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!