My Arrival

Captain’s Log 13 September 2006:

Hi Friends! After three relatively uneventful days of travel, I have made it safely to Port Harcourt. The nostalgia of being back in West Africa did not hit me until arrived at the airport and was met by Mohammed, one of AAPW’s chauffeurs who had patiently waited for my arrival which was three hours late. He warmly greeted me as Mark and must have recognized me based on the description from my friend Dora who I am indebted to for helping create this opportunity. After leaving Germany my plane landed in Lagos where it refueled and continued to Abuja. I am happy to report that I did not depart the plane in Lagos to clear customs-which was an initial concern of mine. Unfortunately the urban layout of Lagos and Abuja (from my limited view) does not differ from the other African cities I have flown to-in that there are prevalent shanty towns, and make-shift houses surrounding the inner-city. In short the nostalgia was the result of the overwhelming friendliness and warmth expressed to me by the staff of AAPW who I have recently met. Additionally, I have four meals since arriving in country including SHRIMP confirming that West African food is by fare the best produced on the continent. Tomorrow I was invited to attend a meeting between AAPW and UNDP regarding a new project on disarmament demobilization and reintegration (DDR) and “mind-changing” (shifting attitudes via intervention). In addition to my research it looks like I will have the opportunity to do some other exciting work. My only disappointment thus fare is that Meaghan is not here with me. It just started raining!