Posting to the blog...

Well I haven't been having much success posting, but I am still trying.  If this gets through, let me know.

Since I am here working as a subcontractor for CalTrans I had an expectation of high quality equipment.  Well let me tell you CalTrans Survey Team China has the best!  Here is a picture of our survey truck:



Actually, due to a long story I will post later if this works, my survey group has a special exception even to use this, CalTrans related personnel are not allowed to operate any vehicle in China.  And unlike Nigeria, they are serious about it here.

Welcome to China

Let me begin by saying China is different.  Very different.  In fact this post is a bit of a test drive, you see my blog host and many others are blocked in China.  So I am posting by email.  I am not entirely sure how this will work so I will need some feedback.  What I am really curious about is posting pictures and video (I have a few things fromthe New year, not great to see, but you have to hear them).  So let me know how this works and I will continue posting.

The more things change...

Will it surprise anyone that my travel has been rescheduled?  My departure has been pushed back to the 4th of February.  Now I will be the last to complain about spending a few extra days at home.  I really like being with my wife, my friends, my family.  (I may have mentioned this in the past...)  Thing is after all these changes I have gone from having a two week hand-off period down to one day.  First couple of weeks are going to be busy.  Ah well, if it was easy I would be worried.

Schedule

So the date seems to be set.  I start travel 1 February.  I have mixed emotions, it is good to know when I will leave, and it is wonderful to go back to work.  It is hard knowing I will be away from home for so long, only one return trip per year.  All in all though I remain a very lucky man, a wife who loves me, an incredible family, unique and fascinating friends, good health (given the bad things I have done to myself), and a solid job in a time when such things are not so easy to find.

The story continues.....

Next stop Shanghai!

I am leaving home again in a few days for a new job in Shanghai. It will be a good position doing the kind of work I am good at instead of a mediocre Civil Engineer imitation. I will miss Nigeria, and someday I want to go back. This will be a new and interesting experience in a place my wife is excited about visiting.

I am not changing the name of the blog. I don't know that I am an Oyibo, six months is hardly enough to be a mildly spoiled "fresh fish." I do know the experienced changed me, and I am not talking about the slight limp.

Thoughts on Nigeria

Nigeria is a country in transition, a slow, painful, transition. The environment, the people, the culture and heritage, and the image of the country as a whole have all taken a beating over oil money. I believe that the country is on its way out of this mess, the average Nigerian is finished with corrupt government, finished with "freedom fighters" that have descended into heavily armed bandits, and is pushing for real change. The rest of the world, especially the US which buys most of the Nigerian oil, should support them in this effort. I took the time to get to know many of the Nigerians I worked with, they are good people, really good people. I will miss my friends.

What did I learn in Nigeria?

Right before I left a good friend asked me this question and I was not in a good place to answer, too much Gulder. But it is a good question and deserves an answer. So:

• I like Pepper Soup, it comes in a variety of versions and heat levels (from mildly hot to Oh! Damn!!!). I sampled several, enjoyed them all.
• I like Stew, usually red and hot with fish or mutton.
• I don't like Mellon Soup.
• I am not fond of Garri, it isn't bad, but it isn't good either. It reminds me of poi, if you are born into it you probably love it. I also never mastered the "roll it into a ball and dip it" technique. I stuck to rice.
• Nigerians are the friendliest people I have ever met. They make Seattlites seem down right withdrawn.
• The US is a very wonderful place to live.
• Liability lawyers do more harm than good.
• When you buy a gallon of gasoline you before you complain about the cost you need to think about how much it cost the people of the country who sold it to us.
• There are a lot of good people in the world, even if they are a small percentage of the population.