BLACK PEOPLE, GUNS, AND HAIR WEAVES!

Well, I am here! After the 11 hour flight from NY, as we were touching down and I looked out the window to see all the lush greenery, a huge smile came to my face. I thought, “ I love my life! I’m in the motherland!” And boy, is that ever true. This is my motherland. There are black people everywhere!!! Duuh! It’s Africa, I know, but when you are here, it’s quite a different thing. I don’t remember thinking this when I was in South Africa- there are many more white folks there, I guess. But here, wow, everybody’s Black!! Haven't seen anyone who looks like me or my family though. Black Americans tell me that when you go to West Africa, you see people who you look like and Africans can take a look at you and tell you what tribe you are from. Maybe my folks come more from the north?

It’s funny, what I notice first when I come to a country. Well let’s just be frank, even before I got to the country, as soon as I walked on the plane, my nostrils started to acclimate. It just a whole other smell (or should i say scent) when you are hanging with a bunch of Nigerians in close quarters. I laughed at myself, because I am famous for saying I like people (especially men) more musky than soapy clean, but I am definitely being put to the test here.



The other thing that I notice is, all the guns. Being in a country where the military is large and in charge is a little unnerving. But I guess it is also comforting. I am staying by myself tonight in Port Hartcourt (yeah, the place where there were a bunch of kidnappings and other crazy violence not so long ago, but I have been assured this activity has all subsided) in government lodging arranged by my friend Pam from law school, who I am here to visit. There are gates and guards and locks; so I feel safe.

RANDOM: I was talking to my driver today from a balcony about 2 stories up and he signaled for me to wait; he turned his back and proceeded to pee! I cracked up- I forgot about that public peeing thing. I saw that lots in India too, but not in the middle of a conversation!! But, then again, on the long PMC bike ride in good old Massachusetts that I rode last weekend, I saw a guy get of his bike, walk like 2 feet off the main road, turn his back and take a piss. He didn’t even look for a tree to hide behind. My girl, Deb, and I cracked up and it definitely gave us renewed energy for the ride. I guess when you have to go, you have to go. Ha!

Anyway, I was immediately forced to reset my fast pace self when I got to Abuja airport. I was scheduled to get on a flight at 11 am to Port Harcourt. We went through security and goton the bus to go to the plane. We stayed on that bus going no where for about 30 minutes (explanation:waiting for the fuel for the plane to come-- hmm?). Then we were told that it would take longer than they initially thought so that we should get off the hot bus and go back through security where a few of us might find some chairs. (I was not one of the lucky few.) Then maybe another 30 minutes went by before we got to go through the drill all over again. Oh, by the way, Nigerians, don’t have the queue thing down that well; in other words, they will run over you going through security. No “excuse me” or “sorry” either.

Eventually, we got to the plane and then we had to point out which luggage was ours (our luggage was sitting out in the hot sun in a big pile for how long, i don't know)and then we got in lines- women in one, men in the other. We were patted down, showed our boarding passes again and then finally got on the plane. It’s a 45 minute ride to Port Harcourt from Abuja. Instead of getting there at 12, I got there at 2. I thought to myself, "Welcome to Africa!" Actually, it reminded me of Baltimore (Ha!)



Also, like in Baltimore, hair weaves abound. Wow, black women and their hair! Let me just say, my Nigerian sisters got to do better with the weaves. Lord have mercy. Western dress is also quite prevalent here, although I have also seen some great traditional outfits. I love the guys in traditional dress- although I saw one guy in a see through flowered outfit, with a t-shirt and shorts underneath ---I was not feeling him at all.




A government housing driver and police officer picked me up at the airport. It took 90 minutes to get to government lodging. Very nice, but no hot water! Big boulevards, lights, etc., but huge traffic jams. Nothing at all like India's though, many fewer people here. (Yes, i know i have yet to go to Lagos, which is the largest city in the continent- we'll see.) Also the infrastructure here in the south isn’t fabulous, but housing and markets look much better than what I saw in many cities in India. The hustlers (or shall I say "entrepreneurs") and the beggars are here. I understand this Delta region is where all the oil is, but the money from the oil, just runs out of the region and doesn’t get to those who are in the most need in this area. Sounds familiar.

Tomorrow, I set out to join my friend, Pam, who is facilitating a youth leadership development camp. She says that the conditions are really basic, as in, no running water, so can’t imagine that I will be able to post anything; I will start taking pictures tomorrow. Talk to you all soon.

PEACE!
V.