So much to say, so little space...

When I reintroduced this blog, it was intended for my friends and family in the States to keep up with what's happening with Amy and I in Lagos, Nigeria. Well, I have been back home in Pittsburg, KS for almost 3 weeks now so that's why there have been no updates so if by some chance you are a guest or regularly reader not based in Pitt and wanted updates, you should have said something. More than likely, there aren't too many but here's a few updates and pictures concerning our time here.

Amy and I are so thankful to God that we have such wonderful friends and family and that out of sight is by no means out of mind. It's been very busy yet relaxing being back. In a strange way, when compared to Lagos and the hustle, this feels like an alternate universe. We have a new niece that we got to meet for the first time and when we get back, there will be another new niece (Emma Joy Posterick) that we will also get to meet for the first time.

We also spent some time in gorgeous South Florida and Miami Beach which has breath taking beaches as we spent time with my siblings that don't live in Pitt. Many more memories were made with two weddings and not enough hours visiting with family who are friends and friends who are family. It's truly been a good time. For those who we didn't get to see, we think of you often and hopefully we will see you next time. 

When Ugo met Adaora! Of course we bonded.

Henry times are amazing!

Aunty Amy holding Adaora

Great Friends, Mr. and Mrs. Butler. Now if I can get them to move to Lagos...

More Adaora...in the words of the Black Eyed Peas, I just can't get enough

Delray Beach, FL

I wonder how Amy feels about Watermelon

Fish Tacos! Excellent

Fort Lauderdale - America's Playground

In their defense, they were hungry

Miami Beach! The Pictures don't do it justice.

Jumping Jelly Fish! Yep, got stung by one. It died immediately.

It's been a rather warm summer

Amy and Hannah Time.

 

 

 

Well, we still have a few days left so we will make the best of it. Still have a few more restaurants to hit up. There's also the bus to ride...hmmm....I guess maybe the next time I post something here, it will be from the motherland.

House Guests

So of course I have been a lazy blogger but it is mostly due to legitimate reasons, I think anyway...

For nearly two weeks, we've been blessed with House Guests, Kayla and her son Joseph and I am sure for Amy, it's been a welcome change from seeing only me in the house day after day after day. I was even getting tired of me. I won't go into much detail but I sure hope Kayla doesn't mind that I stole a picture to share with the world. Kayla and her husband who will be arriving in a few days are both from the Midwest, USA. It's really been nice having Kayla around and she's been a real blessing (Joseph has been as well). Coming home to cooked meals and a lively atmosphere sure beats the alternative. So I would like to publicly thank you for all that. Hopefully we haven't been too bad a host. Please join Amy and I in praying to our Lord, Jesus Christ that her trip here will be as fruitful as they intend it to be and even more so.

Unfortunately we haven't been able to do so much out on the town with her since she's been there. Logistics with the rainy season is eh...tricky to be polite. I heard that it rains 21 out of the 31 days in July but I am starting to think they were way off. It’s rained 13 out of the 14 days here in epic proportions. Monday I believe was the first day in my life that schools were canceled because of rain! A rain day! It had rained all day non stop on Sunday and there was respite for a few hours between 1am and 5am. Well, the truth is that it’s because of the conditions of the roads and drainage system they were closed. When it rains like this, the roads are wasted due to massive flooding. It is unreal how bad it is on the Island portion of Lagos State. I left work Sunday night/Monday morning around 1.30am and there were car abandoned on the flooded streets. And guess what, it is currently raining.

Luckily, we’ve been able to use the boat mostly to and from work so I haven’t had to endure much traffic. I’m sure most people are looking forward to “August Break” where the rain subsides for a good portion of the month and resumes in September before giving way to dry season in November.

This road depicted is very close to where we work along the Oshodi/Apapa Expressway. The worst part about this is that the roads are actually so bad and with the water masking that, Trailers could and do tip over causing more havoc occasionally which of course further worsens the traffic situation. Obviously something that also happens unfortunately through all this is the loss of lives through multiple circumstances.

Well, that's all for now. Now, for those of you in Pitt, I can't wait to see you all and spend some time with you. I can't wait especially to hold my niece Adaora in my hand for the first time! This time tomorrow, we should be getting ready to touch down in the ATL!

I'm sorry but I finally broke PLUS more Q & A...

