ADA JOHNSON-KANU
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The Case of the two Awolowos

9/5/2019

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The two notes above have the same value and look the same. But if one looks closer, you can see that the one on the right is longer and newer. Which is weird. You would think that printing money would entail printing the same money. Maybe there was something off with the machine? 

I got the note on the left in Abuja at an ATM (I won't say what bank lol). I got the note on the right from yet another ATM (from the same bank), this time in Kaduna. My mother refused to spend the money because we had to "save it" for a special occasion. 

In Lagos, we stayed in a place where the nearest branch of the bank we use was not close to us. Naturally, we had to spend the new money. The first person we paid with the money was a woman on the roadside who sold water. When she got the "mint" notes she prayed for God to bless us, and informed us she would take the money to church and give it as her offering the next Sunday (it was a Friday).

On Saturday, we went to a restaurant and paid with the new notes as well. Same response. The lady came out to see who had paid with new money. She then launched into a longer prayer for us. She also informed us she would take the money to church the next day.

The third person we paid with new money was a young lady selling gala near the bus stop. Again prayers and information about her offering in Church.

Both these notes have the same value, but people prefer newer and cleaner looking things even if they hold the same value as old things.
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Hiking in Mabushi - I came too prepared!

8/6/2019

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I took a break from visiting offices at the Nigerian Federal Civil Service HQ in Abuja one Saturday. A friend of mine had invited me to join his group Mantrek for a hike. We hiked the Mabushi hills, a neighborhood in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria. The theme was raising awareness on domestic violence. Two groups- AmberAlert4SocialJustice and Mantrek organized the "expedition".

We got to the meeting place a little after 7 in the morning. Then when most of the hikers arrived we headed off into the woods shortly before 8. We were about 20 minutes into the hike when we got to the first stop. It was a flat surface on a hill. We saw signs indicating some people used the hilltop as their place of worship. There were crosses and writings encouraging us to repent because Jesus was returning soon. 

We rested on the hill top for less than 10 minutes then moved on. As we continued the hike, it started drizzling a bit. We paid no mind to the light rain and kept on moving. Getting into thicker bushes on our way up another hill, the rain poured down heavily on us. I had told my friend previously that I had all the essential supplies and more in my backpack. I also mentioned bringing an umbrella along. 

As the rain poured down, my friend reminded me I had an umbrella. Seeing no one else with any protection from the rain I hesitated but later decided to use it. I brought out my umbrella and shielded myself from the rain as we made our way up the hill. Soon, the trail leaders announced that the hike had been cut short because of the persistent rain. We made our way downhill and through newly formed puddles.

On the way down, we passed by other hikers who remarked that I came prepared with the umbrella. I noticed no one else had an umbrella or a rain coat or any meaningful form of protection from the rain. Considering we were in the middle of the rainy season with multiple rain episodes every week, it did not occur to me that people would go anywhere without some form of cover. 

A couple of hikers asked me if I was a girl scout because I was "always prepared". Long story short, my friend and some other hikers made jokes about my preparedness in the great outdoors of Abuja. Let's say next time I will be less prepared!

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    Nigeria Blog

    I document my adventures doing field work in Nigeria here. 

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