YELLOW WOMAN!!

It's been over a week now that I have arrived in Abuja, and we've finally moved into our apartment in Wuse II. Welcome home to Peletimi Hilltop Apartments! For now, all we have is a mattress in each room, and a microwave, if you count that as furniture... we're definitely not getting paid enough to furnish the place to Abuja standards (read: very very expensive), so for the time being, I either eat standing up in the kitchen-- which was bugbombed for roaches (oh joy)-- sitting on my bed in my room, or sitting on the dining room floor. First real dinner in the apartment, Jess and I spent sitting on the floor of the dining room, AC blasting in our faces, feasting on hummus, pita and chicken suya, the Nigerian version of... jerk chicken? Not sure, but it was definitely spicy. I subsequently had tummy troubles... as they say, TIA! (This is Africa!).
Haven't been doing much else so far, since work at the CDC hasn't started yet. First official day is next Tuesday (hooray for observing Nigerian and US holidays), since it's Columbus Day on Monday. Tried unsuccessfully to find furniture in the outskirts of town; one of our co-workers in the office kindly took us for an off-roading adventure on Friday, and we ended up in the satellite towns surrounding Abuja: Apo City, Sun City, Sunnyvale/Sunnyville? Definitely not the Sunnyvale in the Bay Area though. Fancy pants new houses being built, but roads are nonexistent, and I literally hit my head in the backseat of the car, I was bouncing up and down from the crazy potholes all over. Did see some never before seen sights for an Africa Noob like me: small children running around with no pants, peeing and pooping on the streets (and you wonder why cholera sometimes flares up here and there), tuk-tuks, which are 3 wheeled driving thingies, weaving their way in and around the crazy traffic getting in and out of town, old women cooking on fire (coal?) stoves along side the street... I'm sure I will see more as I get more acquainted with the city.
Yesterday, we went to the local Utako market, where people have stall after stall set up in narrow alleyways, selling everything imaginable. Seeing as we had no cups in the apartment and had to drink our beverages out of empty water bottles, it was imperative we at least bought some household items to tie us over for the year. I was pretty apprehensive about going to the local market, since it is well known that you must haggle for EVERYTHING, and since I obviously don't look Nigerian, bargaining was an absolute must, as they always always hike up the price for oyibos (white people/foreigners). Although this was my first time haggling on my own, I'd say I did a pretty decent job... one of our expat friends commented that I came off as part Nigerian and part Chinese in my bargaining- I would start off with a super low price, Nigerian style, and then keep at it persistently, Chinese style. Who knew I had it in me? Apparently they could hear me a few stalls over, I was so loud (yay small loud Asian girl). Definitely had more fun than I thought I would, but it still is a bit stressful after a while. At least we have cups and plates and silverware to use when we eat... Funny thing in Nigeria/Africa: the locals will hiss at you to get your attention... it's a bit weird at first but I'm getting used to it. Oh, and they will scream "CHINA CHINA CHINA" as you walk by on the street... or, call you "YELLOW WOMAN", like they did at the market yesterday. Also, no one believes I'm American. I went to a party last night and a Nigerian was totally amazed at my accent. :T
I guess I should either start learning pidgin English or FOB-ifying my English...