Post date: Aug 11, 2014 4:48:46 PM
15 April
All my scholarship tries failed, but I should have enough money. My first two months is already paid. After that I may be able to get $1 an hour as apprentice. I will buy a ticket home (with Peace Corps money) and just top over for a year—cheaper that way. The Goethe Institut has me live in a local home (I think) in Baubeuren, just out of Ulm. While at the Musicinstrument school I will stay in a public low-rent apartment house.
The other day my lab was 93° and 79% humidity. Unbearable. No positive word from either Enugu or Calabar about my transfer and the term ends within a week.
My Principal doesn’t know I want to leave early. He has lost interest in this place. He is president of the teachers’ union, on the West African Exams Council, and on the Federal Aviation Board. yet he tries to be autocrat here with no delegated authority. I expect the Principal to die within a year—at which time the school will fall apart. That is pretty pessimistic. [Neither happened. The school still operated.]
You remember there was supposed to be a third fellow on our Xmas trip? Well, he missed us in Maiduguri, cut his leg in Ft. Archambault, and had 19 flat tires on his way back. And he speaks French!
Peace Corps wants to kick us all out for riding motorcycles. Some deal from a volunteer organization. Jonny says he’ll quit sooner than give up his cycle. His school is worse than mine and probably the worst in the region.
The other night I went to Ohafia for dinner (25 miles) and had 2 flats on the way. The second time I put the bike in a taxi (cost $2.80) and left it at the house there. So I am wheel-less. Next week I try to sell my Honda for more than $300. It has 12,000 miles. Cost $420. Used Honda market is very good now, even for a beat one.
Sunday
Never sold my motorcycle. It rained noon to 5 Friday and I had to walk 3 miles before I got a truck ride. The inner tube in rear tire of cycle was bad, so Saturday I had to go 25 miles and back for tube and pump. When it was fixed it was then too late to go to Ikot Ekpene. I rained all last night so the roads will be impassible today. It’s raining now, so Fr. Hannely won’t be abe to have his fancy Easter service—Goo Friday service was cancelled, too.
I’ve been designing square church buildings. Problem: how do you make them look good outside? Next, a pyramid.