Decades: Chunks of Time

18 – 10 – 2007 21 – 4 = 17 more days to go. Tired. Woke up tired. It drizzled on us in the parade ground yesterday. So so tired. Hippy helped me to get water – she should be the time keeper anytime its needed. The group has expanded – it now comprises of Ben, Kanny, Lola, Hippy, Alcatraz (he calls himself that, seriously!), and me. We were given an HIV/AIDS lecture after meditation and prayer today. My platoon will be conducting the meditation on Tuesday next week. We did more drills today. I think my feet are bloodless right now. I called Big Mum’s cousin here in Ede – I think I might grab the opportunity to go out on Saturday if I can.the platoons that com last in the drill competition (the last three) will come back to the field to drill again on Saturday. God knows I need to rest instead. They gave us our first “alawi” today (Corper allowance) = just one thousand five hundred naira (N1500) but the queue was exceedingly long. Uncle Wasiu (my ex – neighbor) came to my rescue

17 – 10 – 2007 21 – 3 = 18 more days to go. This is Hell camp. If you ever watched ‘Major Pain’, you’ll understand a part of what we are being put through here. We were out by four again this morning, only that there was zero activity until almost 6 a.m. – imagine that! Back to the field to march (is it march or match?) some more then pick up the surroundings. We were sent to our halls at about 9 a.m. to eat and get dressed. By 10 we were chased to the field to await the Governor’s arrival, the Governor that had not even had his bath by then. Finally the Deputy Governor showed. By noon we were through with the swearing in. The NYSC anthem has funny lyrics – let me give you some: Youth obey the clarion call (clarion?) Let us lift our nation high Under the sun or in the rain With dedication and selflessness Nigeria ’s ours Nigeria we serve. Now that is just the first stanza. The other three are worse, not worth mentioning at all. It seemed nice at first, and has a

16 – 10 – 2007 We were woken up by 4 a.m. and told to file out. Did I tell you I made a new friend? Actually I made many, but I stuck with a fellow Lagos Corper – Lola. She is also a Unilag graduate. I introduced her to Benny and Kanny, and eventually Tommy. After the morning prayer, we were taken on a drill. Its been long since I matched for AYM (Adventist Youth Ministry) and that was even voluntary. This is stress! We spent about four hours matching up and down, and learning how to come to attention – by number. I hate that procedure: the Drill Instructor shouts, “Attention by number!” and you raise your left leg, shouting, “One!”. When he shouts “Two!”, you reply “Two” and hit your foot hard on the ground. Aaaaarrrrggghhh! After the drill, it was time for breakfast and I was on the queue faithfully, only to discover that we were being served “Rock Buns” (that is what I could call the Akara (bean cakes) that we were given), and water – akamu (it was actually yellow lumpy pap). I

15 – 10 – 2007 Early rising. Benny and Kanny (two of my classmates were posted to the same camp but they didn't know how to get there, so I suggested they go with me. They are two dorks actually). The driver that Mum contracted to take us to camp also arrived early. By 6.45 a.m. we were on our way. Mum loaded us with disposable platefuls of rice and dodo and chicken (can you beat that?). The boys fell in love with her instantly. She also gave them garri. By a few minutes pas t 9 a.m. we had arrived. We passed through Ogun, Oyo and Osun states to get to Ede . Its ironic how I did my university education in Lagos and I'm now being posted to Lagos , then I'm from Osun state and I'm doing my Orientation in Osun state. Anyway, we got on our way and then the rigorous began at the camp gate. When we Lagos Corpers were seperated at the first part, I thought it was good, only to discover that they wanted to "show" us. By "they" I mean the soldiers here

14-10-2007 Well, tomorrow is the D - Day. I’m going to NYSC camp tomorrow. I still can’t believe it. And the one I can’t believe is Tit’s case. She’s not going for the third time she’s not going. Actually it’s the sixth time, you know, twice a year. And through no fault of her own. Her department in her school has been withdrawing the list of results that contains her name for three years in a row. Why, we don’t know. This time, her call – up letter is right there in the Student Affairs Office, and all the other twenty – nine students’. They can see it, but unless the department sends a copy of their results to the Students Affairs Office, they cannot be given their call – up letters. It’s a sad situation because its so obvious that its purely an act of wickedness. The problem is that the other twenty – nine are all suffering along with whoever the bastard lecturer(s) [ forgive my French here, but the word is the most appropriate I can find right now] want to punish. Now what st

Hi! I actually thought I notified the authorities here that I was going to Orientation camp, but reading through now I see that I didn't. I wonder what my punishment will be. I did as promised. I wrote everything that happened to me and several others at camp. And I am prepared to pour it all out. It was a bit awkward at first, having to write instead of type . I have some 13 pages to type for y'all, so be patient. I got back on Monday, and it was a relief that I was finally home. I could not breathe properly due to severe catarrh, I was coughing from deep within my chest, my headache was now a normal occurrence, the gums on the right hand side of my jaw were swollen, and my body was extremely weak, but I was home. I was in my father's house, finally. Today's Wednesday, and I am finally able to chew, but I thank God. I'll be back.........Soon.

