One rule for you, one rule for me.

Last Tuesday, our day off after the weekend at work, we were at the house trying to sort out hospital statistics and I popped over to the hospital to speak to Dia our head midwife. ‘Oh’ said Sarah another midwife and laughed ‘She’s gone to see about adopting a baby!!’ Well it was the first I’d heard but yes it was true 2 babies were available for adoption at the main maternity hospital and as Dia had shown some interest before her friend had rung her to ask if she still wanted one .

Two days later and Dia has a baby girl, to the delight of her son Richard who’s 12, she’s called her Divine. Her husband chose the one who wasn’t as light skinned he didn’t want a white baby! I’m sure Dia will make a great mother and Richard a doting brother as he was big softy with the kitten they have. My initial concern was also how this would work as Dia is at work all week and we weren’t aware she was about to have a baby! Fortunately this is not a problem and she’s found someone to look after the baby while she’s at work-according to her she’s much better than Dia herself. It all feels rather strange to me I’m used to hearing about all the difficulties associated with adopting in the UK .The idea that then you would hand the baby over to someone else to look after all day and are able to simply say  we don’t want the whiter baby just doesn’t sound normal!

Many apparently strange things happen here and they still take us by surprise even after 5 years. Last Saturday was Sarahs wedding, we didn’t make it as the hospital was rather busy .She already has 2 children and had her engagement party last year after the second was born. It’s considered best here, in certain ethnic groups, to be sure things are working out before you get married! Ahmat who works in Admin has a ‘wife and a baby’ and is just trying to get money together to pay the bride price. It’s all rather back to front.

Yesterday we went for a swim it’s hot and sticky and Rebecca started her half term so a good excuse -the notice near the childrens pool said    ‘’Unsupervised area, all children to be under their parents supervision,’’ a good idea it seemed. As we looked over sitting on the bench next to the sign were a policeman and soldier with a Kalashnikov employed for increased security and surveillance at the pool who needs parents! Hard to imagine at the Lido in Plymouth. ( the picture is a few months old and shows just the blue sign without the new attendants).

All this is just every-day in Chad where sheep ride on motorbikes as the easiest way to get your celebration dinner home and everyone wears the same dress to the party in fact you feel left out if you’re wearing something different.  Life here is played by a different set of rules