the basics

greetings from jos! i haven't had a chance to sit down and collect my thoughts. when i tried just now, i realized i couldn't. maybe it's because i am still in temporary transition mode. thus, i apologize in advance if this entry seems a bit scattered.

i thought i would just put up a few pictures i took over the past couple days. i haven't been able to take many, because i've created this overwhelming cultural sensitivity rule in my head that mitigates me from bringing out my camera. so mostly, i have been taking pictures of signs and baby animals. i have been told, however, that the children love having their pictures taken. and this probably makes me the happiest girl in jos. i don't have any of random nigerian children on my laptop just yet, but that is what the rest of these ten weeks are for.

i am currently staying in the bayside apartments, in a wonderful 4 bedroom/2 bath that i share with 5 other people as of now. volunteers keep shifting around, so i never affirm anything with certainty. i love it here; the apartments have personality and very hard furniture. our living room is very feminine.
















i share a room with lani, another student from cal. my bed is near the window. before and after shots of the bed net. there aren't too many mosquitos here at all, though.











































the exchange rate has been declining steadily over the past few days. we were told it was around 140 naira to the US dollar. when we got around to exchanging money, it was 137 naira to the dollar. only exchange money on the black market. the banks overcharge and you get more money here than in the states or at the airport.

if you are calculating along, $100 US is worth 13,700 naira. i never had 13,700 of anything before. the other student volunteers from left to right: andrew, alicia, rod, lani, and yours truly.

tomorrow, i begin working at the clinic. i'll have a better idea of my project tomorrow, i hope. there are so many projects i can work on. i am very anxious about finally getting to work. we've been lounging and exploring for the past week. although i have some stories to tell already, i think i am going to reserve them for a painfully hot day.