Ok...so here I am again in Nigeria. Lagos to be precise. I left early on the 27th of February and was off. My flights all went smoothly and I had no issues at all. It was my first time flying into Lagos so I wasn't familiar with the airport but it was easy as pie. I arrived just after 8pm but didn't actually walk out of the airport until a little after 10. the reason for this was a delay in luggage. As I walked out into the hot humid air of Lagos I was greeted by my good friends from the Valley Estate house as well as my boss and her husband. This was the first time I was meeting Juyin, my boss, but we seemed to flow well b/c of past conversations on the phone. We headed to Valley Estate all together so I could be dropped off and so Juyin could know where I was staying in the meantime while my flat was being prepared. Being back, it seemed like just yesterday that I was in my friends place at Valley Estate and I stayed up late just talking. I felt like I had so much to say but eventually I knew that I had to rest. The next day was just one of catching up, relaxing and resting. The next day Juyin and her husband Femi, took me out for lunch and we spent out time talking about teaching and the school and my past experiences in Nigeria. It went really well and we just seemed to click. It was now Monday and I made my way to the school for the first time and got the official tour. The school is lovely and cozy. Meeting all the staff was nice as well but I still am struggling with some names as they are these non-dutch or non-western names so I always forget who is who and their names. I am slowly getting them. The kids names are coming slowly too but there are so many that I still have yet to learn. So far I have spent my time getting adjusted to the school and how everything works in the Nigerian school systems. It is quite different than what I am used to in the sense of teaching methods. Basically the styles of teaching consist of lecture and note taking at almost all grade levels. The kids start so early learning how to write and read here as well. That is why I am here, to help implement changes in the teaching methods of the teachers here. Introduce ways to interact more with the kids, have more materials for hands on learning etc. Juyin has had this vision but as I also can see, she is so overwhelmed with other duties of running the school that it is so hard to implement change and actually see the change occurring. That is why I am here. So far Juyin and I have had so many similar thoughts and ideas about how to improve the school and the way the teachers teach. We see a lot of things eye to eye and seem to flow really well. I led a workshop last week called "The Organized Teacher" for all the teachers from both branches of Abbey school. (There are 2 branches at different locations...one in GRA and one in KETU.) I also am working on an art curriculum to introduce into the school and will begin teaching soon. First the classroom had to be changed and cleared out and now for supplies and then after the Easter break hopefully I will begin teaching.
I am really enjoying my time here and have met so many people who are involved in arts here as well. I have my own flat which is on a compound that is owned by a family at the school. The mother, Ojoma is very artistic and we are currently putting our ideas together to come up with some workshops outside of school for children. We have a lot in common and they are now my new family here as I can pop in anytime I want and vice versa. My flat is really nice...its perfect actually. I just have to yet have a few things finished, but it truly feels like home and that is really important for me. I am close to a lot of little shops here so I can just run across the road and pick up some things if need be. I am learning to know when to shut certain appliances off if others are on while using my generator so that it doesn't suck it dry or shut it down...as some electronics take more energy than others...you can't use some at the same time. When there is light (NEPA) I pull my switch to turn all the appliances to now use the NEPA wires and not the ones connected to the generator. I even have a little blue light that turns on when they bring NEPA so that I don't waste my generator not knowing there is light. But so far, the gate man turns my gen off for me and will sometimes call my phone to tell me "NA NEPA" meaning...there NEPA. (NEPA by the way is the old name for the power company and Nigerians now named it Never Expect Power Always. It is now called Power Holding Company...PHC...which many now say Please Hold Candle) You never know when there will be power...that is why almost everyone has a generator. I am blessed b/c I was given a big heavy duty gen that can carry more power. So it can carry my air conditioning unit in my bedroom. That is important b/c when I come home I can cope for a while without my gen on but after a while I just have to turn it on so I can at least use my fan for most times it is 34C in my flat. As I write this now at 9am it is 29C. I am getting used to the heat and I have developed a little bit of heat rash at times due to sweating and wiping and sweating and wiping.
I am really learning my way around Lagos as I have taken cabs to work as well as cabs to see some friends here and there. I feel comfortable going out on my own pretty much and people are more receptive than anything else. I have a lot of people who are now like family and it is really great. I have had some great times hanging out with friends, meeting new friends and spending time working at the school. I am really enjoying my time and this time it feels so right that I am here. God must have known what he was doing placing this job in my lap randomly and unexpected! Till next time!
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