1.9.05
Here in Nigeria, it is early morning and I am getting ready for work. Stacey is Bus Mom today and rides the bus to school and is already on her way. I am watching CNN International, which we do morning, noon, and night here these days. It is typically anchored by an American woman and a British man. The Weather casters are from all over the world, but my favorite is a British woman named Jenny. She typically cracks jokes, but has not been this week.As Katrina made landfall, CNN International switched over to live coverage from the US-based CNN. After the hurricane passed, CNN International returned and the Katrina Hurricane story kind of faded a bit until the flooding started on Monday. CNNi is reporting the story alongside the one-year anniversary of the Beslan school hostage taking, the Baghdad bridge stampede, and a typhoon which is about to hit Taiwan. It is not full-time coverage by any means. The price of Gasoline in the US is a relatively minor story - I guess since gas is already expensive in Europe and there is not much sympathy for the US. Whenever Katrina comes on we call the kids to come watch.
Nigerians are amazed with what has happened and are, of course, sympathetic. Stacey has a great email from someone who works for her that I'll post when I get to the office. Comments I heard were mostly why did anyone stay in the city when they were warned ahead of time?
NOLA seems far away and it is hard to get a real grasp on what the extent of damage is from what's on CNN. I tend to look at it with a bit of skepticism since they are showing only the worst areas and only the worst people and worst actions. I guess I'll have to take what I can get for now.