Kind of Like Family

I have been reading The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency book series, and I am loving it.  The stories take place in Botswana and although I have never been there, Alexander McCall Smith ( the author) seems to be able to transport you right there.  I can almost picture myself sitting outside on the veranda on Zebra Lane with Mma Ramotswe drinking a cup of bush tea (but I have to admit, I really have no idea what bush tea smells or tastes like).  The way he describes the scenery and the people is amazing.  So, if you love a book that can pull at your heart strings, has a little mystery, and lots of laughs, you really need to check out this series...if you haven't already.

As I was reading the books, I noticed there were several comments about Nigeria.  There is one mystery in the first book about Nigerian men (which I won't give away), and there are several comments...one of which is:

"When they died, good people,such as Mma Ramotswe's father, Obed Ramotswe, were undoubtedly welcomed by God.  The fate of the others was unclear, but they were sent to some terrible place-perhaps a bit like Nigeria, she thought-"

and another

"Sometimes, she thought that people overseas had no room for Africa, because nobody had ever told them that African people were just the same as they were.  They simply dikd not kow about people like her Daddy, Obed Ramotswe, who stood, proudly attired in his shiny suit, in the photgraph in her living room."

and another

After the heroine of the story, Mma Ramotswe, finds out that there is a possibilty that we all share the same DNA from the first humans discovered in east africa:

 "She had no views on Eskimos and Russians, but Nigerians were a different matter.  But Mma Makutsi was right, she reflected, if universal brotherhood-and sisterhood- meant anything, it would have to embrace the Nigerians as well."

At first when I read these lines in the books, I was laughing.  I can totally see where the author is coming from.  But, then I thought about it some more.  I realized that Nigeria really has that connotation about it.  I thought about what I thought of Nigeria before I moved here.  Many of the things I thought did come out to be true...but, not everything.  I didn't expect to find such a wonderful stewardess as Happiness.....is it dangerous if I may even think of her as a friend??  I really didn't think I would ever want to raise my two children here....but look at them now!

August 2009

July 2009

August 2011

August 2011



I guess what I am trying to say is Nigeria isn't all that bad.  As  a  matter of fact, I think , for me, it is like a family member...you know what I mean.  Only you can make fun of that person, but if anyone else "outside" the family makes fun of him, you get upset and defensive. I guess after reading those lines in the books...that's why they kind of stuck in my head and really made me think.   I never thought I would ever think of Nigeria "like family" but I guess it has grown on me. And, like a family member...it can definitely get on my nerves at times! When I ask Elizabeth if she remembers ever living in Houston...she has no recollection of living there at all.  She was just 15 months old when we moved here...and to her, Nigeria is home.  Jeremy loves it here, too.  So, in a way, I guess Nigeria will always be a part of our family.:)  So, remember, when you do read many of the "bad" things about Nigeria...there are some good things here, too.:)