I arrived in Abujah where I exited the International Terminal. I had seen ATMs in the international terminal, so I thought that once I found my way to my next departure gate, I would be able to get Naira from an ATM in the domestic terminal.

I had to go to a different building to get my boarding pass to fly from Abujah to Benin City. As I walked into that building, a well-dressed man grabbed my receipt and my passport and went up to the ticket counter. I thought he was with the airline, but quickly realized that I had been duped. I kept my eyes on him, asked the security guard if he was okay, and waited for his return. He did and then wanted a tip. Of course, I had no Naira, Nigerian Currency, and no U.S. dollars. All I had were Ghana cedis, so I gave him GH¢ 10.00. He was not happy with me.

I set off and found my way to yet another building, which was the domestic terminal. As I entered, my bags were x-rayed. Then, I found my way to the departure gate. I was six hours early. I wandered a little bit only to find that there were no ATMs and nobody took credit cards. Fortunately, I had some shortbread cookies. I ate those while I waited for President Tinat to arrive. He arrived a bit after 2:00. Our flight was to leave at 3:00. We chatted a bit about what was to come, what the workshop would involve, and what my role would be. After we boarded the plane and found our way to our seats, he took a selfie and sent it to the ASLAN secretary, who posted it on the ASLAN Facebook page <https://www.facebook.com/aslin.nigera?fref=ts>

The flight to Benin City was short. When we arrived, we waited for our ride. Two lovely women met us and took us to the conference hotel. I was shown to my room and told not to open the door to anyone or to leave by myself. I ended up with two nice fellows who called themselves my security team. They came for me to take me to the hotel restaurant for dinner. I had beans, rice, and chicken. Way too much food, as usual. I went to my room and checked email and Facebook with a borrowed mobile wi-fi modem. Then, continued to work on my contributions to the workshop. I found that I had less time than I thought, so I was reducing the content.

The next morning, the “Security Team,” Michael and Stephen, (sorry, my photos are sideways…)

came to get me for breakfast. They took my order and then went to order in the restaurant. President Tinat and I sat outside trying to Skype with the woman from Sweden who would be giving a lecture during the course of the morning. We were having trouble with the connection. The hotel did not have wi-fi or even and Ethernet cable. As President Tinat went to prepare for the day, I did some troubleshooting with the General, as they fondly called her. I suggested that she pre-record something while we checked the connection in the meeting room. The connection was very sketchy. We decided we would give it a try, anyway.

The workshop opened and I began presenting.

Once I was done with that session, we logged on to bring in “the General” (how the woman from Sweden is fondly referenced). The connection was poor, so we quickly adjusted. She was only able to introduce herself and greet the conference attendees. Then she logged off and recorded the rest of her presentation on setting up an interpreter education program. Meanwhile, I presented a bit more.

The opening ceremony took place before lunch. This session included a panel with two head masters from schools for the Deaf, the director of an NGO called Charilove Institute <https://www.charilove.org/>, a representative from the Ministry of Education, the President of the Nigeria Association of the Deaf, my self, President Tinat, and a woman who directs a children’s theatre for children who are deaf. The children danced and signed music, then did a skit. Some of the panelists greeted the participants. Once that ceremony was over, we had lunch. This time I tried three different types of carbs (one made from cassava, one made from maize, and one made from wheat). I also had fish, rice, and a few slices of plantain. I was stuffed!

After lunch, I continued on and then we had a group activity where participants worked on what type of interpreter education program they wanted to set up. We had several different groups working based upon the General’s outline. At the same time, the executive board was meeting. I wandered the room to check in with the working groups and, when all were done, I got the executive board back and the groups presented. They gave all of their notes to the secretary. Then we were done with the business for the day.

At 6:00, we had a cocktail party where cookies, groundnuts, biscuits, and fruit juice were served. This seemed to be a new experience for most. President Tinat announced that we were not to sit down, we must meet someone new, and we must dance. It was a fun evening.

When I went back to my room, I continued to work on my workshops for the next day and checked email and Facebook on the borrowed wi-fi.

On Friday, I wrapped up my presentation. There were presentations by ASLIN members on topics, such as strengthening access to medical services, language acquisition, and “the way forward.” There was discussion and celebration. I was dressed as a Benin princess. I was given two wonderful plaques, one was an award for presenting and the other was a traditional Nigerian woman.

Many photos were taken and people began departing.

On Saturday, I went out with President Tinat and my security detail –smile – Michael and Stephen – to a market where I could buy a few traditional things. Fred (standing between President Tinat in the center and Stephen in the beige shirt left upside down — sorry!) kindly drove us in his car. The man in yellow is the artist. I bought a wooden sculpture of hands raised up in praise to God for Frank and a shadow dancer for my daughter. I bought a few other trinkets, as well, such as bracelets and bottle openers.

Once that was done, President Tinat and I set off to the airport, where we waited to leave beautiful Benin City.

Some of the things I noticed about Nigeria that are different from Ghana are the following:

• Between Benin City and Lagos, from the air, the terrain is open and green with water running through it, almost like a Louisiana delta; quite beautiful
• Roads are wider, with red dirt, dusty, with bigger potholes
• No goats, chickens, or dogs roaming the streets of Benin City
• Once one begins entering the airport, bags are screened numerous times – upon entry into the airport, at check-in, passing through security, passing through immigration, passing through the gate on the way to the airplane.