I Saw A Naked Man! Yes, I Saw It!

AY CARAMBA!

Few days ago, I went to the beach with a few of my friends. That was my second visit to that beach. It was always relaxing at the beach. On the way home, I saw "it". I saw it, mommy! Yes, I saw "it". A naked African man. He was totally freaking naked! My very first. ZOO WEE MAMA! That was THE highlight of my beach trip and it made my day!

Lagos Port. So this is where all of shipments come in from and where things got "lost".



Way to the beach

School was in session at the beach school. We kind of interrupted them but the teachers do not seem to mind it at all. The enthusiastic school children were vying for attention. They simply love taking pictures! They were posing for us. I was most definately happy to be their photographer!

School in session



Cute kids!!



I was hoping those vendors would come by to show us what they have to sell. Man, I was ready to spend my "dirty" money! Oh well. Three hours later, I became a bronzy and I was ready to go back to my chaotic life in the city. So long my naked African man. I'll be back!

This Is Depressing.

WHY?

Oh man, I hate to feel like what I am feeling like now. Depressed. Yup, I feel depressed. I was ok this morning until I went out of the apartment. Our oldest son, was supposed to go to a birthday party this morning. As I write this post, the party is still going on. He didn't go. All because we were stuck in this stinking Lagos traffic AND we couldn't find our way to the birthday place. Our driver didn't know how to get there either. I was frustrated. I was frustrated with our driver. I was frustrated with the parents' of the boy who is having this party. They were not organised with no directions to their place nothing. I was frustrated with the traffic. I was frustrated with Google map because it couldn't locate the place that I was supposed to go to. I was frustrated with Nigeria. I still am. We were lost for about an hour. At the end of that one hour, he lost all interest in going to his friend's birthday party. I don't blame him. I would be too!!!!! So, in the end, we stopped by KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) and got some lunch. I reached home I asked my husband whether it was too early to drink. It was only 12.45pm in the afternoon. So maybe yes!

I am also frustrated to know that two or three of my friends in Lagos that I am close to will soon leave me to "fend" by myself here. It's not that I don't have other friends here but somehow it's not the same with these other group of friends that I am close to. I told myself this is life. This is how it is when you live an expat life. People come and go. I don't want to think about that yet. I tried to keep myself busy here by finding things to do. Going to gatherings, functions, volunteering etc. Now, I don't know if I want to do any of those anymore. I might just decide to stay home, begin my own book club and start reading again. Then, if I stay indoors ALL the time, I'll get even more depressed. I'll be at home with my nanny ALL the time! *Sigh*.

I'm about to finish this blog of mine when I saw one of my good friend in Singapore message me on Facebook. She asked why am I depressed after seeing my post. I burst into tears!!!!!
I've never cried eversince I got to Lagos. NEVER.

Come on, Cape Town. You are not here soon enough!! I want to go on a safari.

I need a break. I need a different surrounding. I want to be out of Nigeria for a while. Two more weeks. Two more weeks!

Bring It ON

OOH MAR...MAR...MARGARITA!

Don't you just love it when you are having a good day and a good week?

Today is Wednesday, March 14th.
5.02pm....I have four boys running around the house amok!




Boys are doing this but...

in 2 hours, I'll be doing this! Ok, but not in a swimsuit :) 

But then you know what?!?! Going out with a few ladies tonight to celebrate a fellow friend's/blogger's birthday. Catch her blog here if you haven't discover her yet. She's been here since November 2011. Freaking hilarious lady. Gotta love her!

Tomorrow will be Thursday, March 15th. I know Wednesday is not even over yet but I am so excited about tomorrow. Off to the beach with a few friends tomorrow. Hope the weather and everything else will cooperate. I will report back. So far so good. Keep it that way. Tune in tomorrow. Later, tater.........

Nigeria In The Eyes Of Our Children

RAISING OUR KIDS IN NAIJA

Our two boys were born in Singapore. They became US citizens instantly since my husband is an American. At that time, we were living in Saudi Arabia. I cannot imagine giving birth to our boys there. Much more, giving birth here!!! For me, it was a very much tedious process and took a couple of years before I was naturalised.