Since we've been here, I have tried to do things eh...the right way but it seems like in certain instances always seem to challenge that stance and one in particular and that with regards to driving. Now before I describe the events that let to the "breaking", I want to answer some of the other questions that have been posed to me about life here...

Michelle - What is the percentage of accidents on a boat? In other words, how often would one actually need the life vest due to an accident? 

Well, I don't know of any accidents that has happened since we've been here. I am sure it happens because we do see boats that operate as mass transit and I know that maintenance is lacking in this city. So we've never really had to use the life vest and I hope we never have to.


Kerri - Oh, I have another question: how dangerous is it there? Details please.

This is a tricky question to answer but I will try. In my opinion, it depends in part on how smart you are and also in part where you live (and the paths you take). In any major city, most residents know where you should avoid and at what times you should avoid being out. It's no different here. You do hear of horror stories every now and then but the truth is that all of our lives are in the hands of God. The roads are treacherous and traffic jams often lead to car robberies. We've been warned of some of these places. However, our apartment location is quite possibly the safest neighborhood in town because it's by a majority of the foreign embassies. In a nut shell, it can be.


Christi - On a day like in those pics (flooded streets) I would think you'd take the boat to work. Why did you drive instead?

Great question! Occasionally when it's rained (say overnight), we've taken the boat and sent the driver with the car for the return journey. We did that this recently past Friday. However, that particular Friday, it was actually currently raining and the boat we had access to that day didn't have a cover that would prevent us from getting soaked. But normally it's preferred especially now when it's like Seattle or London where it rains about every minute.

Rachel - I was kinda wondering the same thing as Christi. It seems a boat would be a better option, no? Love the updates!

Yes it would :)

Thanks for your questions. Keep them coming. 


Now back to my "Breaking"...I was forced to brave the Lagos roads on Tuesday because our driver was stuck in traffic trying to get here. Let me retrace my steps and make an honest statement. At least twice every five minutes I drive, I want to flip someone off so bad that it hurts that I don't. You will be happy to know that self restraint is still winning. Now, there are certain maneuvers people make when driving like, making another lane when there is traffic and I have always been hesitant to follow suit. Finally, on Tuesday, I was running so late that I actually initiated the additional lane. I felt queasy doing it, but it saved me at least 30 minutes and then my conscience died. I finally broke. I am sure that I won't repeat this in little Pittsburg, KS and I hope I don't have to do it here again. But I am broken so, it is bound to happen again...unless I heal before the chance comes up.


Well, I would it's 19 days till we are in Pitt. I am not counting really but Delta Airlines is so that helps. Oh, Amy is as well.

Where's Noah's Ark?

Last Thursday, I wrote about the things I can't get used to and I specifically mentioned traffic especially when it rains! Well, I think I spoke to soon because it rained all night and we woke about to a city pretty much under water. It took us only an hour to get to work but that was because there were not too many cars mobile. I think many people were either stuck trying to get out of their home and the sedans that did didn't make it far. We saw one too many cars stranded and as we wadded through the soupy roads, Amy at one point was downright scared that water was going to begin seeping into the car.

Inside Someone's Compound

Victoria Island

The pictures you see are not fake and are only a blimp on the radar as far as the experiences of others. Anyway, that's all I have. I wish I had better pictures but you sort of get the picture. I could leave the window down long enough to get more because of the rain and my paranoia that I'd drop the camera into the ocean.

Response to your Questions.

Last time, I asked for questions so here are the few questions I got in order of when I received them and my responses- 

Lori - About the pic of Amy (looking lovely) wearing a life vest: do you provide your own life vests?

We do not have to provide our own life vests although it'd probably more sanitary if we did. Each boat has a few and I think we've used 5 so far and I know of 2 that we haven't been in just yet.

Anna - What have been the 3 most difficult things to adjust to (for you or Amy), and the 3 easiest things to adjust to? I think it might help me understand what everyday life is like for y'all.

The is a bit trickier to answer and it is also a fluid answer i.e. depending on the day. I would say the most difficult thing to adjust to is easily the traffic situation. It is extremely worse than can be comprehended and completely unpredictable except that when it rains, it is downright awful. Another thing would be the issue of "Nigerian Time" i.e. time typically means nothing to many people so meetings are usually late and projects aren't usually completely if ever on time. The traffic situation doesn't help that either. Lastly, I would say that having to live away from many of the godly relationships that have made me in large part who I am today is a tough pill to swallow. 

