Children

One of the challenges of life in Nigeria is how to respond to the children who find the bature (white people) an endless source of fascination and hope of goodies.  It's lovely being able to make a gang of small children smile and giggle just by waving at them but it's not as pleasant being unable to be in the garden without feeling like the chimps at a chimps' tea party.  We've had up to dozen children lined up along our fence watching our every move and continually calling out "Hello". I would like to be able to give them produce from the garden regularly but I know for my sanity and that of the rest of the family I have to maintain some distance.  We could not function here if our home was not a place of peace to return to.

Some children don't wait to be given fruit.  While we were away a gang came through the gate, into the garden and stripped the cashew tree.  Often they don't even wait until the fruit is ripe but take it then throw it away as being too sour.  As I was having my Hausa lesson yesterday about half a dozen young boys approached the house.
"The gate is locked," announced one so they came closer, obviously looking for weak spots along the fence.  Bakle (my teacher) and I stood out of sight, waiting to see what they'd do next.  They'd got to the fence when the security man from the provost's house next door shouted at them.  They replied and Bakle translated: "We've come to ask for forgiveness."!
I'm not a expert but the previous demeanour of the boys was more reminiscent of a gang casing the joint than penitents seeking forgiveness but it did give us some cause for amusement.  They were probably the children of students at the college so we decided if they truly wanted forgiveness they could go and see Fraser in the library.