Sweet Suite

Late last night we got a somewhat alarming phone call. It was 9:30pm and management was calling to tell us we had just been approved to move into a bigger room. A suite, in fact, and we jumped at the opportunity to spread out. This is our 3rd room change around the hotel, each time for more space. The call yesterday was unexpected and we are grateful, but unfortunately we're taking it as a sign that we will be in this hotel for awhile. We're thinking through February, at least! So while it's nice to spread out a little bit more (and we now have 2 rooms! and a couch!), it would be even better to unpack for good.

You see, here in Nigeria everything takes about 3x as long to get done as it would in the states. We have several factors against us here, namely the fact that the official contract for the project we moved here for is yet to be sign, and they just pushed the date back until January 31. The original date was October 1. I think it has something to do with the government here approving the project, and then the company contracting my husband's company agreeing on terms - all I really know is that it's out of our hands and that no amount of complaining will help. We are hopeful that they will sign sooner, rather than wait out the full extension. We know we're costing the company a lot of money by being in this hotel and having all of our meals paid for, so we're hoping that that will be incentive enough to move us out ASAP. After the contract is signed, we have to wait on housing to be approved, and then start the process of applying for short term residency here. After that we get an apartment and our shipments will finally be released and on their way to us. Good thing we brought 9 bags of luggage to hold us over!

Living Room

Another shot of the Living Room

Bedroom 

The hole they cut in the wall to connect the rooms.

What you can't see is the fact that we have TWO bathrooms, TWO safes, and TWO closets now. And it feels borderline luxurious. 

So for now we're just trying to focus on one day at a time, and not be too overwhelmed by the prospect of living out of suitcases (kinda) and being in these rooms for the next few months.