply disappeared. Please let this harmattan be done soon...

Day Eighteen: Oh SNAPS!

The smartest business man around here is this photographer that shows up everyday to take pictures or Snaps as the Nigerians say. He takes pictures everyday and then brings prints of them the next day to sell for 100naira (about 75cents). The students love this and collect them all...the photographer also knows the student's faces, and if they try to take a snap and he knows they aren't buying the snaps he tells them no...great business model.

The only problem with these snaps is they never ever ever stop...snaps all day, snaps all night, snaps snaps snaps. Once you take one, students run up to you and want one and then another student, and it will go on for 20mins if you don't pull yourself away. Hide.

I followed Ahmet down the hall the other day and quietly said "snap" in his ear, he turned around so quickly with a look that was about to say no more!

When will be done with these snaps? When every student has 10 snaps with us? 100 snaps with us? 200 snaps? one million snaps?

AH SNAP!

Special Features: The Nigeria Show

One of my co-workers, Travis, has created a weekly webisode...enjoy the first installment of "The Nigeria Show"

Day Fifteen: 2 Week Anniversary

The group of us that came out on that first Sunday have officially been in Nigeria for two weeks…and though at the time it seemed like the weeks have been long I can imagine how quickly this time is going to fly by...

Day Fourteen: Oh My, Nigeria or Beyond the Compound Walls

Today is the 8^th day of straight 12 hour work days, and I’m feeling it. I was so happy to leave work and have a night out on the town…my first in the 2 weeks I have been here.

A bunch of us, along with some coworkers from Del York went out to some of the popular Abuja night spots. We started at Blake’s, which is a restaurant/bar with a stage and live band that plays all night. A bunch of amazing, and I stress AMAZING dancers line the stage and bust a move, even going to the extent of grabbing some of us and teaching us dance moves in front of everyone.

Some of the highlights were watching Alex dance and the Blake and Omar stage hump competition…silly Americans.

Blake’s also serves some great roasted whole fish that you just eat right off the bone with your fingers…we devoured them very quickly. Also very spicy…like most of Nigerian food, and not just like wow that is spicy, but like the oh my god I might pass out cause my mouth has been burning for 20 min straight spicy.

From there a small portion of us went to a dance club where I was taught to dance like a Nigerian woman…sort of, cause I mean I will always have white girl moves. Basically the moves involve a lot of hip movement while your legs bend in and out and your butt goes up and down…I think I need some time to master this dancing…

It was a great night/morning and ended with a trip to breakfast before falling asleep as the sun came up. Much needed, much deserved.

I love Nigeria.

**I have some great video of this night, hopefully i will be able to upload it later...

Day Thirteen: The Dust Storm

Our school is directly off of the high way, which also happens to be under serious construction. What this means is that there is always lots of dust around us at school, it pours through the windows during rush hour and lays across all the tile floors of school. It is a very red/rusty color dust that stains my white socks by the end of the day.

However by the end of this particular day, a storm started coming in and the wind picked up creating a massive dust storm that fogged up the whole school, greatly decreasing the visibility. Finally the bandana serves its purpose….we all had to cover out faces as it was impossible to breath without getting a mouth full of dirt.

Day Twelve: Learning to Speak Nigerian

There are over 200 languages in Nigeria, the main one being English and broken English and then each region/state has its own dialect with Abuja speaking Housa. I have attempted to learn some basic phrases with help from Emmanuel, the building manager.

In broken English you say, “How fu?!” meaning how are you…the students love when you say this in the morning. Broken English really is a language of its own and very hard to follow…I constantly have to ask students to repeat themselves as I can never quite figure out what they are saying. I also love, “How be day?” meaning how’s your day.

I still need a lot of work with my Housa, but Emmanuel is keeping on me to practice with him everyday.

- Naquana = Good Morning

- Nowinee = Good evening

- Yakiki = How are you?

- Lafialo = I’m good

- Yaahki = How’s work

- Badamwa = No problem (which is my favorite to say)

The Nigerians definitely utilize the letter W.

Day Ten: Classes Begin

So due to some contractual disagreements I have had very little access to internet this past week…not to mention 12 hours of working in the heat every day leads to swimming pools and lack of energy to do anything more than throw myself into bed each night. So, yes I am well, alive and working hard.

School started on Monday technically, but really classes started on Tuesday with a lot of chaos and disorganization (not on our end mind you), but the students were clearly excited to be there and that’s what really matters.

We were able to set-up everything by the time classes started, but not without a lot of hard work on an extremely hot sunday....with the day ending in a giant rain storm almost flooding the school. Apparently it was the first rain in months and oddly when we went back to the hotel (only 20 mins away) everyone who was there said not a drop had rained.

***bah ok, so the internet here is so slow I can't upload any pictures, though I have so many to share...i'll start by posting these stories and hopefully I can upload some pictures later tonight...