Trip To Mikang - Water Sanitation Project

We didnt leave Jos until the late afternoon after spending the day still picking up people and items needed for the trip. Nothing in Nigeria is on time, and always late. We are still driving when it gets dark. In the middle of nowhere, the Land Rover comes to a stop, its overheated and the fan belt is broken. We manage to drive about 20 minutes further to the next local village, where Peter takes a bike taxi to try to find a new fan belt. An hour later Peter comes back sucessful. It dark, its late, and but we finally get to Garkawa. One the way my bouts of diarehhea were getting worse, luckily for me I brought an antibiotic prescription with me. So while the project was enjoyable, and interesting (as my interest is in water issues), I had to take it slow there, as I was not well, medicated, and unable to eat the foods prepared there. I survived on peanuts, mash potatoes and noodles (which I or someone else on the Global Team cooked for me over an open fire). It was a hard 5 days to get through physically. But I really enjoyed being in the rural area of Nigeria. The people seem much more friendly and happy than the urban folk. The women of the village get up early every morning (once the sun is up at 6am)to greet you. The children came around when they saw us coming back, interested in what the baturia was doing. We stayed at the Secretary to the local government Chairman, Mother's house... so the home stay wasnt all that bad, I was thankful for a real bed - and once again glad I bought and brought a sleeping bag to Nigeria with me... It was a lot hotter in Garkawa then Jos.... and every odd day was humid and hot, and the sweat just poured. This was the only time I would be hot in Nigeria... All and all - The trip to Mikang was my favorite part during my stay in Nigeria. I liked the country side and the people there, and I was interested and enjoyed being apart of a water sanitation project.