Being Different

It is an interesting feeling to stick out so much (I haven't seen any other white people since I've been here). The color of my skin is probably the most obvious difference, but it’s definitely only the beginning. I dress differently, speak differently, behave differently and think differently. However, it’s kind of liberating. Few people here have been to the US and those who have definitely are not critiquing my fashion sense. I’ve received two beautiful, traditional, Nigerian outfits since being here and I have mixed feelings about them. I love them! They are quite regal, but when wearing them, I am definitely laughed at. Now, this laughing is done in love and appreciation of my effort to bond with the culture, but I still feel like a poser! Maybe as time wears on I’ll become so Nigerian in so many ways that no one will notice I’m not a native…hmmm…we’ll see!

Here is the link to a few pics...no time for captions now!
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=31478&l=bbc48&id=501312909

Cell Phone

I am officially the proud owner of a Nigerian cell phone! YAY! Most everyone here in the city has cell phones because it doesn’t require the infrastructure that landlines would require. It’s kind of incredible the service that’s available in the boondocks! One interesting feature that many cell phones here have that I hadn’t seen in the US is that they have a flashlight on the end! How ingenious! In the US, with light pollution running rampant, it isn’t that important, but here where the world becomes black after 7pm, it’s a life saver. I'm a little bummed that the instruction manual didn't come in English, so it's taking me a little while to figure things out, but hey...I've got a phone! :)

The Nigerian-American Skill Exchange

I’m thoroughly enjoying the significant skill sharing that is going on around me in Jalingo! Hannahtu, our official Nigerian host through the church, is working hard with me to help me learn Hausa, which I am definitely picking up. I purchased an English-Hausa dictionary in the market yesterday, but I was confused by the fact that they said there was no such thing as a Hausa-English dictionary. I thought all language dictionaries went both directions…not in Nigeria! However, I’m frustrated by the fact that they struggle to understand my Hausa…I’m seriously pronouncing it the exact same way they are! J Hannahtu recently received a digital camera from the Iowa Nigeria Partnership and a laptop from the US. I am able to offer her expertise in taking and viewing pictures as well as how to operate her computer. I didn’t realize that my level of technological knowledge was going to make me an expert here.

Mrs. Thomas, my cook, has 5 children which drop by regularly, last night I was providing some basic computer training (gotta love typing on that home row) to her oldest daughter who has graduated from high school and is in a computer training program with about 6 people/computer while her son was helping me try to find the BBC on my radio. Sadly, we were unsuccessful because my radio doesn’t have the SW band…who’s ever heard of the SW band?! I was bummed, but he said that I could get a radio like his for only about 600 naira or about $5…I think I can spring for that considering I am dying for some news!!!

Bambur

After staying the night in Pero, we took the infamous "rock road" over the mountain to Bambur. We rode with 4 people in the cab (I was in one of the back jump seats) of a small Nissan pick-up truck with 2 more people in the back over a "road" that is simply rocks and boulders. However, while we were going there, since it's rainy season, it of course began to pour (our wind shield wipers didn't work). This rain in turn caused the dirt road to become pure mud. We crossed over huge holes, puddles, and crossed serious rivers in this truck (bridges haven't made the priority list yet!) After about 3 hours of this, we ended up getting stuck in the mud twice. Luckily, with some help from some other passer-bys who stopped, we were able to continue on and complete the trip in 4 hours. It was quite the experience! :)

Here's another interesting phenomenon: now that I'm hours from a big city, I have easy internet access. Yep, there is no city power at all in this area, but there's an internet cafe run by the United Methodist Church here run completely off generator power! This cafe is used for a computer training program that trains people in internet browsing, typing, and the use of multiple computer programs. These are valuable skills that are allowing the graduates to obtain marketable jobs. It's a great program!!!

Being out of the city and the presence of a clear night enabled me to see the Nigerian night sky. Oh my goodness! It was the most AMAZING view I have EVER seen! The Milky Way galaxy was ridiculously clear across the entire sky. There were billions of sparkly stars that could be seen. Prior to now, Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas was the best night sky, but Bambur, Nigeria has now surpassed it! INCREDIBLE!!!

Pero

Today we spent time in this area called Pero. It took us 7 hours to get from Jalingo to Pero over some horrible roads (though I’ve been told they will be worse tomorrow). If a person were susceptible to car sickness, we would have been in trouble. Luckily, I was able to enjoy the beautiful, lush, green mountainous landscape while bouncing and swerving along. We met the kind people of the Pero district and were delighted to see some neat gardening again being used for medicinal purposes and a great training program with sewing machines being done at their Women’s Leadership Training Center. After a 6 month program, these women have purchased a sewing machine so that they are able to become self-sufficient by selling goods. As we went around this much more remote area referred to by everyone here as the bush, I began to think about how we from the US can’t imagine living in a hut without running water and certainly no electricity and they couldn’t fathom the life that we lead in the US. It’s quite mind boggling!

I Miss Phone/Internet!

