nigeria in pictures

nigeria part 1

deep breath.  i have a lot to say on this one, so bear with me. 

so we arrived in nigeria on saturday night, and upon our arrival, we got off the plane and found out that the local airport is being worked on.  its a sloooooow process here, so they have set up make-shift tents outside the airport for immigration, arrivals, etc. they are similar to the houston rodeo tents (smaller though) with porta potties outside.  

it was complete chaos in there.  it did not seem to be arranged at all--you couldn't tell who was an airport employee and who was a local person.  it was quite obvious to everyone there that we were NOT local.  we stood out like a sore thumb. we had been warned that the airport workers would threaten you with certain things, like you need to open your suitcase or give me money, etc, and so we were trying to be on the lookout.  after they cleared our passports, they checked our medical records (i had to get 7 shots before i came) and apparently my yellow fever should have been given to me earlier than it was.  i was three days too late on the yellow fever.  the lady told me that i would need to pay her off OR i would be detained in the airport cells for 3 days.  i tried to stay calm, but i was shaking and called over the manager that is with us.  he luckily talked her down and we got out of there as soon as we could. 

our company arranges airport pickups and drivers with armed escorts in a truck in front of you and behind you because the roads are very unsafe.  our driver and meet and greet met us, and they have to identify you before you tell them anything about yourself to ensure they are not kidnappers.  i was still so shaken up by the airport and the threat of being detained, that once we got in the car and i realized that we had armed government guards in the truck in front of and behind us, i just lost it.  we were in the car for an hour and a half and i silently cried the whole way. 

the road was insane.  some parts are paved, and some are dirt, but there are no lines, no road signs, no signals, nothing. people drive wherever and however they want to.  if you want to get out of the road way and go around someone and get back in, thats totally acceptable.  i've seen driving in new york, italy, and mexico, and this was way more insane than all of those put together.  

we arrived at the base camp and no one here knew we had arrived for quite some time.  we waited in the van for 45 minutes to see where we would be staying.  (unsafe to get out of the van until we knew for sure, as we hadn't had our malaria bug spray on yet).  we got our house and there were not really any sheets and towels or anything...and then in the middle of the night, i woke up to no lights, no power.  we lost power for about 8 hours. 

i can't even describe the fear that i felt.  i am here with two other girls from aberdeen and thank goodness that i am.  the three of us really felt like our lives were in serious danger those first two days, and we all bonded so completely.  we all discussed what we wanted to do, and decided that we would give it one more day and see how we felt. 

on monday, we went into the office and met the people there that we would be training.  the drive to work was the same as the drive back from the airport--armed guards in a truck in front of and behind us and flashing lights the whole way.  we get up at 5 am and leave for the office to try and miss some of the crazy traffic.  we drive past the saddest living conditions i have ever witnessed.  people here literally live on nothing.  in the daylight the scary parts just looked sad.  we have to change our route to the office every couple of days in order to prevent people from knowing our schedule.  we drive past goats eating off a pile of trash in the street, and one morning i saw a mom giving a toddler a bath in a baby pool outside their little hut type building.  its really really sad and ive heard that the government has money but isnt willing to spend it on the people. 

there's so much more to say, but its getting late here and i need to get to bed.  ill try to post more tomorrow. this is all the sad/bad side of the situation, but there are SO MANY amazing things to say about nigeria too.  this trip has literally changed my life and i cant wait to get back to share my experiences with my friends and family.  

pictures coming soon also!