1 week to go…

So, the real and final countdown has begun. Next Friday night I will be on a plane out of Nigeria for good, and I am quite happy to be leaving this country! I know it won’t be the last time I see it (I have already been told that I will be back here for a meeting in February), but at least I won’t have to deal with the day to day problems here! It is bizarre as most places I leave, I leave with a bit of a heavy heart, but not so much here, so that means it is time to leave! But before I go, there will be one last big bash to host at my house, which will be this Saturday night at my house…

The last few weeks have been really crazy. We just finished our last round of polio campaigns for the year…our ninth! The average most years is 5 or 6, so that is how serious we are getting now, and things are looking up, but only time will tell if polio can actually be eradicated from Nigeria. Those in senior positions with WHO and UNICEF keep saying Nigeria will now be the first to eradicate, so only time will tell! But, Nigeria has been a very interesting experience and has taught me more that I thought I ever wanted to learn or ever need to learn, but I have, and am sure that it will come in handy one day. Like a good friend of mine who recently joined us in Nigeria said “Take me back to Afghanistan any day…this place (Nigeria) is worse…” The real stories and experiences over here will really only come out over many, many bottles of wine, when instead of being horrified, we will all just laugh! But, I leave at a perfect time…not so burned out that I need to be placed somewhere in a corner of a room, rocking myself back and forth, but just at that point where I would need that corner any day. Nigeria, in all of its glory and self praising, is a far way off from being “the horn of Africa” as it calls itself, but there is a lot of potential and a lot to offer the rest of Africa, if it can fix a few of its issues (corruption, killing, religious issues, kidnapping for money, to name a few). And when not in Hamattan, this country is actually very pretty, with more green than one could imagine for a country not quite the size on France and a population of over 200 million!!

Much to look forward to…Not sure how much I explained the last time, but although I am leaving Nigeria, I am not leaving the polio program completely behind. I have agreed to support the polio program in India, which is in a bit worse shape, mainly due to population, but from everything I hear, the work is tough, but you feel good when you go home everyday! And finally, any day now my brother and his wife will finally have their baby…although I think he is waiting for me to come home for my poor sister-in-law to go into labour…so far 5 days past her due date and no baby! I have delivered a few babies over here, so what’s another one?!?! But, hopefully soon for their sakes.

I look forward to lots of snow while I am home, as I want to be outside as much as possible....
Merry Christmas, Happy Sallah, Joyous Quanza, and Blessed Hanukhah to everyone!

But thanks for reading about my adventures in Africa…the real stories will one day be shared…as I don’t need to give my poor, worrying mom a heart attack! I will keep updating it with India stories while over there!

Take care,
Andrea