And the Adventure Begins...

So, we've been in our flat for 3 nights and we've got a long list of everything that breaks, falls apart, leaks, or just plain doesn't work - it's becoming quite extensive! *Think "Money Pit", the movie from the eighties with Shelley Long and Tom Hanks!! My favorite was when at 10pm, the door knob to my bedroom broke from the outside, locking me out! Our neighbor, and my 3rd grade colleague, was able to help and get it open without too much stress. Britte' and I have learned rather quickly to laugh at all the funny, weird things that happen or at what people here do and say. The people getting us through these first few days can be rather frustrating - one of them has a tendency to get annoyed with us and laugh at our "stupid" questions (don't we all teach that there's no such thing as a dumb question?) and another acts as if we are the most affluent and privileged people on the planet, tipping everyone for everything, and throwing money around like it's confetti. You never quite know what to expect! We got one of the leadership to take us to a sort of "secret" market for phones in Lagos - we were given the impression that it was an open market where upon seeing a white person, we'd be flocked with salesman trying to pawn-off their crap for exorbitant prices. When we got there, we were sent in with our leader's driver (also making us a little nervous), but were soon in a one room store with only a few handfuls of people, no one even really caring that we were white, and all the phones displayed with prices. Britte' didn't get the pink one that she wanted, but it's all good - we now have phones (although no minutes, because you have to buy the phone, sim card, and minutes all separately, and they need your passport info, pics of you, and your fingerprints-sheesh!).

We also got into our classrooms today! They smell a little...well, gross, to be honest - it's all the mildew:( But they do have normal desks, tables, chairs, etc. We have Smartboards, document cameras, MOUNTED projectors (that's for the McCarver folks), and thankfully AC! We had a mini intro to what  to expect this morning, receiving our class lists (I have 23 kiddos/ Britte' has 16), curriculum guides, etc. And (McCarver folks, you'll love this...) we are required to post learning targets as well as maintain a swift page throughout the year! Not too bad! For those of you who remember Pagia from 2nd grade a few years back, she's here, teaching 2nd grade for the 5th year, she's married to a Nigerian, and has a 7 month old baby girl and another on the way!

There's a huge social aspect of international school life that one has to get used to. We went out with a large group last night to a "fancy" restaurant. It was expensive, but at least we could eat everything on the menu and not really worry about getting sick. There was even a live band singing their renditions of Louis Armstrong's greatest hits! Fun! Tonight we've been invited to the Marine House for games or something, tomorrow we are having a glass of wine with some of the single ladies at one of the admin's houses, and on Sunday I'll be heading to the school's beach hut for some fun in the sun, a BBQ, and some shopping at the local market.

Britte' and I have decided we couldn't have done this alone...it's only been a week, but we may have had a break-down if we didn't have each other!

Oh, and Bill, no one's put a machine gun in our face...yet...but, yes, we've seen quite a few of them!

I know this is a day early, but congrats to Kyle & Sara on their upcoming nuptials!