Touchdown!

So, finally here! I arrived 4 30am Monday morning and as soon as I saw the first sight of land it was absolutely pouring down! 12 of us managed to squeeze into a 9 seated mini bus ( not to mention our luggage). So having my friend mamun on my lap was part of the team bonding. We arrived at a hotel in Abuja at 7am and were greeted by our Nigerian counterparts who are lovely! Abbas is the person I will be living with for the next 6 months and we get on so well. So after no sleep we had our first breakfast. Spicy everything! Alot to eat and HOT! But very nice (apart from the fact I've been on the toilet at least 3 times per day). We have finished our 3 day training today and are now prepared for everything haha. So, we have a day off tomorrow then we start our 12 hour journey down to cross river state at 5am Friday. It hasn't really sunk in yet and we havnt been able to see much of the place so I think I will probably have some culture shock when we get to our host homes. It's all exciting and the locals are so friendly, however, I think it all begins after our journey south as at the moment it feels like a holiday. IM READY!

My Motivation

In 2009 I spent 3 months at a special needs camp in America and the disabilities of the campers ranged from brain injury to cancer. This experience opened my eyes and made me realise that helping others is what i want to do. After finding out about Global Xchange it gave me fire in my belly and I felt so strongly that it was for me. My mum spent 20 years growing up in Nigeria so i have always had a connection to not only the country but the continent. I feel like a lot of people can be ignorant towards 'Africa' and it is often viewed as one place rather than all the different colorful countries it possesses. I'm on this programme because i really want to make a difference no matter how big or small to peoples lives. I'm not here to change the world, just the bit I'm involved in. I also want my experience of Nigeria to take away any prejudice or ignorance I have about the place. Many people who I have told I'm going to Nigeria have said stuff like, "rather you than me" or "couldn't they of put you somewhere nicer" things like that. To be honest i wouldn't pick anywhere else if i could. I want people to know that 'Africa' is more than a place of poverty, it has culture, atmosphere, rich and poor places just like any place in the world.

Hello!

Hi everyone,
this is a brief introduction to my blog. I'm writing this blog as a sort of diary to connect with people back home, to connect to global xchange and for anyone really. First, let me tell you a little bit about my placement. I'm taking part in a 6 month programme called Global Xchange where i spend 3months in Nigeria with 10 English people and 10 Nigerians then both us the Nigerians will spend 3 months in Newham, London. So in theory its an exchange. I'm not 100% sure of the work I'm doing whilst in Nigeria but it will revolve around community development, HIV awareness and education (I will clarify when I'm out there). I hope to update this blog as much as i can but I'm not sure about internet access out there so stay tuned and i hope you enjoy reading my blog!