Crystal Palace

  We are in the Crystal Palace hotel in Abuja and the photo on Trip Advisor was quite a good picture of my room. I can however lock the door and the bed is comfy. Lea has his own room 3 floors below called the Princess Suite which comes with 2 cockroaches but has hot water in the shower so we are making the most of all the facilities they have to offer. I am using the hotel computer in my room now a nice man has found a cable for the internet1

The journey was okay but we were delayed as there wasa problem opening the aeroplane door on arrival! Then when we arrived here-having driven through rush hour traffic ( cars going up embankments to overtake and lots of near misses amidst hooting and angry gestures)-We found out they had expected us the day before! So after dumping our bags at 7am-having had no sleep on the plane we had to go to the VSO office for our training. In the afternoon I actually dozed off which didn't go down well! The other volunteers are very nice. There are only 3 from Britain. The second session was form filling which was horrendous as I kept muddling all the papers up! We then had lunch and a talk by the doctor. After we were taken back to the hotel where Lea and I just went to bed and slept for 12 hours!

Today has been much better. More volunteers came and we met Jane-from Kenya- who we will be living with. We have also been given a sim card and vitamin tablets. Yesterday we got the malaria net and personal alarms. We did some hilarious role play about what happens when you get a bus which caused one of the trainers much hilarity when she saw the look of horror on my face! We had lessons in pidgin English and Yoruba which were fun but can't remember any at the moment. Another hilarious session was how to set up the stove and trim the wicks. Then the power went but nobody murmured as the torches came out! It is now pouring with rain and there has been a terrific thunderstorm.

Nearly time to go and investigate dinner! It is going to be a challenge to be a veggie here but today at lunch I did well/ Really enjoyed the plantains!