Nigeria
I was sent to Nigeria to carry out fault finding on equipment that takes water straight out the ground and makes it safe to drink and then distributes it to the rooms in a very posh hotel.

It was not a straightforward arrangement:

The hotel hired a UK company run by Nigerians who themselves were UK residents, who's only service was that of a middle man, sourcing UK contractors to carry out work for Nigerian customers.

I had a single meeting with said middle man. The plan was to fly out on my own and meet him at the airport in Lagos, and he would escort me to the job.

So I gets on my plane at Heathrow and then 5 hours later i'm in Lagos airport.

Baggage found and customs checks done I found myself in the departure lounge. On my own. I went outside... F U C K

As a 22 yr old(at the time) I had never been abroad alone and had NEVER been to another country on business and had only seen tourist-y sights.

Stood at the door was a man with a rifle. I assume that the military provide security for the airports. I stayed close to him. I have no shame admitting I was scared shitless.

Locals were coming up to me:

local1: 'Do you need a taxi?'

Me: 'No thankyou, my friend is coming'

Local2: do you need to use my phone?'

Me: 'No thankyou, my friend is coming'

Local3: 'Do you need any money changing?'

Me: 'No thankyou, my friend is coming'

I was ready to resort to my all-purpose backup plan; start crying, ring my mum and get the first flight back to the UK.

After 30 minutes he did arrive and the rest went OK.

Oh and I saw my first dead body. Apparently in Nigeria if you run somebody over and they survive you can go to prison. If they are dead then you get no further bother.
(Frample Tromwibbler climbs an obstacle like old people fuck, Thu 18 Apr 2013, 21:00, 2 replies)

I'm confused
you went outside, you saw something that scared you shitless - but not the man with the gun, as you stayed close to him.

What scared you?
( ferret -> twitter.com/syfyautocorrect <-, Fri 19 Apr 2013, 1:06, closed)

Racist

(Nanny Pat vote for me, Fri 19 Apr 2013, 12:00, closed)