Arrivals

Well I appear to have found myself a resident of West Africa! Some week eh?!

It’s hot

And the locals are saying that it is their winter….

But its hot.

Luckily my bedroom has air con……

Sadly I don’t (currently) have a regular electricity supply.

But hopefully I am only in temporary accommodation and the charity have been trying hard to secure better homes for all ex-pat staff but the deal on my flat fell through just a few days before I arrived. I don’t mind though, it just means I get to have lots of early nights. But it is a tad frustrating to suddenly find oneself immersed into darkness and have to feel my way around the apartment to my only torch. And to be frank even when the lighting is on it is so poor that I can barely see!

The shower situation is a bit more of a concern. Firstly, well to put it bluntly, it came off in my hand when I tried to use it. Secondly the water that now comes out of the tap in the middle of the wall is at such a trickle it almost has time to evaporate before its hits my feet (its hot you see). Finally and most concerning (if being sweaty and unclean wasn’t enough) the space were I have my shower is right next to a window. Now this window is to the stairwell that my neighbour uses to go up to his flat and also where the security guard sits in – fabulous. It is not a small window by the way. There will full exposure from head to at least half arse. And what with the tribal dance moves that I will need to do to get some of the trickle of water on my body, that should make for interesting viewing! I expect there to be 2 less staff by the end of the week immediate resignations tendered either that or 2 more disabled people as their eyes cease to function from the trauma of the horror!

I also have no toilet seat – that came off when I sat on it – but hey at least I have a flushing toilet!!

Oh and I don’t have a working fridge either………

Mmmmm not really selling it am I?!! But honestly it really is all OK and nowhere near as  bad as I thought it would be.

 Getting into the country was no problem, no corruption, queues, no-one trying to steal my bags. The transfer from the airport was an adventure in itself which involved a 20 minute ride on a speed boat. Now obviously for those of you who remember my arrival in Saint Helena and the close encounter with the South Atlantic will understand the slight trepidation as I walked down the gangplank. Well my anxiety was clearly evident as I was given special assistance by about 5 men (I’m not complaining). But how have I a managed to secure again a position where arrival by boat is required – come on what are the odds eh?!

The set up for work is quite unusual. I am picked up in the morning by the driver – I (along with all staff) am not allowed to use public transport. There is a cook at lunch time.  I can pay the equivalent of $1 to have a massive plate of local cuisine – yeah as if I would ever in a million years say no to that set-up (see blog entry 2 – reasons for coming). I have also stuck up a deal with Alfa the cook (the only name amongst the 40 or so staff that I can remember – obviously) for him to purchase my fruit from the cheaper of the cities markets which is out of easy reach without a vehicle (especially as I can’t use transport)

 I can of course request to use one of the cars in the evening but I don’t intend taking up this offer anytime soon, but there is a driver on call if I do want to go out over the weekend and so one can’t complain.

 I also have a cleaner for the apartment who does my washing and ironing. She came today so I made sure I gave a quick going over before I left for work!!

So there we have it. My first entry into life here.

Its OK.

Yeah I may be a bit whiffy and haven’t yet felt clean since I got here.

Yeah I may be developing a bit of a soggy finger from reverting to a coping mechanism from  Saint Helena ( followers may recall the addiction)

Yeah I may, regardless of my new cropped hairstyle, have some form of huge bush on the top of my head

And, oh God there’s no doubt I won’t be able to do the job,

But I am OK.

Honest!