The Long Weekend

It's Saturday. The first day of a long weekend and as my driver is unavailable today I am feeling for the first time what it means to be isolated and stuck!!

I had so wanted to go to an event tonight, but still don't know if I'll be able to hitch a ride with someone else and their driver, as I am not yet comfortable in a taxi, and especially in the evening!

Yes, this is me who is afraid of little, but fortunately I do know when something is a bit more dangerous than what I can reasonable handle- and traveling alone outside my little estate called Banana Island is one of those things.

So out of complete boredom, I take a little walk to the corner market that I frequent often to buy my Star beer and snacks that get me through the quiet evenings at home, alone, with only a book, some music, and Netflix on my phone to keep me company.

As I originally thought my salary was nice, the cost to buy things in this little safe estate is nearly double what things cost in the US, or even at the markets outside the estate that I can't easily get to yet. It seems eat may eat up my income quicker than anticipated! Luckily on Monday I will have the service of my driver on a regular basis and all will be just a little better. If I can stay away from US products, I save a lot more!! If only I could find my chocolate here!!

In an effort to immerse myself in the culture and the foods I have found a few things worthwhile... the pasta and sauces, the eggs are fresh (even right off the warm shelves), the ice cream is mostly the same, but look out for the beef!! It does seem true that Nigerians like their beef almost 'jerky like' as I experienced last weekend. I bought a little ground beef to add to my pasta sauce and even that was dry as I browned it in the pan, not one drop of juice or fat left in the pan to drain, and sadly it tasted as dry. If not for the sauce it also would have been almost intolerable to eat! Now the bacon on the other hand is pretty good!!

I did find a little snack I like called Naola Chips for only N100 (about .60 cents), dried banana chips with just a little spice on them!They go well with my Star beer after work!! Soon I'll try to make my 'cheat' fried rice that my kids love so much, and hopefully it will taste like home!!

I hope to start adding pictures soon!!