A Smith

Big Oil in a Small Country A Smith

Adrian Simmons, freelance English language teacher, is on assignment to The Ministry of Oil in the bizarre tropical setting of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, the nearest thing to the Wild West. He teaches employees of the Ministry who need to learn English to communicate with the increasing number of foreign oil companies (Big Oil) setting up operations there. His bosses are fiery-tempered Bruce Bishop and local Guinean, Manuel, the debonair Director of the Ministry of Oil. Adrian works alongside fellow Scottish teacher Jody, whose movie-star looks captivate every hot-blooded local or expatriate male. Living and working in the nearest thing to the Wild West has its trials and tribulations and Adrian soon learns from experience to "go with the flow" and "expect the unexpected", common advice for any newcomer to the place. But even that philosophy is little preparation for some of the shocking, surprising and bewildering scenes and experiences he witnesses and lives through. What's the secret of the red-curtain bar? How can the mayor of such a small place manage to send his two sons to an exclusive private boarding school in the UK? What happens when an employee is arrested in the middle of an English class? Who spies on who? How is wildlife transported? Who drives a black Lamborghini on just 50 kms of tarmac roads? How does a leader of the opposition party go about seizing power? What happens when Adrian finds himself staring at the glaring eyes of a soldier from the wrong end of the barrel of the man's loaded AK 47? The answers to these and many other questions can be found within...