February 27, 2009
Catching up...
Our time in London was one of rest and refreshment – something we would definitely need for the days ahead. The trip from London to Lagos is about 6-7 hours. The flight was full and as we landed the Nigerians on board applauded in gratitude to be home safely. The airport at Lagos has definitely improved over the last few years. They now have signs posted to direct your way through customs and immigration – they are separating the Nigerians from those coming in from other countries which speeds up the process as well. There are occasional pockets of cooler air from random air vents throughout the waiting areas….all little details that are improving the process of getting beyond customs.
It took us about 45 minutes of standing in lines after landing to get up to our turn at the customs desk. As usual, our customs agent was irritable and generally annoyed – I’ve yet to meet one that is hospitable or helpful – he snapped a number of questions as to why we were there, what was our concern or business, etc. When he found out how long our intended stay was, he became especially upset. He declared outright that it would be impossible for us to stay more than 30 days. He and the others immediately began speaking native dialect which is your first clue that they don’t want you to understand what’s going on. After coming into Nigeria a number of times, you learn to smile and agree with what they say, to assure them that they are correct and you are most grateful for their assistance – you nod your head, say thank you and deal with it later. Any type of explanation or discussion only threatens the authority they are so anxious to display and causes more problems. So, our visas are stamped for 30 days which means we will be going to the consulate in Calabar and applying for an extension, etc, to override the stamp that was given at the airport.
Our luggage made it through – thank God. It took about another hour for all the bags to be loaded and carted to make our way through more security. Once again, the guards love to give you a difficult time. They asked what was in each box, bag or carton. After you would tell them, they would tell you they want to see inside. That meant that we would need to cut all the tape and banding off the bags, etc and let them go through the contents. Most of the procedure is an exercise in intimidation. They snap at you loudly and try to make you feel uncomfortable….we kept assuring Eli that all was well, just smile and wait for them to move on to someone else. They nodded with a grunt toward the doorway and we were free to go. As you continue your way through this process you are getting closer to the outdoors. As the tempers and frustrations rise, so does the temperature. As we rolled our cart out into the evening air, it was 90+ with excessive humidity. We looked back and forth through the dozens of black faces to find someone who was to be holding up a sign with our name and before too long, there he was, Dr Mike, our host for the evening.
We were somehow able to load all our belonging and ourselves into his vehicle. Something you really do not want to do is become separated from one another or from your baggage. Staying together at all costs is imperative even if it means waiting a few hours for a vehicle that will hold everything and everyone at once. We were blessed to be able to make it together the first time.
Dr. Mike’s home was complete with water and toilets….a real bonus after the heat and exhaustion of the day. It would also assure us of freshening up in the morning before our next flight. He had food prepared, salad (Nigerian salad is cabbage, carrot, peas, pineapple and other veggies in a cream sauce), pepper sauce with various meats in it to put over rice. Nigerian food is extremely spicy. Eli had quite t a time getting the burn out of his mouth after eating….there’s no refrigeration so drinking something cold is not an option either. You learn to adjust.
We were up at 5am the next day to try to catch a 7:30 flight to Calabar. The tickets are purchased 17,000NR each-$114 /usd/approx $350USD for all 3) before departure so it is first-come, first-served. We made our way through the madness of the local airport with our bags only to find the flight was already full. We would need to change airlines and take a flight 2-3 hours later. That meant weighing our baggage and setting it aside as we waited for the next flight. In-country flights allow you about as much as you can carry onto the airplane and then they weigh the entire lot of your other bags. It’s not by piece but by total weight. We had to pay $250USD in Chicago for overweight bags to Lagos; in Calabar we paid another $200 to get all of our things to Calabar. With the length of our stay, the need to bring the water filter, medical supplies and other misc needs, bringing things on these flights was the cheapest way to go. The option of mailing or transport of another kind simply isn’t an option.
The Calabar flight was delayed another two hours….you learn with time to keep enough water/snacks with you at all times. Each time you go out, you never really know how long you’ll be away. Eli spent the time people watching….never a dull pastime in Lagos. I dozed in my chair, soaking up as much of the A/C as I could. Jon and Eli played some cards. The flight left close to noon. For Americans coming into Nigeria, the issue of control is the first battle to contend with. We love to be in control and have a plan. Well, in this country, you definitely are not in control and you learn to have a list of options, rather than a plan. You adjust as you go.
We arrived in Calabar before 2pm. We were relieved to know we were nearly to the end of our journey for the day. We were taken to our host home not far from the airport. We had a change in arrangements: previously we were to be staying in the church guest rooms on the Assemblies of God compound. We are now staying on the second story of a private home. It’s a place that Jon and I have both stayed at before so we are familiar with the surroundings. A woman we call “Ma Grace” lives downstairs with an assortment of children. We have chickens in the compound…..Eli feels at home…..
