email

First, money. This email came yesterday:

"We greet u and your friends who have gartherd some sum of money for us.
We do appreciate your effort very much.

From the unset of the School we were sure that things were going to be better 7 of which we re still sure because of ur presence at the start of the School's year.

Our surety was & still is u re a woman of truth potential and accountability who is going to asist us in getting to our expected end with all of us efforts potentials being used for the Liberian Children in Buduburam Camp.

With this in mind [ME], we as Teachers at PCO Refugee School, would like to appeal
to you & your noble friends to continue to be of assistance to us and the Children
as we continue to offer sacrificial services to our Liberian Children.

We again extend our sincere thanks to all of u and it is our fervent prayers that
the Almighty one endowed u wiht wisdom as u continue to render services to humanity.

Hope to hear from u soon.

TEACHERS (list of their names)"
***********
Ugh. I was SO CLEAR that I was not starting MY school, that my responsibilities were to help wtih starting but not supporting. And the organization hasn't fulfilled their responsibility, and now the teachers are guilting me? But I understand why they're asking me - I'm somebody they trust, and I did hire them.

So, I asked Dayton what to do. Glad to have a culturally astute Liberian hunk-o-burnin-love.

Speaking of whom, he has malaria and dental problems. We just talked on the phone and he's hardly been out of bed for days. He did get medication for the malaria and he's recuperating, and he's trying to find "herbs" for the tooth problems. (I can't help but think the dental problems are my fault, that I'm contagious somehow.)

So, second, money. Money is SO TIGHT right now, like I probably can't even go up to Oregon for Christmas, and I want to send him money for dental work and the trip to get the girls and divorce and all that, but it's kind of like do that or pay rent. Sucks.

Second email, not directly about money, came today from the guy I met in the airport in Dubai with "Thankgod":
Hi [my name],compliment of the season.
i'm sorry i've not been able to mail u since we met on dubai transit on ur way to USA. but u're supposed to have mailed and know how i am faring if actually u have me in mind.
honestly,u have been always on my mind but due to time factor i have not been able to communicate u on till now.
so, how are u generally? fine.
right now, i am back in nigeria to pick my football clearance papers from nigeria football governing body (NFA) but i don't think i will go back to kuwait again bcos there weather climate is very hot.
i want to stop till i hear from u.
as soon as i hear from u, i will send christmas/emotional cards to u.
bye n luv u.
from vitalis c.nwachukwu."
****************

How do I know he's Nigerian? First, who the hell knows his real name. Charles (his email address)? Vitalis? Something else? Sketchy.

Second, trying guilt on me.

Third, IM lingo.

Fourth, he sent this to me twice, the first time with an error in location that shows it's a form letter he sent to all the chicks he picked up.

Dammit, Nigerians are probably the only major prejudice I have. Love and appreciate all the other West AFricans but don't trust Nigerians AT ALL.

Now, if I hadn't been in a relationship, I would have done this guy (he had a hotel room in the airport) - he was nice and fun and very hot. Individually, I can like Nigerians just fine, as long as they're adapting to a different way that makes sense to me.

Anyway, crazy crosscultural emails. Gotta wait for Dayton to be better and get his input.