Pace…

Life here in Nigeria moves at a different, more moderate, pace than anywhere I have lived in the US.

It is not that people here are less industrious or don’t work as hard or as long … that’s not it at all. That stereotype just isn’t valid. Just yesterday one of my students seemed exhausted in class. We chatted and he told me that he is taking 2 intensive (3-hour/day) classes plus is writing his thesis so that he can graduate after the next summer session. He was tired because he had been up till 4am studying! Every morning when I get up around 6-6:30, student families (men, women and even the children) are already up and working in the gardens they are allowed to plant here at JETS. We have seen children, which we suppose were as young as 3 working in the gardens and being chided by mom to work harder or better… no the slower pace is certainly not connected with work ethic.

I think prime factors are that they are more relational and have learned to wait.

First and foremost Nigerians are relational people. If you see a friend you take a few moments visit and share pleasantries and ask about the family, work, life. The idea of simply waving and saying “hi” as you keep walking by just is not in their culture. I must admit there is something very civil about this relational aspect, and much I can learn from it.

People also learn things take time and ‘taking time’ means people learn to wait... few people have personal cars. People walk many distances we would drive. And to go further distances then hail a taxi or a Shaba. (A Shaba is a motorcycle that mostly teens and young men drive around for hire. They are everywhere.) Hailing a taxi or Shaba takes time. People are used to taking time.

Shopping takes time. There are no big department or grocery stores (like Food Mart or Kohls) and no malls. There aren’t even gas-station-size convenience marts. Here in Jos shopping is done in open air markets where you buy your grains, vegetables, meats and fish. When I say market, think of scenes from the Middle East or Africa in National Geographic. Everything is purchased through bartering; you might get veggies at one stand, and walk half a block to get rice, and another half block to find meat or powered milk. To shop for the day (or couple of days meals) might take you to half dozen market stands. You buy everything like this… need to buy credits for your phone… find a market; want a shirt… browse a market and then barter when you find one you like. Shopping takes time; there is no zipping to the store for a gallon of milk…

The country’s infrastructure is not dependable. NEPA (electricity) is on and off. Gas is regulated but many stations don’t have gas due to rationed supply. And right now the drivers are striking so fuel cost is 15-40% higher than the government price. State schools often go on strike so your 4-year secondary school education may take 5 or 6 years…

Waiting is part of life… and waiting moderates pace.

Once my internal motor slowed down, I realized there is something commendable about the pace of life here…