Dear Readers,
Well, life certainly takes me to interesting places! I’ve now spent the better part of a week in Yenagoa, which will be my home for 6 months. Its very green, there are lots of nice looking buildings, nice highways, streetlights that work, and I’m in a house, in a compound, in a compound, surrounded by guards…so I feel very safe…although more in a princess in a high tower type of way.
I am more or less settled in, although I’m still waiting on some logistics (running water, my own transportation) to manifest themselves. Otherwise, I have my own set of rooms in a big house, have gotten everything cleaned and unpacked. I even have my first houseguest coming tomorrow!
Yesterday was Governor Silva’s 46th Birthday. Happy Birthday Your Excellency! I don’t know if it is Nigerian custom, or just this governor’s custom to have a lecture as part of the birthday events, but there was a very interesting lecture on poverty by a professor from Port Harcourt. There was also a comedy sketch, and some singing and dancing. The Governor also launched a Foundation for Widows, Orphans and the Aged. Quite a nice thing to do on your birthday.
Then we went to the birthday reception, with all the widows, orphans and aged. I have to admit that I didn’t know what most of the food was, so I picked a little carefully…ate something called a bean cake—which is mashed plantains, black-eyed peas and other things wrapped in a banana leaf and then steamed. It was pretty good.
I gave the governor a small gift and card, which he seemed to appreciate. What does one get for a governor? It was hard to decide, thanks Alice for your help!
All in all, I think I’m off to a decent start—although I’m looking forward to getting to work! Lots to do in a short period of time.
Hope all is well with you!
Alena
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