Africa journal

Saturday, April 23, 2005
Day 1
Halifax Airport Departure Lounge
Packing for this trip to Africa with Andrew has elicited all kinds of mixed emotions—from excitement to revisit Andrew’s birthplace with him, to sadness leaving Cathy and Nathan for five weeks (the longest Cathy and I ever have been separated since we started dating in 1973). Memories swirled as we dug out pictures of our time in Nigeria from 1979 to1985, and on the drive to the airport, Cathy read me her journal of a trip we made to Kenya in 1982, one of the fondest vacations we have ever had. One that Andrew and I will retrace on our return journey to Canada.
When Cathy and I first went to Africa in 1979, we were just kids, but full of ideals and passions to serve humanity through medical missions. Now, in midlife, and with Nathan graduating from High School, we are poised for a new season of life. I wonder how African culture will impact me this time. I’d like to dig a little deeper under the surface, not only to understand African culture, but also to gain a better view of our own, and where it’s headed. And to get a bitter grip on the upward spiral of ADHD and mood disorders we face.
I brought some good reading material to stimulate my midlife thinking, No Time by Heather Menzies, and The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey. Will get started on the flight to Toronto, where I will meet Andrew coming from Calgary, and have a short visit with my nephew David from Belleville.

Sunday, April 24, 2005
Day 2
Heathrow Airport, London
My flight to Toronto last night was uneventful and it was good to see Andrew who had arrived an hour earlier from Calgary. We had a short visit with David before going through security and awaited our overnight British Airways flight to London. Transatlantic flights from west to east leave you with a short night, and maybe an hour or two of poor quality sleep. So we are feeling it today. And we have another overnight flight to Nigeria tonight, so we’ll be wiped tomorrow!
We did make use of our twelve-hour layover by taking in some of the London sights—London Tower and St. Paul’s Cathedral. We saw Big Ben in the distance from the top of the double-decker bus, and rode through Trafalgar Square. We walked along a stretch of the River Thames and crossed the Tower Bridge on foot. By then we were too tired to take in Buckingham Palace, so we made our way back to the airport by bus and train. So here we sit.
I do look forward to seeing familiar faces tomorrow. Hope it won’t be too hot to sleep!

Monday, April 25, 2005
Day 3
Mkar Guesthouse, Nigeria
We have arrived and as I write this, Ugudu, our cook is just clearing the lunch dishes off the table. Ugudu spent most of his years cooking for missionaries and he cooked a western style meat and potatoes meal for us. But fresh mangoes for dessert (they are in season!). Andrew is really tired, had a nap after arriving, and just had a cold shower. So he’s perking up a bit. It will soon be time to take a walk around.
The drive this morning from Abuja to Mkar quickly revealed that apart from cell phone towers around the countryside, not much else has changed in twenty years. Ordinary Nigerians still live the same lifestyle as I remember it. The roads this morning were good for the most part, but the driving hasn’t changed a bit. Those of you with experience abroad will know what I mean (beep beep). We passed our former house on the way into Mkar, and it was hardly recognizable. We will take a closer look, and some pictures, on our walk.
For me it’s great to be here. Andrew’s eyes were just a popping on the drive down, so I am sure there’s a bit of culture shock. I am anxious to find out how the Church is doing here, how things are medically, and whether there has been an increase in depression and chronic pain as there has been in the West. As far as I can see, parenting methods haven’t changed.
Looking forward to my first feed of ruam (pounded yams, the Tiv staple).