So I've been back in Lagos for a little more than a week. I don't know why there's always such a crazy adjustment period! You'd think, by now, that we wouldn't be shocked by what we find upon returning. Sheesh! I guess I'm just a slow learner!
The first adjustment was required when I had been in the airport for all of 3 minutes. Our group of arrivers were heading through the corridor where we would go down stairs and deal with the immigration folks (something that always requires prayer for grace!) but before we even reached the stairs a uniformed Nigerian man stopped two of us -- expats, both. The Nigerians all flooded past us. The uniformed man said "I'm an important man! I need to see your yellow fever card." In all of my arrival experiences, I'd never been asked, while walking down the hallway, to show my yellow fever card. But the guy next to me and I both silently complied and starting fishing for our cards. Meanwhile, the same man stopped a few other expat men and said the same thing to them. One got a bit belligerant and asked "why?" The answer was quite un-original, "I'm an important man!" Yeah, 'heard that one! But then he continued, "Those men downstairs will just take care of your immigration papers but I (said with great emphasis) asked to see your yellow fever cards." I was so afraid that someone in the group would mouth off and say something like, "if you really were an important man you wouldn't have to tell us!" but everyone stayed mute. Maybe we were all praying for grace!
Other necessary attitude adjustments have included:
-trying to avoid viewing the men urinating on the side of the road (I'd been in the company shuttle bus for just about 4 minutes when I saw the first one!)
-shutting out noise from the throngs of horns honking when no vehicle is moving in traffic
-being able to laugh at the group of workers who have been congregating on the grass just beyond our living room windows from around 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. each day this week. They are sitting right next to their sign "DANGER! MEN AT WORK!" What's the danger? That one of them might actually do something???? The crew has had the task of putting up scaffolding for the painters so our buildings can get painted. It was due to be done in '07. At this rate, the four buildings might be done by '12!!!
--dealing with this life of "retirement" that I'm currently living! I can see why it kills old people! :-) I really have no reason to get out of bed in the morning, no deadlines to meet, no one counting on me to get something done, no demands at all ... pretty stinky, really! So, I'm working on finding someone who will hire our cook/steward 'cuz at least I'd have to get out of bed to keep the house clean and cook dinner and do laundry and all ...!!! And I've enrolled in an online course so that I can be certified to teach English as a foreign language. And I do get up early so that I can walk before it's too hot. And I create my long "To-Do" lists because a goal-oriented person like me just HAS to have some goals! And I just read an amazing book on the Biafran war in the '60s. And I just look myself in the mirror and say "deal with it!" So I am! God is very gracious in the way he snaps me out of my pity party in various gentle ways ...
--having my daily verbal quota be limited to the people I see, which, this week has been: Jim (male!), Michel (our cook ... male!), Jide (our driver ... male!), and the guy who came to fix the phonelines but didn't (guy = male!) Now --- that's stuff for some serious trauma!!! Jim's a dear who patiently lets me babble on and on as he adds the occasional "really?" and "yeah!" at the appropriate moment! So, if I start blogging a whole lot of nonsense please understand that I'm just trying to find an outlet for my verbosity!
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6 comments:
Sharon, I'm reminded of a cartoon I have which picture a "Home for The Eternal Optimist"--you remember?... I know you'll get through this and return in smiles to your assigned window!
I've been wondering if you will use this time to write that book that's lurking in the back of your mind.
love you,
Theresa
Ohhhhhhhhh, you make me smile, girl! It's sooooo great to hear from you. I have a photo copy of that cartoon, still. I gave it to a friend, here, who's German. He didn't think it was funny at all. He's an optimist and his girlfriend is a very emotional Italian and I thought he'd get a kick out of it but he said there was nothing funny about it -- it's a survival skill for him@! Thanks for making me laugh, my friend! How are you, anyway?
Hi Sharon,
Even though I haven't blogged for awhile, I do read your posts and keep up with all you're going through. You're in my prayers often. I was glad you got to spend time in Alaska and visit family. Your kids all sound like they're doing great! What a blessing that is!
We've been very busy here, started a new company this year, so we have two locations and two businesses to run now, crazy!
I've been busy also with helping my brother in his ministry in Golden, so much going on there, God is really moving in the "unity" department among his church families in various communities.
Larkridge is in it's death throws, Doug and I left there about 4 months ago. I think there are only about 20 people left trying to keep things going. Pete and Cathy D'Addario are among those few. Rob took a lead pastor job with Boulder Valley Christian.
Hang in there, work on the book thing, I'm really looking forward to reading it some day! How much longer do you have to stay in Nigeria anyway?
Linda
Thanks, Linda! We were in Denver for a long weekend in January -- taking care of some business after being in Alaska for Christmas. So, we went to Larkridge and had hoped to see you. It was the Sunday Rob and Leah announced that they were leaving ... amazing timing! It was good to be able to talk with them after the service. I'm so glad that you're helping in your brother's ministry. I know you always keep busy! Is your new company linked to your first?
Sorry to have missed you when you came through Denver. WE had already left Larkridge at that point.
Yes and No, on the business thing. Doug's parents own both and we run both, but another person who brought the Target account with him owns about 12% of the new business, which is why it needed to be separate from the old one. It is also in a separate building. We do alot of running back and forth all day from one to the other. Didn't have much choice though, it was buy this new one from a dying company that owed us about $400,000, which would have put us under. God knows how to arrange things so it all works out in the end. :)
Great to hear more details, Linda. I'll pass that on to Jim.
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