'I don't know what awaits me...'

This week I continually find myself in that frustrating place of planning, prepping and constantly thinking about a trip that in reality isn't even booked yet. We have no visas so we have no "preview" visit and everything is on hold. This is mostly due to the fact that there is a nationwide strike and city-wide protests about fuel costs. Most of the employees are not in the office and no one is allowed in or out of the Lagos airport for security reasons. I remember this annoying part of the process when we relocated to Australia. It was late November/early December which caused delays due to Christmas but also because it was Australian summer and everyone was "on holiday". Also, for every week that went by, I was getting more and more pregnant - seriously pregnant. Third trimester nesting instinct + Overseas move = Something no woman (or man for that matter) ever wants to experience. If ever the Aussies needed a reason to think Yanks were tight-assed, stress cases, well I was it. I stalked the woman at the visa office until she couldn't stand me and miraculously we made it to Melbourne by the 31 week mark.

Lagos, on the other hand is a whole different story. There is an obscene amount of paperwork and the visas are very difficult to obtain. And what is ultimately pushing us this time is yet another ticking clock (thank god it's not a pregnancy related one!). In short, once we arrive in Lagos, we can't leave Nigeria for up to 90 days while they process our Long Term Visa. If we get there any later than April 1, then our whole summer will be spent in Lagos. Let me re-phrase that. Summer. In. Lagos. 1) It's Hot as Hades. 2) All the other expats will have left for their Home Visits or their glorious summer holidays around Europe. 3) It's really, really hot.

I am not saying I need to vacation in Europe (okay so I did tell the Cannons we would summer with them in Norway but still...) My biggest concern is that the kids will have a very short time to assimilate to their new school (while we are most likely still in temporary housing) and then just as we've made friends and found our support group, everyone but us will leave. I know in my heart that maybe we won't be the only expats in that boat, but I still want my kids to be excited about Lagos and have their initial experience as good as it can be. People keep reminding me that the initial transition is not very smooth but that most of it is just not in our control. So we keep pushing to get there as soon as we can. And if I have to be yet another annoying Yank, so be it.

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