Going back (temporarily)

For the past 3 weeks I have been back in dear old blighty, the thinly veiled excuse for this was a need to attend a wedding. I did wonder if I would be able to return to the old ways very easily but being a pretty no-nonsense kind of guy I didn’t think there would be much of a problem. There wasn’t much in the way of reverse culture shock, I found it quite easy to flick the switch and return to my life of washing machines, running water and an electricity supply which isn’t trying to kill you half the time. I am still amazed by supermarkets.

Being home did remind me of how easy life is for us, much of my time here in Nigeria has been taken up with the everyday chores of living, e.g. washing, going to buy water, cooking, and sitting around waiting for the electricity/water to return. The idea of having a daily routine involving 9-6 work, commuting, going to the gym then cooking a meal from a packet in the fridge does seem a bit odd, like the activities of those who live on an alien world (if I was being dramatic) or something like that anyway.

To all my friends who read these ramblings of a madman, I will say Hi and thanks for making the trip a very pleasant one it was nice to see everyone and I’m glad not too many of you have changed too much in my absence.

The other issue of going home was that everyone would expect a present on my return, and when I say everyone I mean, everyone from the people who run shops on our road to all colleagues. The other volunteers asked with varying degrees of politeness and subtlety for things to be brought from home. In the end I brought back about 2kg of cheese, a similar amount of chocolate and enough pens, key rings, small toys etc to keep most people happy.

I also bought a new kindle, its amazing, and if there are any prospective volunteers with a little spare cash wondering what to bring with them I would recommend it - long battery life, endless books and free internet (even in Nigeria!)

When I got back the first thing said by almost all my colleagues was, you must have enjoyed yourself, look how you’ve added (i.e. welcome back fatty) whilst this is true it’s a bit of a shock when everyone says it. I really must do some/a lot of running over the next year to return to my original sate of only being slightly podgy.


In all its nice to be back, but going home does remind me that I’m not going to be here forever and I really should try hard to finish up what I’m doing so at least something carries on after I’ve left. I think wondering what I’ve actually achieved here will be the subject of another blog post, navel gazing is not my favourite of sports but I suppose everyone does want their time here to mean something, even though we know statistically that this is at best unlikely.

Hopefully I’ll be here for another 3 months, but this will be contingent on VSO trying to extend my visa by a month (it runs out on 31-Oct), so I will be back permanently from either the 1st Nov or more likely sometime around the 24th Nov.

When I return permanently I guess there will be a re-run of the emotional rollercoaster effect which thankfully I seem to be able to take very little notice of. I’m sure VSO will put on lots of ‘supporting’ workshops so we can all sit around and be reminded of how depressed we are supposed to be feeling, I may just put the invites in the bin. I’m not sure in my fragile state I will be able to handle a jolly ‘facilitator’ armed with a flip chart and a mantra that “all the answers are in the room”, it maybe just me but I find nothing as depressing as hanging around in a room full of depressed people. I think a swift beer down the pub and curry should sort any problems, this may mean I am emotionally cynical and should seek group hug therapy immediately.


There are some photos of the durbar in Kano on facebook now (although you have to be my friend or friend of friend to see them)

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/album.php?aid=235168&id=515547849