Getting the Ball Rolling

For all those lucky people whom I told of my blog, you have reached the first post. I will be leaving for Jos, Nigeria July 12th to teach in a missionary school, Hillcrest. I will be teaching 6th-8th grade English. About half of my students will be locals. For the inquisitive types, here is a list of answers to inferred questions:
1. I will be living in a house with another (female) teacher. The house is on the campus, which is secure and safe.

2. I will be able to teach in English, so my class will be a middle school Language Arts class. Hillcrest operates like a western school (from what I understand) complete with athletics and plays. We adhere to the California State Standards.

3. Although Nigeria's national language is English, the heart langauge of people around us is Hausa. It is not necessary for me to learn it (and I certainly will not have the time to take langauge acquisition classes), but I will try to pick up as much as possible.

4. Nigeria is relatively safe...that is, relative to Sudan and Darfur and much of Africa. However, you won't see me running around the streets by myself. I will have to be careful, and safety will mean different things, I'm sure.

5. Food will be bought at a market (very much unlike the local grocery store). I will likely have a Nigerian helper to show me the way to do things. I will eat lots of fruit, rice, veggies, and the common soup they make. Meat will be hard to come by, but I will manage just fine.

6. How could I forget? Nigeria will be my home for 2 years. Yahoooo! Get ready, Nigeria!


I think that about does it for now. If you have any questions, let me know. I plan to keep you all posted at least once a month. My next one will be the day before I leave. Don't worry my visual friends, future posts will include pictures!

Looking to the Lord,
Kari