On a run

Most days are spent on the compound. After having over a half an hour commute for the past several years, it is incredible to be able to live a few steps away from where I work. However, the luxury of living on a compound can get stifling at times when there's only so much you can do within the walls.

Thankfully I've gotten the chance to continue running since I've been here. Now the petrol fumes and dusk can get overwhelming, but I'm so grateful for the chance to remain active and run off the stress. 

We don't have neighborhoods, but we do have little side roads that we run on. Small compounds back up to these roads, and usually there's someone sitting at each gate or people getting water at the spigots that are on the side of walls, but for the most part, it's much less crowded than the busy roads. 

Today while running I took my phone to clock the mileage, but also was able to sneak some pictures in. So let me also apologize right now for the fact that the pictures are crooked... I was running at the time that I took these. 

Notice the men wearing the traditional Ankara fabric. Instead of "casual Fridays" it is a nation-wide trend to wear Ankara on Fridays. 

The "sidewalk" is made out of mud and only walkable in some spots.

Sometimes it can actually be quite beautiful!

I tried to get a picture when I walked through the gate, but I guess it didn't take. There were several women with buckets of water on their heads. (Sorry for my headphones in the way)

Usually there aren't this many cars, but I think there was something special today, or maybe just on Fridays. 

The little children always wave and day hello

Sometimes the roads are paws, and sometimes they're made of dirt.

This is the end of the run, so then I have to turn around and go back the way I came.

Check out the fan shaped palm tree! I though it looked so cool. 

The men sitting at the gates

And back through the gate to the main road.

There are small booths around the gate that sell grilled corn and plantains. 

And other things...hmm... I'm really not sure what exactly. 

Ahh, now for the view of the city... Ibadan!!

Love you all!

-Liz

Thank you technology!

I'm going to take a side note from what's going on in my life to share the photo book I just made of my sweet adorable niece, who I have to get to know through Skype and FaceTime, since I can't hold her sweet precious little self. But can I just give a huge shout out to technology?!?

I can see family and friends face-to-face (or at least screen to screen). I just instant messaged my dad and 2 of my  brothers... from halfway  across the globe! Talk about awesome!

I also happen to like to take screen shots of my conversations with my nieces... I mean come on, they're just so cute!

Check out my new photobook of Eden here:

Click here to view this photo book larger

Visit Shutterfly.com to create your own personalized photobook.

Weekend Rest

Today is Monday. It is so easy for me to get bogged down by the list of things that have to be done by the upcoming week. Instead of doing that, I just want to stop and praise the Lord for a much needed and restful weekend.

"But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. "

Isaiah 40:31

Last week my weariness was threatening to overwhelm me. And, as it usually goes, when I get overwhelmed in one area, it quickly spreads to every area of my life. I have a problem of seeing the whole picture, and becoming threatened by all of the details that I need to do, rather than focusing on one thing at a time.

This is exactly what happened last week. It's only been two weeks since I left the comfort of home, friends and family, but those two weeks seem like an eternity.

 My life has changed so much, and there are so many things that I am learning. I am learning how to be a classroom teacher, learning how to teach English and Reading. How to write lesson plans for a subject other than art. I've had to decorate a classroom without "School Spot" around the corner for every teaching need.

 I'm learning how to cook without every imaginable ingredient readily available at my fingertips. I'm getting to know the girls I live with, the teachers I work with and the students I teach. In all, I have hundreds of new names to remember... and I'm not talking about names like Sally, Katelyn, or Joe, We're talking about names like Anjolaoluwa Queen Babalola (and yes, that IS one of my student's names, but thankfully she just goes by Anjola).

 I am learning how to save documents frequently, because the power goes out at least once a day( and some times multiple times in a day). I've learned how to turn on the water when the pump runs dry (yeah, no fun when you're in the tub covered from head to toe in suds). Before I go to bed, if I haven't taken a shower at night, I'm learning that washing your feet is a must. Dirt and dust is everywhere. The floors have to be cleaned and mopped on a daily basis, and even then, they'll be dirty in no time. It really brings to life the stories of feet washing in the Bible. It's a must!

 I've learned to take my malaria pill the second I open my eyes in the morning, otherwise i'll have an upset stomach if I eat too quickly after taking it. I've learned that "tucking in" for the night includes tucking my mosquito net into my mattress, so I won't be bitten throughout the night. I've also become quite proficient at smacking mosquitoes with my bare hands.

I don't know how, but I guess somewhere in all of that learning, I somehow got overwhelmed, homesick and discontent...don't ask me why. Week 1 when I was on my high of being in a new culture and experiencing new things, someone told me that around week 3 I would start to get homesick and wish that I was back home. I guess with the different changes, I just plumb became overwhelmed. So when this weekend came, I put aside my books and just rested.

