Post date: Aug 11, 2014 11:40:45 PM
11 June 1965
I've been doing very little reading lately. Partly because I have either been living in the PC rest house, a dormitory, or with friends, and in both situations I tend to talk.
For three days I have been removing the engine from a spoiled Jeep. We brought it to Enugu for parts, and found we could buy a rebuilt engine here. Now I hear that another Jeep has a folded front fender, so I may take parts to that one today, while the shop is changing engines in this third Jeep. Then I have to put rings into another and collect two Jeeps from Cameroon.
Most of the kids terminating from the Peace Corps are having difficulty finding jobs or scholarships. We feel we have something to offer a company, and when the kids get turned down, or, more often, their letters go un-answered, they tend to be disappointed.
14 July 1965
I've had a cold for a week, started off with a good case of dysentery. Today my nose is flooding. By tomorrow I should be OK if it doesn't move down to my chest. Think I had a touch of pneumonia last weekend but there was no doctor around so I just stayed in bed.
The new VW came to $1,400 with license and insurance ($168--not very cheap). I'll arrive in Frankfurt at 5am, catch an hour or two ride in to town on the bus and buy a wardrobe. All my clothes are finished. Don't think I'll buy a suit for a while--just wear slacks and sweaters. Need heavy overcoat, tho. Need shirts, T-shirts, sox, shoes, work pants, handkerchiefs.
I bought two pieces of hand-woven loth in Akwete. Very expensive stuff.
22 July 1965
I'm slowly recovering from my virus. Seems to be a popular item these days. Another fellow here has one in different form. Often the lungs get congested. I cancelled out of going to Cameroon for fear I might get pneumonia and not be able to leave Nigeria.
My draft status has been 1-A for the past two years. I'm over 26 now, and in the sixth (out of seven) category for calling up. They have to get everyone under 26 before they call me up. Trust I'm safe for a while.