Post date: Aug 9, 2014 12:09:43 AM
19 March 1964
Dear Folks,
Enclosed are a few tid-bits out of Nigerian upper-class life in the bush. The programme is of a going-away party for one of the nurse at the government hospital. They are transferred frequently, and average stay of about a year—contributing much to the poor administration of the hospital. The doctor is being transferred on two days‘ notice. He has been here only eight months. The going away party for this nurse was a very interesting affair. It started 1 1/2 hours late. Only about three people were there from half hour—late. Quite formal. The guests all sat on benches at the out-patient clinic with the chairman, etc, at a table at the head. It was primarily a palm-wine drinking party, tho. Some of the speeches were excellent. The content was often irrelevant, but very well presented. Such formal going-away parties are frequent.
The enclosed letter is from a man who rode on the train with me and shared his bananas. Not particularity interesting, but friendly. He works for the railroad. Also note a wedding invite. Ignatius is a teacher at the primary school—I don‘t know him. His uncle (I think), P M Igboko, is the vice-principal at Aggrey. They would be considered an upper-class family—teachers and government workers. In the bush it is the people who wear a white shirt and own bicycles who are in the upper class. There are bicycle taxis, but the drivers don't wear white shirts. The gov't employees (including teachers) wear nylon shirts (very hot) and black wool trousers—wool suits when they dress up. Lawyers often wear a vest, too.
Last week was a meeting in Enugu about setting up teacher-training institutes for PC [Peace Corps] teachers. We want to have workshops frequently to up-grade our teaching, just like in the states, hoping to extend to Nigerian teachers if successful. I am in charge of the Chemistry section. Another job is finding or writing (a mammoth undertaking) a textbook, and/or preparing lists of equipment which can be purchased or made inexpensively for labs. We may also try to influence the syllabus.
The rains have started. Or maybe just a storm, but it rained for two hours hard, then all night. It was good to settle the dust from the road-building and grading the football field.
I just this morning lost a tooth filling. Guess I‘ll have to get it fixed soon. I think the only dentist is at a Baptist mission in Enugu, but he is supposed to be very good, and he has a high-speed drill.
Thanks for the food in my trunk. Some of it is eaten, some still remains. I don't generally use soups, but the mushroom is good for cooking. I have not tried the applesauce yet, as I thought I would wait until I had a crowd to feed. It may not keep well after opening, and I hate to think of eating it all at once by myself.
I got some fancy cloth for drapes. It is very nice, but not cheap—$l per yard! That will make my house look much more livable.
My camera has for three or so months been in Lagos for repair, and I got it back last week—unrepaired. The only camera-repairman in Nigeria refused to fix it as his store doesn't carry that brand! So I will make one last desperate effort to fix it myself, then negotiate with Sears to have them repair it. This means tangling with customs, altho that is not impossible. I may just send it home and buy a cheap camera here—altho import duty on cameras is very high and there are no inexpensive ones. Also the film is often spoiled by the high humidity, replaced by Kodak, but nevertheless your pictures ruined.
I will probably be very busy for the next few month. This weekend want to go out to the bush to visit a farm settlement. We talked with the British farm settlement adviser in Enugu and he needs surveyors desperately. He says that we could learn in a day how to use the equipment. This would mean going in with a surveyor on Monday. He would set up a grid pattern, and we would survey for a contour map during the week, returning to Enugu over the weekend to work over the results. This would be a good vacation project, but he needs men now, and I may go this weekend. Next weekend is Easter, and I plan to go to Ikom—an isolated station—for a party of sorts. After that is our postponed six-month conference of Nigeria VII (training group) for PC. Then the week after is another meeting of the Volunteer Support Group for teaching workshops. This time we will set up working committees. After that I would like to go to Yenagoa [in the Niger River delta], and altho the rains have started, the road may still be open. They get no visitors there. I also found some people near the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers who have had two visitors in two years! It is not so hard to get to, only a long way. It is in the northern region, and should show me some new territory.
Must get this to the post so maybe it will go out tomorrow. (very slow)
This was for the departure of Mr Nmenelum, Senior Nurse at the Out-Patient Clinic
P R O G R A M M E
1. Group photograph
2. Introduction of chairman,supporters and guest of honour
3. Prayers
4. Chairman’s opening remarks
5. Kola nuts, drinks.
6. Toast of guest at honour by ….
7. Drinks and Refreshments
8. Presentation of Souvenir [a palm-wine jug]
9. Free speeches
10. Response by guest of honour.
11. Chairman's closing remarks
It was extremely formal—but with casual jokes, etc. Formal testimonial speeches and toasts.
Guest of honor considers Northern Region bad. (He was a real character, good speaker! - as good as Ikoku!) “Don’t mortgage your conscience.” Supports the government as employer. Doesn’t like lazy workers. Spent 10 years in Kano, 3 1/2 years in Jos, 5 years in Calabar, 3 years in Arochukwu. Extension of clash of interest outside duty makes enemies. Point of duty does not make enemy.
Chairman also excellent speaker. These Igbo! (when drunk)