Ndewo (good day) from Enugu

At the training course we attended in January before travelling, we learned that one tends to reach a culture shock nadir at about 3 months after arrival. We have now been here for 3 months and one day so let's just say I'm happy that from this point forward the only way is up!

We are currently in Enugu, the largest city in the Igbo-speaking region of Nigeria. I have left Hazel at a psychiatric hospital - she's a visitor not a patient I hasten to add - while I surf the net. We are staying tonight and tomorrow night with a British woman also called Hazel (these Hazels get around, don't they?) who runs a development project based in nearby Ohafia, so hopefully this will be a break from rice, beans and yam.

There have been a number of sad events at Amaudo over the last few weeks, which I shouldn't really elaborate in this public space, but please continue to remember us in your thoughts and prayers as we try in some small way to take this place forward and restore it to its former glory.

We are still struggling to build good friendships here but we are getting along well with the three "coppers" (National Youth Service Corps workers) - Martha, Gbenga and Olide. They are about our age and have been posted to Amaudo for their post-graduation national service and are a breath of fresh air in terms of the integrity and professionalism that is sadly lacking in Amaudo, as it is in Nigeria generally. We took Martha and Gbenga to the Damgrete Hotel in Umuahia (capital of Abia state). Hazel gave Martha some swimming lessons and introduced her to the gym while Gbenga and I retired to the bar for a meat pie and a beer to watch the Manchester derby. As a fervent Manchester United supporter, Gbenga was very happy with the result.

Also, on Wednesday evening we did a "huddle" with Martha. Those outside the St Thomas and Order of Mission clique won't have a clue what I'm talking about, but now is not the time or place to explain - suffice to say that it's all perfectly above board!

Finally, you may be interested to know that I retched four times in the early hours of Thursday morning but I'm now feeling much better, thank you very much!

Andrew