Updates...

Well, I have been lazy over the last few weeks, but good news is that there is nothing really new to report.

The kidnapped Canadian woman was freed a few weeks ago, but still not allowed to the city she was kidnapped, because there are ongoing threats against expats…so the last few meetings in Kaduna have been held without me!

I have only 5 weeks left in Nigeria! I can’t believe how fast my time has gone here, but one year has come and gone very fast! Not that I actually know what I am doing or where I am going next!! I have been asked to come back to Nigeria to work on a different project, as Polio Eradication will just not happen, but not so sure about that. Nigeria is a really tough place to live…but I never say never, especially as this role will involve a lot more travel to other west African countries, which could be fun and tiring. I am also looking at maybe even coming back home…which I know is the preference for some, but I don’t quite know if I am really done with Africa or the UN yet. There is a lot of good work happening over here, some that I want to be a part of and others not so much, so it is all to be decided. But, I am in no real hurry. I am going to come home for the month of July and just see what happens and then decide in August what to do and where to go! But, as I haven’t ruled out Canada…if you know of any one hiring a Change Management/Organizational Development specialist, let me know! But, I do have quite a few opportunities both within WHO and with other UN agencies, just none that had be as interested as the New York role did…but as they say here, you need to do your time in the field first before you can get a cushy “city” job!

H1N1 Influenza A (aka. Swine Flu – although WHO staff are not allowed to call it this, and must use only the H1N1…) has been keeping us pretty busy…having to get ready for a pandemic should

I have been doing some really interesting reading…in particular this one book Michael Fairbank’s “In the River They Swim”—essentially it is a book of essays written by various African leaders, archbishops, UN leaders, etc, regarding development in Africa. But the concepts are really interesting and sort of open your mind to the problems here, and how impossible it is to really help with problems over here. The other book is a little controversial, but very eye opening “Capitalist Nigger” written by a Nigerian, who is now American (he was the leader of the Biafran war here in Nigeria – where they wanted independence from Nigeria – similar to Quebec wanting independence from Canada, but with a whole lot of bloodshed). Anyways, it is essentially about how Africans need to become more capitalist in thinking and not just rely on everybody else for everything they need and want. A little controversial in sections, but overall a good read, and somewhat true!!

My housegirl Mary has yet to have her baby, but it is basically any day now. It has been interesting dealing with her, as just the other night I had her over to talk, and I asked her how prepared she is for the baby (by the way his name will be….Fabulous Mario…I am not kidding!!!) She has no clue what to expect when she is in labour, all she was told is that her back would hurt!!! Now I haven’t had a baby yet, but I imagine a few more things hurt than just your back! No clue that her “water” would “break”, and that she even had “water” inside her! After we talked about that she said “Is that why water came out my mouth and water the other day when I stood up really fast?!”…we were all a little taken back by this. But, this is truly a small look into the “health care” system in Nigeria. She goes for weekly neonatal appointments, but all they do is take her weight and blood pressure…she doesn’t even know where the head is sitting or anything! Both my flatmate (a medical doctor) and Fai were in shock at how little she knew, but that is Nigeria for you…not that it is much different elsewhere, but for a country with so much money, and where people have so many babies, one would think there would be more education! But, looking forward to meeting Fabulous very shortly…as soon as he is born I will get some photos up!


I will be home briefly in June for a friend’s wedding, but for anyone who reads this and has baby/kids stuff (not the bulky stuff, but clothes, unused diapers, etc) that they no longer need, I would be more than happy to bring back to Nigeria with me. There is an orphanage very close to my house that I visit occasionally, bringing formula and other things that they could need (because if I brought money, it would be used by the wrong people for the wrong things). But, I will then be back full time, at least for a month and half or so in July-August. So, hopefully, I will get to catch up with all of you I have not seen in over a year by then…I am really looking forward to being home for a while, where things are probably too efficient and effective…and where there is power, water and electricity more than 6 hours a day! And, please if you are planning to have me over for dinner, no cooked spinach, white overboiled rice, or moi moi…I think I need a little break from the stuff for a while!

The other exciting news is that I will be an aunt…one of my brothers (not going to say which one just in case he hasn’t told some of you) is going to be a dad! Finally, my parents can be grandparents, no more pressure to deliver the grandkid, and good thing, because I think they will be waiting a long time for the second grandkid. So, congrats to them, I know everyone is excited, I look forward to seeing the little person come November some time!

I am off on mission until I come home in 3 weeks, so will be kept busy running around Nigeria...as well as Timbuktu (literally, it is a city in Mali where I have to go!).

See you all very soon,
Andrea