Random bits of info

In the offices, there have been some construction workers doing renovation work. The first few times I walked in to my office, I was surprised at their surprise to see me. Now, they're used to me. But this morning I finally realized why they were surprised. I must be a bit dense but I realized that I am now the only non-Nigerian woman working in these office buildings. Jim's company has other offices in other locations in the area and there's, well, let's see -- an Indian woman working in one of the buildings. That's it, there. At another location there are a few white gals -- I can count four out of a few hundred employees.

Because there are a few wives still on the camp, I don't feel alone. But in the offices, well, it is a bit weird!!! There never were many of us -- three in all, I guess, now that I think of it ...

We're onto the 9th week without rain. But for the past three days I can feel a bit of humidity returning in air. Lucy says that soon the rains will come. We need it VERY badly but, quite selfishly, I would love it if the rain came in small doses ...

There's a fuel (pronounced "fool") shortage here at the moment. Evidently the government creates this situation every December and January -- driving prices up as the demand is higher during the holidays when people travel back to their villages. So, empty cars line the streets and as you follow the line for a few minutes you'll find that it usually leads to a Fuel Station. Folks can spend the entire day in line and still not get any fuel. Supposedly, it will get better soon ...

That causes other prices to increase. Our "fish lady" brought us a fish that I expected to pay N3000 for and her price was N4500. That's around $40 for a fish the size of a typcial silver salmon. I can get a fillet of beef from out of the country for a better price than that. She said that the fish prices are up and the transportation for public transit is up.

Public transit, by the way, means packing about 25 people into a minivan designed to hold 8. Their belongings are on the roof, strapped on in piles that sometimes double the height of the "bus." Hanging out the back are the smaller things -- baskets of chickens (live), luggage, products they are taking to the market, construction materials like rebar or other metal posts, ... For a short drive it costs them N200 plus extra for their belongings.