The easiest things...the weather since I prefer heat to the brutal winters of the Midwest. The food (for me anyway) is also easy to fall back in love with especially Suya (google it) and finally, being back around certain friends and family has been very easy. There are just some relationships that transcend the effects of time lost.

Kerri - Ugo, I love that you're taking photos and blogging. You could take a photo of the outside of your apartment from the boat. Also, what does your office look like? Take a photo of some of the native foods as well please.

Unfortunately, you may have to endure poor pictures in this respect here. My office is simple. I have a glass desk, two short cabinets that sit on the ground. I also have a small 22in flat screen TV on the wall that isn't currently functional. As far as pictures of native food, I will do that as an ongoing project. Here are the pictures you requested -

View of Apartment Building from the boat

View of Apartment from the Boat

View of the Water from our Apartment

My office Desk

Roasted Corn a.k.a. BBQ According to Amy 

As I get more pictures of local foods, I will make sure I share them. It's not too often that I actually eat a lot of very local foods other than the variations of rice here as well as the aforementioned suya. That's all the questions I have. If you have any other questions or request, don't hesitate.

He has made everything beautiful in its time

Ecc. 3:11 - He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

I was thinking about us being here and how insanely busy our weeks get. Somehow, the weeks go by fast but yet it feels like time is standing still. But then I realize that it is a season in life that we are currently in and to trust the He, God, knows it all. He know the the end from the beginning and He stand outside of time. That's a God in whose hands  I can trust my life. Along the way, we have will continue to run into some remarkable people and hope that God helps us develop some life long relationships through the process.

I also want to say I am thankful for the woman of God Amy is. I don't think there is anyway in the world I would be able to do this without her. I know it can't be easy on her but everywhere I go, I hear how moved people are by her countenance. Glory to God. I also want to thank those from home who stay in constant touch and make sure I never feel too far away. I am glad for technology mucho. It's crazy that Jonathan, Kerri, Joseph and I can stay in touch in a group chat through Whatsapp?! It is wild because it is nice to wake up and read conversations that have been going on and while it makes me think of home even more often, it reminds me that out of sight isn't out of mind.

That all said, occasionally I take random pictures during our drives and also sometimes when we are on the boat. Enjoy the few that are actually worth sharing :).

Aging National Theater...looks like it could use renovating

Another Day, Different Boat

Can't tell it's been a long day, can you?

Boat Load of Stuff being shipped in

A Metal Creature of some sort

Traffic! Poor Suckers

I'm pretty sure that's not how you spell that

Since I am a terrible blogger, please ask me any questions you may and I will try to respond in a future blog post. It may actually help me to process how things are going since I tend to operate more like an emotionless machine. Also if you would like pictures of anything in particular, let me know and I will do my best to capture it (as long as it is prudent).

Democracy Day a.k.a. Another Day Off!

Just when I thought I could use a day off, here comes another! Democracy Day! Brief history on Democracy Day. It is actually scheduled for May 29 but observed May 30 this year because May 29 was a Sunday. It was first observed May 29, 2000 a year to the day after Nigeria reverted back to a Democracy after over 15 years of a dictatorship. Yesterday was inauguration for the newly elected President Goodluck Jonathan. Amy and I watched the swearing in with my Dad. I must say that we missed the memo and should have been wearing green or white yesterday. We showed up to church and 80% of people there were in white and we also sang the National Anthem in recognition of the aforementioned Democracy Day.

The Swearing In

As for our day off...well, we didn't do much to be honest. I got up and worked a bit from home while Amy slept (13 hours last night). When she got up we cleaned the house and went running. Well, she went running and I went on a walk. We were going to go eat at a Tex-Mex restaurant we heard of ( named bottles) but on getting there, we found out they were only open from Wednesday to Friday. So that was a bummer. We settled on yet another different Chinese restaurant called Jade Palace. 

For a night cap, Amy is watching Baby Mama while we have ice cream. I guess that's it for days off for a while because I have no idea when we are getting another one. Oh wait, what do you know...June 12 is another one. I'm loving it!