Nigeria
03-20-2009 | 08:37 AM
#2
On Reserve
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 157
Likes: 1
From: Retired
Personally, I'd quit flying before I went back to that part of the world.
03-20-2009 | 11:08 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: A319/320/321
if you let me send you a money order for $3000 and you cash it and send me $2000 of it, I will tell you all about Nigeria, seriously, Lagos is rated as one of the most dangerous cities in the world and it is a huge shxxhole on top of that!
03-20-2009 | 04:59 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 0
From: Self employed
Yes, lots of stuff on Pprune. I'm currently in Nigeria. What can I help you with?
Yes, it's a third world sh*thole, plus you get the honor of it being very expensive to live there, too. Simple things are difficult, traffic is nightmarish, trash and the stench of human defecation seems to always be in the air (many, if not most homes, have no running water/sewer). Pollution is horrendous.
Electrical power goes off 20 times a day, the internet works when it feels like it. The concept of "on time" is unknown. Food will take some getting used to, and expect some diarreah now and then.
You need malaria medication, either as a preventative, or as a after-the-fact until you get to the hospital. Get all the shots the Center for Disease Control suggests.
You need a Nigerian work visa in you passport, have your pilot license "validated", get a Nigerian medical, and pass an "air law" test.
You won't be taking any strolls around the block, and shouldn't go anywhere alone. Just traveling in a cab or van, expect impromptu police roadblocks to extort money from you. Some won't even be police, but enterprising individuals. Lots on expats (usually oil industry employees) get kidnapped, but fortunately, in nearly every case, are returned after somebody pays the ransom.
So, you'd have to be crazy to be here, right? Maybe, but like all things, you'll adapt and manage... or you won't, and go home.
03-20-2009 | 07:46 PM
#7
First Rule of Fight Club
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,536
Likes: 0
From: My seat smells like cat pee
Yes, lots of stuff on Pprune. I'm currently in Nigeria. What can I help you with?
Yes, it's a third world sh*thole, plus you get the honor of it being very expensive to live there, too. Simple things are difficult, traffic is nightmarish, trash and the stench of human defecation seems to always be in the air (many, if not most homes, have no running water/sewer). Pollution is horrendous.
Electrical power goes off 20 times a day, the internet works when it feels like it. The concept of "on time" is unknown. Food will take some getting used to, and expect some diarreah now and then.
You need malaria medication, either as a preventative, or as a after-the-fact until you get to the hospital. Get all the shots the Center for Disease Control suggests.
You need a Nigerian work visa in you passport, have your pilot license "validated", get a Nigerian medical, and pass an "air law" test.
You won't be taking any strolls around the block, and shouldn't go anywhere alone. Just traveling in a cab or van, expect impromptu police roadblocks to extort money from you. Some won't even be police, but enterprising individuals. Lots on expats (usually oil industry employees) get kidnapped, but fortunately, in nearly every case, are returned after somebody pays the ransom.
So, you'd have to be crazy to be here, right? Maybe, but like all things, you'll adapt and manage... or you won't, and go home.
Yes, it's a third world sh*thole, plus you get the honor of it being very expensive to live there, too. Simple things are difficult, traffic is nightmarish, trash and the stench of human defecation seems to always be in the air (many, if not most homes, have no running water/sewer). Pollution is horrendous.
Electrical power goes off 20 times a day, the internet works when it feels like it. The concept of "on time" is unknown. Food will take some getting used to, and expect some diarreah now and then.
You need malaria medication, either as a preventative, or as a after-the-fact until you get to the hospital. Get all the shots the Center for Disease Control suggests.
You need a Nigerian work visa in you passport, have your pilot license "validated", get a Nigerian medical, and pass an "air law" test.
You won't be taking any strolls around the block, and shouldn't go anywhere alone. Just traveling in a cab or van, expect impromptu police roadblocks to extort money from you. Some won't even be police, but enterprising individuals. Lots on expats (usually oil industry employees) get kidnapped, but fortunately, in nearly every case, are returned after somebody pays the ransom.
So, you'd have to be crazy to be here, right? Maybe, but like all things, you'll adapt and manage... or you won't, and go home.
