Life goes on

For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been lodged in the hotel. A pleasant change for finally my room at the mission was booked in advance – it was certainly the time to move. I say ‘the’ hotel for everything concerning the university seems to happen in this hotel, which is almost opposite on the other side of the road. After the Presentation of Oaths ceremony in February, the Rector hosted a cocktail for all participants (academic and non-academic staff) and the pool at this hotel has been my repose for exercise and a mental break. So now I can swim to my heart’s content although this past week, tummy upsets had me feeling somewhat weak and I wasn’t able to enjoy the water as much as I would have liked.

The skies here are finally clearing after nearly a week of dry mist mixed with an enormous amount of dust brought down from Chad by the Harmattan wind. When this northerly blows hard, you have to protect your airways – those pictures you see of desert dwellers with cloth wrapped around their faces start to have real meaning! The locals say that the wind and quantity of dust is exceptional but then they say, climate change is affecting everything. Last weekend, the dust cover in my office was such that I took my computer to the hotel to work. The cleaner got to my office on Monday and finally I was able to reinstall . . . Everyone was in the same position but we finally got back to our desks.

One of the joys of being at the hotel is being able to sit outside in the garden at night and enjoy a simple evening meal. The nights are so balmy here and generally calm and clear. To see the trees behind the garden walls and feel embraced by the night sky is so calming and worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the street. I am so very grateful to have this moment of transition from one place of living to another. It gives me another perspective on life here and I feel supported while waiting to move into my apartment. It’s all happening and the move is not very far away.

Perhaps some photos to show you a little of Maroua. There are many more I would like to take but I have given much time to settling in to the university and less, it must be said, to getting to know my environs. However, I’m feeling at home in Maroua and learning much about its people and history.