Beginnings of life in Nigeria

WOW...or shall I say "Na Wa O" which is pretty much the same thing...I have been terrible in writing, but I have a more than legitimate excuse...see I have had internet here and there but not as often as back home...but i have had a chance to e-mail here and there...but my real excuse is that whenever I went on to blog, the site was in arabic...everything except my blog, so I couldn't figure out how to sign in, or how to post...because YEP, you guessed it, I don't know how to read arabic characters. BUT ALAS, today I turned into a genius and changed it back to english. (Maybe for some of you this isn't a big thing...but it was to me, I was proud of my intelligence).

Anyway, what is new...lets see...

I have not been in Nigeria for a month and a half. When I arrived it was good to be back, it didn't seem as if it had really been a year and the surroundings were familiar to my eyes. The smell and heat when getting off the plane also was familiar and enjoyable. Customs and immigration went smoothly and as I went to collect my luggage, I saw Jude waving to me from the domestic terminal...waiting to pick up his own bag as he was coming into Abuja from Lagos at the same time. I collected my bags and we went from there to his parents to spend the night. We headed to Jos soon after that and I stayed with Kyle and Ann, the missionaries I had worked with the first time I came to Nigeria in 2003. Jude went back to Lagos quickly for some work and business and I hung out with our friends and spent time "jisting" and catching up.

After some time Jude came back to Jos for his "welcome home M.I" show for winning his hip hop award. We went to the show and hung out in the VIP lounge above the club and spent all night there, arriving home at 6am. The show was fun and Jude killed it. Jude and I went to Abuja and hung out there a bit and then we came back to renew my visa. So it is now renewed until August 1st. This time I stayed with some missionaries Mary Beth and Bayo...a mixed couple who run Mashiah Foundation...who I worked with shortly in 2003 as well. They help women with HIV and teach them to sew etc. I am currently staying with them again, as here in Nigeria, people are always welcome to stay...no matter how long. Nigerians are very very welcoming! Jude went back to Lagos and I traveled to Abuja alone to meet him. This is where I became sick. Abuja is hot and humid...and i developed a cold which was causing a fever and headaches and sweating and coughing. Then I began to vomit, then sharp kidney pain...and dehydration from sweating and vomitting...so I ended up in the hospital for the night being pumped full of fluids and antibiotics. Luckily it wasn't malaria. I have been doing much better. Jude was amazing and stayed the night in a chair and helped me when I had to vomit and walked me to the bathroom...he really really took care of me...

We came back to Jos as Jude had to do some small work and for us to just have a little time to see our friends...and for cool weather. We will go back to Abuja for a day or so and then Lagos...

I am adjusting to life in Nigeria...and adjusting to being with Jude...so we are taking our time and learning many new things about each other as we are no longer on vacation mode. I pray that I find a job and I am truly enjoying my time here. People are so hospitable and welcoming. I don't feel like a foreigner and as long as I fell that way, I believe it really helps me and others to adjust and accept. People greet everywhere and are always willing to help me out. I am thankful for this. Some days I am anxious b/c I want to begin to do something...and sometimes there are so many uncertainties...but I guess that is where my faith is coming in. Believing no matter happens...it is the right thing. I also get emotional some days, as I miss friends and family and just some habitual things of home...but I know I belong here...so that gives me strength.

Anyway...that is it thus far...the life of Raquel Naija..till next time...sorry...uploading pics is not going well...