Our weekend started after school on Friday. The girls and I walked up to the local Lebanese run restaurant "Wimpy's" for dinner.

While we were there, we ran into Heather and Keith, one of the couples that lives behind us and teach at the school, so after dinner we all went for some ice cream! Yes, that's right, they do an icecream parlor in town!

The next morning we went to the "mall" for some groceries, and I saw another white person(other than those affiliated with the school) for the first time since I've been here.

(Goat bullion anyone?)

I was able to read (Bri, I'm almost finished "Ender's Game, and need to get the sequel!), relax, and cook(which if you know me, is one of my ways of relaxing.) 

(One of my favorites-homemade granola)

And best of all, I was able to worship the Lord, although in a very different church from the one I'm used to. I am so thankful for my housemates and their encouragement. I'm so thankful to be surrounded by other believers, and I've been extremely blessed by the time we take as a house to pray for one another each Sunday night.

From the back of the church. 

Well, it is late, and I need to head off to bed soon.

Blessings,

Liz

First Day

"Welcome"

The Nigerians have a way of always saying "You're Welcome" (or just shorten it to "welcome"). I still haven't quite figured out when it is appropriate to say this, but I find my self saying "thank you" when they do. From what I can gather, this phrase can be say as a way to tell people that they are accepted and welcomed(not as a response to "thank you")

So, today was my first day of classes, and yesterday was orientation for new students (only 1 of mine actually showed up).

(We all had to wear school shirts)

 It was nice to get to meet  my students today, but only 7 showed up. Of those seven students, one of them was not even on my list, so now I have to add his name to another desk, locker, etc. Get this though... his name is Himanshu. How cool is that?? I have so many new names to get used to(and spell phonetically so that I can remember how to say it). For example today one of my students Yuvasri came into the class, but I found out that you pronounce her name YOU-wash-ri. (both of these students are from India). Thankfully most of the rest of the kids go by shortened names such as Eni whose full name is Enioluwafe. One of my students, Favour, informed me that she in fact has ten names, and this is just the name she goes by.

To try to get to know the students, I gave them a questionnaire asking the usual first day questions, such as, "what are you excited about this upcoming year?" "Do you have any pets?" and "what's your favorite sport?"

Most of the answers are the typical kids answers, "hanging out with friends", "dog", and of course "soccer", but the one question I got many different answers for was, "what is your favorite food?"
I did get a couple of "pizzas, french fries, etc" but I also got a whole lot of other answers, such as, Jollaf Rice(several students wrote this), Indomi, and Chapatti to name a few.

I'll have to show some pictures of the before and afters of my classroom.

It started out without anything but desks and chairs

Once the started painting it looked even worse...

and a the mint green color on the walls really didn't go well with my bulletin boards

I had my work cut out for me, but I was able toget it all together...

They painted the lockers, and the walls, and although it still doesn't smell the best, it DOES look much better now!

Well, I've got to go now and get ready for tomorrow!

Blessings,

Liz

Malaria Monday

Please don't read the title and think that I have malaria!! This is the phrase my housemates have come up with to remember to take their weekly anti-malarial. I'm still not sure if I will start taking the one their using, or continue with the one I brought from the states that I take every day. (I need I do some more research into the other medicine)

I also wrote this title because I have seen and killed more mosquitos today then any day that I've been here yet. Every time I see a mosquito, all I can think of is that bug may possibly be carrying the disease! Last night Ieft all if the windows open in my classroom, since they had just painted and it both smelled terrible and everything needed to dry. Unfortunately those pesky little malaria carrying bugs took it as an open invitation to have a party out of the rain. When I got to my classroom this morning, there were Mosquitos flying  everywhere. I have to say, I've gotten pretty good at swatting them!

Please pray for health(and no malaria while I'm here). Also pray for the new students that will be coming tomorrow for orientation. 

Go Bless,

Liz

Processes and Procedures

Everything here seems to take just a little longer to do. In a way, it causes you to slow down the pace a bit.

The first couple of days I had a cold shower dripping of water from the faucet to bathe. That was until I found that if I wanted warm water, I needed to switch the hot water heater on, which is next door in Lee Anne's room. And if I want more than I trickle of water, I have to go to Gretchen's room, 2 doors down, to flip the switch for the water pump. I also have to make sure I turn both of them off after my shower, otherwise I'll blow the pump/burn it. 

Washing dishes also takes a bit longer.

First, you must heat up some water. 

Stack all of the dirty dishes

Put the dishpans in the sink

 The right side is for washing

And the left side for rinsing

Usually the water will be heated several times to get all of the dishes clean. 

In the end, you have a pile of clean dishes... It just takes a little longer.