I went from holding a red passport....

 to holding a blue passport :)

When my husband decided that we will bring our family of six (including our cats) here to Nigeria for an assignment, I was not happy at first. In Singapore, lots of families especially expats have full-time nannies. Just like here, some even have 2-3 nannies/steward in one household. These nannies live with their employers in Singapore. Somehow, I do not like that idea so which is why I only hired part-time help. I also do not like the idea of our kids becoming spoilt brats this way. Always relying on the helpers to do EVERYTHING for them. In a way, by coming here to Nigeria, it will be an eye-opener for our boys. I want them to see the poverty, the way the Lagosians/Nigerians live, how the children here do not get EVERYTHING that they wanted. So far, they are enjoying their time here in Lagos. Which is fantastic and I feel relieved. They have made some good friends here and they have a lot of activities in school that keep them busy. Yes, their social life are as busy as mine!



End of soccer season 2011. Kids with their trophies. See you in 2012 :)

 

Nigerian Cultural Day

 First birthday celebration in school in Nigeria

Moving to Nigeria made the bond of our family stronger. I hope so. I sure hope so.  I have seen and heard too many stories of families that moved here (and also in other parts of the world) only to be broken up by intriguing factors. For now, we are happy here. I am getting happier.

Traffic Is My Next "Best Friend"

12.27pm......



Meat puff and chicken samosa anyone?

This is what one will look like when one's stuck in Lagos traffic, STARVING, after one hour spent jiggling every part of your body at Zumba class! I hate getting stuck in the traffic here. It gives me a headache! Yesterday, traffic was horrible. It is always horrible. EVERY SINGLE DAY!

Of course, when I am stuck in traffic, I get to see "shows" everywhere I turn my head to. It's even better because it is free. Who doesn't want to watch a free show??? The day before, while I was at a traffic light, there's this man, standing behind a coconut tree, reached inside his pants and started to "rub" himself. Don't ask me what the hell he's doing. He saw me looking at him looking at "it". Oh, isn't he proud of himself! I can't believe I am sharing this world with these gross people. Yesterday, stuck in traffic AGAIN, while I was trying to devour my meat puff and samosa, I saw two men standing side by side next to each other. They were of course peeing BUT glancing at each other's "thing" to see whose mightier?!?! I wanna puke out at that moment.

Everytime I see this....

I want to laugh straight at the faces of the local people. Centre of Excellence. What are they excellent at?!?!? Don't even get me started. Today, we have been in Lagos for 224 days. Oh yeah, 224 days worth of free shows! Anyone want to swap places with me?!?! Living in Lagos will enrichen my life in a very feastful sort of way. 224 days free from an eye sty so far, thank GOD!

Ikota, I Dey Come

HOW ADVENTUROUS DO YOU WANT TO BE?

It's funny how my neighbour next door, Doris, said..."I'll follow you ladies. You are more adventurous than me!" She have been here in Lagos for about 2-3years I believe. If you know me well enough, I am the type that will not sit still at home and the type that will try anything some things to get that adrenaline rush feeling. Eat worms? Maybe. Bungee jumping? I'll think about it. Dare me to poo/pee on the road in public just like the Lagosians? Fuggin' NO! Gross! Everytime I see them poo, pee, touching themselves in public, I feel like handing out some anti-bacterial wipes or sanitizer to them. The expressions on their face would be priceless.

On Thursday, myself, Amy and Janet went to Ikota market.

This is another market in Lagos located further down from Chevron compound. Big complex of shopping area with rows and rows of shops in between.

Sanders anyone? :)

Household items, fabrics, American products, no wahala...you can pretty much find them here. Just be prepared to take leg (walk!). There is no way you can do that in just one day. This complex is too big.


BIG dodo

We are coming back here next week. Got word that a few other ladies would like to go. How about you? You dey?

Busy, Busy, Buzzing Bee

SOCIAL LIFE, HOW I LOVE THEE!

"Pack your best clothes. DO NOT FORGET!", I was told by friends while we were being packed in Singapore before heading here to Lagos. After eight months into our African adventure, my friends were not kidding! Life in Lagos are buzzing. Oh, believe me, my ears are buzzing too because I simply refuse to listen to them. There's always events going on. Day and night. Every week. Every month. Everyday. My calendars are filling up fast. You either gotta love it or hate it. Being in Lagos, I gotta love it! Today, there was an expat bazaar. There was an Indonesian bazaar.



Few of my friends with their stalls at the Indonesian bazaar

There was a carnival in school.



Soap soccer, anyone?

 Our oldest son, is having a sleepover with two classmates at our house.



11.37pm. Boys are totally zonked out!! Shhh....

I have yet to picture myself in my best clothes. It's coming. It's coming.