Finally Nigeria

I would like to extend my deepest apologize to all my family and friends who will not be reading these words because they have lost all faith in me over the three months that have passed since Guy Fawkes Day. One thing led to another, and another thing led into exams. Christmas found me in Wisconsin, and January lost me in Nigeria, and now I have finally found myself back in Egypt. For those of you who were unaware of my trip to Nigeria or aware but barely, here is a very brief overview of my trip. In the next week, I will attempt to paint in certain details as time and memory allow.

My journey to Nigeria has roots stretching back to August of 2007 when complications in my planning led me instead to South Africa. I traveled to South Africa a second time last summer for a human rights law moot court competition. Befriending two of the Nigerian teams sprinkled water upon the dry and cracking seeds of my old plan. After nearly seeing my second attempt to make the trip to Nigeria felled by a serious of visa debacles last fall, I finally got my paper work in order a couple weeks before Christmas.

On January 9^th I took off to one of the sweatiest countries I have ever visited with a small backpack containing three extra pairs of pants, four t-shirts, three pairs of boxers, three and a half pairs of dirty socks, and one very rumpled button up shirt. This minimalist wardrobe was inspired by my new religious leader… ALITALIA. Alitalia Airlines promotes a rigid anti-materialist doctrine whose chief commandments are:

1. Thou shalt not have thy baggage.

2. Thou shalt not be able to file any sort of effective baggage claim.

3. Thou shalt be in a completely different country when thy lord finally finds thy baggage.

4. Thou shalt be unable to contact any office in any relevant country.

5. Thou shalt not receive thy baggage until thou contacts our office in a relevant country.

6. Thou shalt not be surprised when it all happens a second time.

My time in Nigeria was divided between two main areas, Lagos and the Niger Delta. In Lagos I was visiting my friends Romola and Adeola, and in the Niger Delta (specifically the state of Bayelsa) I was hosted by my friends Matthew and Ebi.

A few things were constant between both the sections of my stay. My hosts went to painful lengths to make me feel at comfortable. They forbade me from working, opening my wallet, or ever knowing the healthy and natural feeling of hunger. They protected me like a mother who fears that hypochondria might be a genetic ailment protects her child. They surrounded me with a spirit of religious zeal and faith unlike anything I have ever known.

Other than this the two halves of my trip were fairly distinct. During my time in Lagos I lived at the Lagos State University campus with Romola and her father, who is a science lecturer. I spent my time visiting law classes, getting to know the campus, meeting Romola’s friends, going on little outings, having conversations about polygamy, fidelity, homosexuality, scripture and politics, and in general getting introduced to Nigerian life and society.

When I arrived in Bayelsa I was first put up in a hotel as my hosts thought I would be uncomfortable staying at Matthew’s place. On the contrary, staying in a hotel when I was in Nigeria to visit friends felt awkward and uncomfortable, and as soon as I switched to Matthews charming little abode I felt right at home. We spent a couple days in Bayelsa and then took off in Matthews brand new student union van for a road trip around the Niger Delta.

I am aware that this has been a bland overview of one of the most amazing and crazy countries I have ever visited. I will do my best to add some color and contrast in the coming days.