I really miss easy access to internet a LOT. It makes me seem so much more disconnected. I’m really hoping that once things get more normal I can find a way to get there more regularly. It’s also really weird to not be able to pick up a phone and call anyone. Next week I’m going to work on getting a cell phone here so that I will at least be able to contact these new Nigerian friends I’m going to be making soon. I am thankful however that for me the internet café is about 5 minutes away. We were talking to these people who work in a village called Zing and they are at least 45 minutes away from internet!
Update: Today I found out there is a possibility with one of the cell phone services here that one gets free minutes from 12am-4am even internationally!!! AHHH!!! This is so exciting to me!!! With a 6 hour time difference, that makes it completely feasible to call people in the US at a reasonable evening hour. We’ll see if this really pans out!!! J
AND: Mail is definitely a possibility they tell me…it just takes a while…I’m a patient girl!! J I’ll post an address once I know.

Official Language: English...

So, the official national language of Nigeria is English, yes, the official language is English. What do I hear all the time, everywhere? Hausa. (Angie definitely warned me about this!) Most people do speak some English and school is taught in English, but Hausa is definitely the predominant tribal language here. Once you know a second language, it is supposed to make learning a third easier. I don’t think this applies if the third language is an African language as opposed to a Romantic language! I’m working really hard to learn some key phrases, but what I really need is a Hausa dictionary that has some basic grammar in it too. It makes things difficult when I am trying to write down a new phrase in my handy dandy notebook that never leaves me (best packing suggestion EVER!) and I can only hear it and never see it. I have officially mastered counting from 1-10, hello, good bye, how are you, and where’s the bathroom. It definitely provides a source of entertainment!

Dinner with the Governor!

Everyone I have met here has been so warm and welcoming which has helped to make the realizations that I’ve been having that I’m going to be spending a year in a foreign country by myself easier. I don’t think I fully grasped that fact prior to leaving. Here is an example of the extravagant hospitality that has been shown to us in our first few days here: Next we went to the Faith Business Men’s meeting with the Bishop and the governor was also there. After a church service, we were invited to dinner at the Governor’s house! Wow! His Excellency Dababa de Sutu, the governor of Taraba state was so kind, generous, genuine and gracious. When we described the steep costs of renewing my visa each month for 11 months with hopes that he would waive the fee, he offered to pay for my visa renewal monthly. I was really surprised and grateful not only for the financial advantage but also for his support and blessing of my work. The Lord is showing me on a regular basis that I am meant to be here and doing this work. After discussing business, we had a political conversation which was a lot of fun. I love talking about American politics and it is so eye opening to realize that two men from Liberia, three men from Nigeria and three people from the US are able to discuss American politics. Despite the fact that everyone at the table seemed more conservative than me, I was able to speak up on behalf of Obama and not offend people, so that was a success.

Jalingo

The city of Jalingo itself is interesting. It is the capitol of Taraba State and supposedly has a population of 100,000. I think my experience at the bank epitomizes some of the dichotomies. We went to the bank to exchange money and withdraw some for the various projects that we were going to visit. Inside the bank seemed “normal” by American banking standards: flat screened computers, air-conditioned offices, everyone dressed in suits with cell phones, but outside is so strikingly different that it is shocking. Outside, people are selling everything from grilled corn to pineapple, yams, shoes, dresses on muddy, trash-lined streets with generators running much of the electricity due to the erractic “NEPA” or city electricity. Wow! How can there be such discrepancy? Is there such a difference in the US and I just don’t see it so easily? I would like to hope that I’m not that desensitized, but maybe I am.

JSS

Things overall have been going well. We have spent the past week visiting all sorts of projects and villages around Jalingo, which I found out is the center of the United Methodist Church in Nigeria, greeting them as well as delivering gifts and assessing needed work. We visited the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and I was really excited to meet the principal, Jarama. He seems as kind, knowledgeable and helpful as had been promised. The science rooms seem really well stocked. They had a decent amount of glassware and some chemicals. It will be interesting to meet the science teachers to get a better idea of how much it is used. When I mentioned to Jarama that I had brought a laptop and the internet in a box, he was pleased, but reserved full enthusiasm due to the fact that he and some of the staff are not that comfortable with computers. Beverly told me that we are going to be putting on a little computer training for the staff as well as others in the area who have received laptops but are not well-versed in their usage. I had to laugh thinking that I was going to be on the other side of professional development! I hope that these teachers aren’t as bitter against it as I tend to be!!!

We made it!

Hello!!! I've arrived safely in Jalingo!!! Thanks to all the prayers, we arrived safely and even more miraculously with all of our luggage after about 40 hours of travel Monday night at 10pm. Things here are going really well…I’ve already met many kind, friendly and helpful people!!! I am hopeful about what the next year holds! More later!

Leaving!

Thanks so much to all of you who left helpful packing suggestions! I believe they were all utilized! :) As I leave this morning, I feel so blessed to know that I have an amazing group of friends and family back home supporting me and praying for me. Thanks for all the encouragement and I'll try to post as soon as I can to let you know that I have arrived safely. Thanks again!!!

Packing

With four days left before I leave, I have been contemplating about what is important enough to include in the 3 large bags and 2 carry-on's that I am able to bring with me for a year. I tend to be a last minute packer, but I know that packing for a year the night before isn't the best idea! If anyone has any great ideas about small and necessary items that might be easily overlooked, please let me know! My mom has already has the vitamins and sunscreen covered...so don't worry about those! :)