Ten Years In Africa

Nigeria is situated on the Southeast Coast of Africa and just five degrees above the equator. My father was assigned to the Nigerian branch office of his firm and all of a sudden I found myself in Africa! Was this the exotic place I imagined it would be? Jungles full of exotic animals - elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, lions and what else not? Flaming sunsets on golden beach lines edged with tall palm trees? Endless days full of fun and excitement and a whole new world of adventure? Well, not exactly.
Once I stepped off the plane, perspiration immediately covered my body and I started gasping for a full breath. The colorful paradise turned out to be a place where the blazing sun, in combination with the high humidity, created the feeling of being in a steamy sauna. The only animals in sight were small red-black lizards, and the last thing I wanted to do in this hot hell was to ‘fry’ myself on the beach. I looked at the azure blue sky in anticipation of the refreshing cool br...