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! :)

Adios San Antonio

Since I've last written, many aspects of my current life have come to a close. I've finished my job as a Chemistry teacher at Boerne High School and had to say good-bye to the best co-workers EVER! Then, I went on an 8-day field trip across north and west Texas (WAY FUN!) to close out my grad school class that has been going on for a year about Texas environments. I also finished up my last grad school class on June 30th to complete my master's degree from Our Lady of the Lake University! While I'm very glad to be done with papers and homework, I'm going to miss the great friends I've made through the program and having the opportunity to be around other great science teachers with super ideas!!!

Right now I've been in the process of saying good-bye to so many close friends that I've made over the past four years of living in San Antonio. I've been joking with people that I have lived "my entire adult life in San Antonio"! While it's been kind of sad saying so many good-byes, I feel fortunate to recognize all the amazing people that I have been blessed to know and have in my life. I know that many of these people have changed me and will be lifelong friends!!

In the midst of the sadness of leaving so many dear friends, I'm also ridiculously excited about this upcoming adventure!!! It's hard to believe that after more than a year of planning, going over to Nigeria to spend a year teaching science will be a reality on Sunday, August 17th when my plane leaves Moline, IL and will eventually, after a lot of flying, land in a town near Jalingo, Nigeria. There, I hope to meet many more amazing people and see what new and exciting plans that God has in store for me!