Catching up...
Our time in London was one of rest and refreshment – something we would definitely need for the days ahead. The trip from London to Lagos is about 6-7 hours. The flight was full and as we landed the Nigerians on board applauded in gratitude to be home safely. The airport at Lagos has definitely improved over the last few years. They now have signs posted to direct your way through customs and immigration – they are separating the Nigerians from those coming in from other countries which speeds up the process as well. There are occasional pockets of cooler air from random air vents throughout the waiting areas….all little details that are improving the process of getting beyond customs.
It took us about 45 minutes of standing in lines after landing to get up to our turn at the customs desk. As usual, our customs agent was irritable and generally annoyed – I’ve yet to meet one that is hospitable or helpful – he snapped a number of questions as to why we were there, what was our concern or business, etc. When he found out how long our intended stay was, he became especially upset. He declared outright that it would be impossible for us to stay more than 30 days. He and the others immediately began speaking native dialect which is your first clue that they don’t want you to understand what’s going on. After coming into Nigeria a number of times, you learn to smile and agree with what they say, to assure them that they are correct and you are most grateful for their assistance – you nod your head, say thank you and deal with it later. Any type of explanation or discussion only threatens the authority they are so anxious to display and causes more problems. So, our visas are stamped for 30 days which means we will be going to the consulate in Calabar and applying for an extension, etc, to override the stamp that was given at the airport.
Our luggage made it through – thank God. It took about another hour for all the bags to be loaded and carted to make our way through more security. Once again, the guards love to give you a difficult time. They asked what was in each box, bag or carton. After you would tell them, they would tell you they want to see inside. That meant that we would need to cut all the tape and banding off the bags, etc and let them go through the contents. Most of the procedure is an exercise in intimidation. They snap at you loudly and try to make you feel uncomfortable….we kept assuring Eli that all was well, just smile and wait for them to move on to someone else. They nodded with a grunt toward the doorway and we were free to go. As you continue your way through this process you are getting closer to the outdoors. As the tempers and frustrations rise, so does the temperature. As we rolled our cart out into the evening air, it was 90+ with excessive humidity. We looked back and forth through the dozens of black faces to find someone who was to be holding up a sign with our name and before too long, there he was, Dr Mike, our host for the evening.
We were somehow able to load all our belonging and ourselves into his vehicle. Something you really do not want to do is become separated from one another or from your baggage. Staying together at all costs is imperative even if it means waiting a few hours for a vehicle that will hold everything and everyone at once. We were blessed to be able to make it together the first time.
Dr. Mike’s home was complete with water and toilets….a real bonus after the heat and exhaustion of the day. It would also assure us of freshening up in the morning before our next flight. He had food prepared, salad (Nigerian salad is cabbage, carrot, peas, pineapple and other veggies in a cream sauce), pepper sauce with various meats in it to put over rice. Nigerian food is extremely spicy. Eli had quite t a time getting the burn out of his mouth after eating….there’s no refrigeration so drinking something cold is not an option either. You learn to adjust.
We were up at 5am the next day to try to catch a 7:30 flight to Calabar. The tickets are purchased 17,000NR each-$114 /usd/approx $350USD for all 3) before departure so it is first-come, first-served. We made our way through the madness of the local airport with our bags only to find the flight was already full. We would need to change airlines and take a flight 2-3 hours later. That meant weighing our baggage and setting it aside as we waited for the next flight. In-country flights allow you about as much as you can carry onto the airplane and then they weigh the entire lot of your other bags. It’s not by piece but by total weight. We had to pay $250USD in Chicago for overweight bags to Lagos; in Calabar we paid another $200 to get all of our things to Calabar. With the length of our stay, the need to bring the water filter, medical supplies and other misc needs, bringing things on these flights was the cheapest way to go. The option of mailing or transport of another kind simply isn’t an option.
The Calabar flight was delayed another two hours….you learn with time to keep enough water/snacks with you at all times. Each time you go out, you never really know how long you’ll be away. Eli spent the time people watching….never a dull pastime in Lagos. I dozed in my chair, soaking up as much of the A/C as I could. Jon and Eli played some cards. The flight left close to noon. For Americans coming into Nigeria, the issue of control is the first battle to contend with. We love to be in control and have a plan. Well, in this country, you definitely are not in control and you learn to have a list of options, rather than a plan. You adjust as you go.
We arrived in Calabar before 2pm. We were relieved to know we were nearly to the end of our journey for the day. We were taken to our host home not far from the airport. We had a change in arrangements: previously we were to be staying in the church guest rooms on the Assemblies of God compound. We are now staying on the second story of a private home. It’s a place that Jon and I have both stayed at before so we are familiar with the surroundings. A woman we call “Ma Grace” lives downstairs with an assortment of children. We have chickens in the compound…..Eli feels at home…..
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