Arrival in Kaduna

05/10/09
Entering your accommodation for the first time is probably one of the biggest moments during the whole volunteering process. Forget achieving anything at work, whether you have running water a bed made out of concrete, and a house mainly occupied by ladies of negotiable affection will have a much greater effect on the next 12 months that a slightly greater feeling of under achievement that we have all been promised to a certain degree that goes with a placement where affecting any change is difficult to impossible.

I had been forewarned that my accommodation was nice, but after a quick look round, followed by my neighbour and the driver (who’s idea of personal space could be measured in millimeters) I was pretty pleased. The third concrete hut at the back of a pretty impressive, yet unfinished looking house was more than adequate for my needs of shelter for the year. I have 3 rooms (bed, living, bathroom) a shared kitchen but most importantly a flushing toilet (there is also a fridge and air con but with power “very infrequent” these weren’t immediately going to be all that helpful)

(grammar Nazi’s please feel free to leave comments on the correct use of affect and effect in the paragraphs above)