As I
finally clutched my passport complete with Nigerian visa as the doors were
shutting on the immigration department at Nigeria House on Wednesday evening, I
was a tad surprised to be told that I should be getting on a flight five hours
later. However, thanks to Jared and a quick thinking detour to avoid the
Chelsea home game, here I am and thoroughly enjoying the VSO Nigeria North
patch meeting at the Hill Station Hotel in Jos, Plateau State.
Im here on a computer in the Cyber Cafe - which Ive discovered does not do inverted commas, so for those whom I frequently correct their grammar... the inaccurate punctuation is not my fault... at this time.
Im also on borrowed time gifted to me as compensation for the 35 minutes it took for the computer to actually find its way onto the internet, but that gift could be snatched away from me at any time, so please forgive an abrupt ending.
Myself and David (also delayed) arrived safely at Abuja to be collected by the excellent Christopher in the VSO HiLux and temporarily deposited at VSOs Abuja flat for some much needed rest before our visit to the programme office and our journey to Jos.
We were heartily welcomed by the staff at the office who showed us around and introduced us to Rosies, where spice-shy David and I realised that we would have to educate our palates to chili if we want to fill our tummies in Nigeria. Rosie runs her excellent establishment from a tent on a spare piece of ground behind the VSO office, having relocated there when the land across the street was developed. We were treated to plates full of delicious (but spicy) Jolloffe rice (spelling may be wrong...), fish stew and fried plantains... Whilst throughly enjoying them, I am beginning to wonder how long the novelty will last as thats pretty much been the menu for the last three days, lunch and dinner...
After lunch we once again boarded the HiLux with Christopher, accompanied on this occasion by programme staff Liz and Abdul and we had a very enjoyable journey up to the plateau to arrive in distinctly cooler Jos and the Hill Station Hotel for the patch meeting and the first meeting with my future colleagues.
Now - in the days when my father was in the British Council, VSOs were predominantly young, British men. Our group at the Hill Station comprises a couple of dozen Kenyans/Ugandans from VSO Jitolee, 3-4 from VSO India, 2 from VSO Netherlands, 3 from VSO Canada (including 2 from the US) and the remaining dozen hailing from UK/Ireland.
Oops -
time to get off... I hope to be back online Monday/Tuesday next week with an
update of what this motley crew got up to, and more importantly, how we newbies
found our way back to Abuja via public transport for the first time!Im here on a computer in the Cyber Cafe - which Ive discovered does not do inverted commas, so for those whom I frequently correct their grammar... the inaccurate punctuation is not my fault... at this time.
Im also on borrowed time gifted to me as compensation for the 35 minutes it took for the computer to actually find its way onto the internet, but that gift could be snatched away from me at any time, so please forgive an abrupt ending.
Myself and David (also delayed) arrived safely at Abuja to be collected by the excellent Christopher in the VSO HiLux and temporarily deposited at VSOs Abuja flat for some much needed rest before our visit to the programme office and our journey to Jos.
We were heartily welcomed by the staff at the office who showed us around and introduced us to Rosies, where spice-shy David and I realised that we would have to educate our palates to chili if we want to fill our tummies in Nigeria. Rosie runs her excellent establishment from a tent on a spare piece of ground behind the VSO office, having relocated there when the land across the street was developed. We were treated to plates full of delicious (but spicy) Jolloffe rice (spelling may be wrong...), fish stew and fried plantains... Whilst throughly enjoying them, I am beginning to wonder how long the novelty will last as thats pretty much been the menu for the last three days, lunch and dinner...
After lunch we once again boarded the HiLux with Christopher, accompanied on this occasion by programme staff Liz and Abdul and we had a very enjoyable journey up to the plateau to arrive in distinctly cooler Jos and the Hill Station Hotel for the patch meeting and the first meeting with my future colleagues.
Now - in the days when my father was in the British Council, VSOs were predominantly young, British men. Our group at the Hill Station comprises a couple of dozen Kenyans/Ugandans from VSO Jitolee, 3-4 from VSO India, 2 from VSO Netherlands, 3 from VSO Canada (including 2 from the US) and the remaining dozen hailing from UK/Ireland.
And to follow the Adventure - go to the full Nigeria blog at Cicely In Nigeria!
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