It was the 23rd of September, and it was my birthday. I was happy, and at the same time I felt somehow - I felt old (yeah, rub it in Kafo !). I felt like I had passed a threshold and I could not go back. Hmm..let me try and talk like Kafo: On the 23rd of September .....It was the 23rd year......of my existence, on earth. On the 23rd of September.....I felt aged.......I felt old.....Not older, just OLD. On the 23rd of September.....I felt like I had crossed into.......another threshold. I felt like I had been walking through a tunnel.....like I had been searching for something.......a path, a key, a stronghold. To keep me safe.....a destination, a sense of belonging, a haven of love.......a feeling of fulfillment, the safety of a commitment. On the 23rd of September.....I searched myself, within my soul.......trying to find out if I had achieved my goals. I scanned my memory, my heart.....to ascertain the fact that I was close.......to be sure I had reached the end an

Well, I got called for another interview today. This one caught me unawares. One minute I was dozing in my room, the next I was wondering if I had dreamed the phone call. I even sent a text, explaining that I was not ready for such an impromptu interview, only to be told that it didn't matter if I was informally dressed or that I would appear late. I was to just come 'as I am'. I went. And for a few minutes, was almost regretting it. The interrogator com begin dey ask me textbook questions. I no even believe am. I graduated last year - over a year now, for Heaven's sakes. How I go dey remember everything dem teach me, when I cram to pass the finals in the first place? I just dey laugh. The man was surprised that I was not squirming, Then he began to check out my CV. and eventually was so surprised at what I had done that he began to ask how far away I lived from their office and other stuff. Then I mentioned NYSC. Yesterday's interviewer's reaction was small com

Well, I got a buzz on my gmail by a classmate of mine that there was a vacancy I could fill. He wanted to know if I was interested. So I spread the word among all the other classmates we had, in case anyone else fitted the bill (the guy said there was a vacancy for 5 people). On Thursday I edited my CV, suited up, and went to Ikoyi for the interview. It turned out to be more fun than I thought. I ended up chatting with my interrogator, instead of being in the hot seat. It was fun. The rain held me back and we talked for like 2 hours. It seems I always end up having informal interviews every time. The man was so into my credentials and was assuring me that I should be expecting him, until I told him that I had not served. NYSC, I do not like the way the man's countenance changed at the mention of your name. He was not happy at all, but said he would talk to the employer, and get back to me if it was favourable. I just nodded my head. What was I to do? I wonder who ever made NYSC com

Can you believe it? Vicky found my blog! I did a publicity stunt for my blog some time back, because I wanted my friends to assess the template I had chosen. Turns out I also sent him the mail. Now I don't know what to do. Should I stay honest? And really express myself? Or should I just smile and continue? Hmmmm....Food for thought.

In a bid to cheer myself up, I sat in front of the TV for the first time since I got home last week. Now its not that I am allergic to watching TV, its just that I do not go out of my way to sit in front of it, when I have my darling Ruben (my Gateway laptop) ALL the time. But I had just lost a friend, and it was Friday night, I had to do something different. Even as I speak, my Mum is scolding me for it. I put on the TV, and switched it to Nigerian TV for a change. Life is funny, the presenter of Sound City's MTN Top Ten is actually an old friend of mine, Deji Falope , who shot to fame despite the open disdain he was receiving from everyone for his woven hair, and his chosen hobby (modelling and TV presenting) - except me of course. I guess its why he still goes out of his way to greet me anytime he sees me. Anyway, back to MTN Top Ten, I actually fell for some of the songs on the chart. Generally I must say that our video quality has really improved in Naija, and I think the expo

When I think about how today started off - with the mosquito concert overnight, I wonder how things might have been different if I had known. One of my friends killed himself on Thursday. If you lived in Naija a bit, you would know the University of Lagos. And if you know the University of Lagos well, you would know all about the terrible hard-hearted, greedy 'Mr. Lecturer's that the school is mainly composed of. Well, if you know the faculty of Science very very well like I do, you would know that the departments of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science have Hell as better options to them if you had to choose. And you would also know that the reason Computer Science is separated from other departments is because its the worst of them all. Now some people just go through the system and do not feel it. By this I mean that they never waited a whole year to get their matriculation numbers, they never had missing results, they were never spotted by lecturers and manipulated f

God save us from the inaptness in our system o! Imagine spending almost an hour in traffic, on your way home from work, praying that you Meet electricity at home. Imagine getting to your street and smiling, if tiredly, when you see the security lights of all your neighbors on, indicating that your prayers have been answered only to get to your own house and meet darkness. Your connection to the electric pole has been cut off (sorry for all the foneh, abeg. Na NEPA come our area o! Won wa jana!). Apparently they assumed that we were owing. But we had complaind about the N10, 000 bill they brought to us. Considering that we were the only occupants in our compound, it is a stupendous amount! Even occupants of Face-me-I-Face-you do't pay that much. Well, the NEPA official refused to see the bill we pasted at the gate (for occassions like this o, imagine!), and they cut off our supply. Needless to say that I couldn't sleep well all through the night, because of the noise of the gene