Ruth Nworie.
Welcome to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria — where rainfall is the order of the day.
My name is Ruth. I’m a corps member posted to TNN Newspaper for my one year national service and I can tell you that there is more to being a corper than just wearing khaki. The constant rainfall in Port Harcourt is something no one has control over.
Every day, I wake up with a lot of thoughts, mainly about how to beat the rain, just to get to my Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) and fulfill my NYSC duties.
The rain that started last night continued till this morning. It was a heavy downpour. I stood by the window, thinking of how I would move from my house to the bus stop to get a vehicle going to New Road by Airforce in Port Harcourt.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have an umbrella. My room mate didn’t have one either. I thought of asking someone, but there was no one around to help. At that point, I was already frustrated. I considered skipping work for the day, but then I remembered the consequences of not showing up at my PPA. I had no choice but to brave the rain and walk to the bus stop.
By the time I got there, I was already drenched, but I reminded myself that I must do my duty as a citizen and a patriotic Nigerian.
The vehicle finally moved, but the roads were nothing to write home about. Flooded, dirty, and in some areas, the smell was unpleasant. But who am I to question nature?
Rainfall in Port Harcourt affects everyday activities. It comes with discomfort, delays in transportation and the cold. Oh! I nearly forgot to mention the mosquitoes that bite at night — a result of the stagnant water left behind after each day’s rain.
As someone new to this city, everything appears strange. But I believe with time, I’ll adapt to the weather changes.
But even with the rain, Port Harcourt is a beautiful place. However, whether it’s light rain, moderate rain, or heavy downpour, the experience can be very discomforting most times.
I almost forgot to tell you how I nearly fell into a flooded area while riding in a tricycle (keke) on my way to work. The rain makes everywhere cool and quiet, but as we all know, whatever has an advantage also has a disadvantage.
