Happy New Year!

Ah Sunday morning- our day off. I am typing and playing FB Scrabble.
It is almost 11 and some are still sleeping or at least staying in
their room, others are at the hospital. Well, as soon as I typed that
three surfaced and are now in the kitchen making pancakes. I am taking
in the background sounds: Rod Stewart, children playing, goats crying,
kitchen sounds. It is peaceful. As I’ve mentioned before we live in
compound and because of security reasons I have yet to see what exists
outside the compound – other than the hospital. I’ve been told there
is an Islamic school behind us, which would explain the constant sound
of children. This morning there were little hands sticking through the
fence with little voices yelling “Good Morning.”

Last night there was an end of the year party for the national staff.
I will attempt to post pictures. A mixture of Christians and Muslims
so no alcohol was served – only Pepsi. I had to laugh as a few of the
expats spiked their Pepsi (I was not one of them ). The food served
was Suya – goat on a stick (although it can be other meat as well).
Suya defined by Wikipedia: is a shish kebab like food popular in
West Africa, originally from the Hausa people of northern Nigeria and
Niger. The meat is rubbed-in with tankora, a dry spice mix containing
powdered groundnuts, cayenne pepper, ginger, paprika and onion powder,
then barbecued.

I’m curious by the fact that I can eat chicken, beef, and fish without
cringing, but one bite of goat sends chills down my back. No rhyme or
reason to it. It was hard to determine the taste as the spice overtook
any other taste. I washed it down with a Pepsi something I would NEVER
drink in the U.S. One bite was all I needed. I have now tried Suya.
The Nigerian men and women put the expats to shame with their dancing
skills. They can shake and isolate their hips resulting in some
serious booty wiggling while their upper body remains fluid and
graceful. The men’s movement reminded me of popping (street dancing).
I am fairly certain I look like I am going into convulsions. My body
just doesn’t move that way.

We are all tired from last night despite the party wrapping up around
10. For whatever reason that none of us know the Mosque behind us was
chanting from the Qu’ran into the wee hours of the night. I think they
must have a new speaker system as not even the fans in my room could
drown out the drone of the chanting. At midnight I considered sneaking
out and unplugging the system. Like usual I was up early. I started
the morning with an hour of yoga and now feel a good achiness in my
body.

I plan to spend the rest of the day reflecting on 2012 and writing my
intentions for 2013. It is hard to believe another year is coming to a
close. Happy New Year to all!!!

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