Abuja - Post Report Question and Answers
What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
No trips within the country for security reasons.The highlight is the hills coming to life at the beginning of rainy season. Within days, the entire city turns lush and green. - Sep 2019
As an experienced State person, I've seen it all. At the pool at the Hilton I often hear British Air stewards lamenting the town. On other hand, we've been here foue years and have been grateful for every minute of it. Sun! That's the thing. Right now the Midwest, where we're now located is at -27 degrees Celsius. I walked through the art market this morning at a balmy +22 degrees Celsius. I hate cold and I hate gloom. So Nigeria, is good for both. Warm and sunny. Nigeria has some nice things. Housing is ok, Help is cheap. Sun is plentiful. Fruits are excellent and if you want to escape a demanding family back home...this is the place to do it. No one visits. You can visit Zambia and do a safari and see Victoria Falls. Or Kenya where you can safari and then go to the beach in Mombassa. That's closest. South Africa, while further, has whale watching, wine tours and beach. To the North you can see Morroco and Egypt. Go West and you can get a nice holiday on the beaches of a reasonably civilized Senegal. It's all here, but not that easy to get to. Flights are a bit of a hassle and usually pricey. Though the airport here is ok. - Feb 2019
The circle of friends from the embassy community. - Apr 2018
Getting out of the city of Abuja. For example, the West African Softball Championships (last held in Dakar) would be ideal to travel to. But try to get out into the country--- the YANKARI game reserve would be my first choice, security permitting. I haven't been there yet, but want to se it. - Jun 2016
The expat community was very tight-knit and fun. The quality of the work was terrific. Our R&R trips out of the country were awesome (you should really take advantage of the cost-construct option, as you can make some surprisingly amazing vacations). - Aug 2015
Leaving on R&R or long weekends, have met some good people. - Jun 2015
Enjoy my job at Embassy. - Nov 2014
The work here is very, very interesting, no matter what your assignment is. The best expat stories come from Nigeria! - May 2014
Having a more active social life than I've ever had at home, a good sense of camaraderie with other expats and coworkers, getting out of the city limits for the Hash, eating roasted fish at outdoor restaurants, BBQs in friends' back parklots (yards/grass/green is sparse in the city) spending time at home playing my sadly-neglected musical instruments. The sheer joy and excitement that comes over people's faces when you try to speak a bit of one of the local languages - it's the best payoff per minute of language learning time I've ever experienced. - May 2013