03-21-2009 | 10:14 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
Yes, lots of stuff on Pprune. I'm currently in Nigeria. What can I help you with?
Yes, it's a third world sh*thole, plus you get the honor of it being very expensive to live there, too. Simple things are difficult, traffic is nightmarish, trash and the stench of human defecation seems to always be in the air (many, if not most homes, have no running water/sewer). Pollution is horrendous.
Electrical power goes off 20 times a day, the internet works when it feels like it. The concept of "on time" is unknown. Food will take some getting used to, and expect some diarreah now and then.
You need malaria medication, either as a preventative, or as a after-the-fact until you get to the hospital. Get all the shots the Center for Disease Control suggests.
You need a Nigerian work visa in you passport, have your pilot license "validated", get a Nigerian medical, and pass an "air law" test.
You won't be taking any strolls around the block, and shouldn't go anywhere alone. Just traveling in a cab or van, expect impromptu police roadblocks to extort money from you. Some won't even be police, but enterprising individuals. Lots on expats (usually oil industry employees) get kidnapped, but fortunately, in nearly every case, are returned after somebody pays the ransom.
So, you'd have to be crazy to be here, right? Maybe, but like all things, you'll adapt and manage... or you won't, and go home.
Yes, it's a third world sh*thole, plus you get the honor of it being very expensive to live there, too. Simple things are difficult, traffic is nightmarish, trash and the stench of human defecation seems to always be in the air (many, if not most homes, have no running water/sewer). Pollution is horrendous.
Electrical power goes off 20 times a day, the internet works when it feels like it. The concept of "on time" is unknown. Food will take some getting used to, and expect some diarreah now and then.
You need malaria medication, either as a preventative, or as a after-the-fact until you get to the hospital. Get all the shots the Center for Disease Control suggests.
You need a Nigerian work visa in you passport, have your pilot license "validated", get a Nigerian medical, and pass an "air law" test.
You won't be taking any strolls around the block, and shouldn't go anywhere alone. Just traveling in a cab or van, expect impromptu police roadblocks to extort money from you. Some won't even be police, but enterprising individuals. Lots on expats (usually oil industry employees) get kidnapped, but fortunately, in nearly every case, are returned after somebody pays the ransom.
So, you'd have to be crazy to be here, right? Maybe, but like all things, you'll adapt and manage... or you won't, and go home.
Have they given you an African name yet? If not, then may I suggest "Tarzan, the Great White CRJ Pilot?!" Seriously though, I have to admire someone who is willing to live life on the edge (and if necessary, die) for the sake of their art! That is why I think that you are the "Jim Morrison/Jimi Hendrix of CRJ pilots!"
By the way, (you know I'm going to ask this!) how does working in Nigeria compare to working for the FAA?!!!
03-21-2009 | 01:06 PM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 0
From: Self employed
Have they given you an African name yet? If not, then may I suggest "Tarzan, the Great White CRJ Pilot?!" Seriously though, I have to admire someone who is willing to live life on the edge (and if necessary, die) for the sake of their art! That is why I think that you are the "Jim Morrison/Jimi Hendrix of CRJ pilots!"
By the way, (you know I'm going to ask this!) how does working in Nigeria compare to working for the FAA?!!!
By the way, (you know I'm going to ask this!) how does working in Nigeria compare to working for the FAA?!!!
No african name. Not sure they could agree on one. There are 200 languages here, and 400 dialects. But everybody officially speaks english.
I did get my nigerian traditional outfit today. Looks pretty awesome. Hat and all. Great for parties around here. The locals really liked it and kept calling me "master". I felt a little uncomfortable with that, from a historical context in the US, but they meant it as a sign of respect. It's quite unusual to see any foriegner where I am, so I hear the occasional "oyibo" as I walk by. Literally, "white man". Not meant to be disrespectful.
It would be difficult to compare to anything in the US of A, including FAA. People in offices with no identifiable job. Check. Rules that make absolutely no sense. Check. Many others, too, but it would drive anybody nuts to keep comparing things here to the rest of the world.
As to continueing the art, yes, I guess there are sacrafices. But I get paid pretty good, and even better considering how many pilots are sitting at home doing nothing. In that context, I feel fortunate to be here, and overall, it's not a negative experience.
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