Just a thought (3)

 “God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you?” — William A. Ward
Hello Dear,

How was your day?

Just thought about this… ‘Praise God for now and your pasts and keep trusting in Him for your future…’

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Yesterday, my little sister and her friends graduated from the University, I am super excited for them but then, I think about their future. Most of my class mates from school haven’t even found a job yet. Yearly, more than 100,000 students graduate from school and join the hustle and bustle of the ‘Labour’ market like they call it. Most graduates are Taxi drivers, bus conductors and even truck drivers, basically taking on anything to avoid staying at home.

Have you been to an interview recently?

They told me ‘Oh you don’t have the relevant experience’ and I wonder ‘where am I going to find the ‘so called experience if you don’t give me a chance to work?’. It’s crazy …But after all the disappointments I met, I learnt to be happy and content (crying was not solving anything anyway) and was grateful to God when I got my amazing Job and I’m loving being a Working girl…Many other graduates become their own employer, which is super great (Eventually I would like to take on that challenge)…

The point is, Life would throw certain challenges at us. It’s like we are happy now and sad later. But no matter what happens, be grateful and thankful for your NOW (Honestly, someone somewhere wish they were in your shoes), be grateful for your past too, tomorrow will sort itself out…Trust God for your future. 

Rather than worry over tomorrow, leave your anxieties with Him.

My beautiful cousin dedicated this amazing song to my sister…

Relient K- Up and Up

Was out and about Lag today and took this really cute picture…

It’s nice right?

I started thinking about who sculpted it and how they were able to mount it on the building (I’m no architect, so can’t figure it out) and all that...I also started praising God for making us, humans, really smart and unique…Wow!!! You????

Have an amazing week...Hugssss...

Thanks so much for reading J

Ije Oma (Safe Journey)

Hello,

After 4 days of ‘eastern’ trotting the eastern part of Nigeria, it’s good to be back home and back to my computer, doing what I love doing, ‘blogging’. My trip was super successful (Grateful to God that I got what I wanted) and thank you so much for your kind words on face book and twitter.

Though the trip was short, I think I grew up in some ways. Please travel with me as I take you on what my sister calls ‘Round the east in 4 days’.

Dearest Owerri,

Even though 5 years with you was filled with school and books, coming back to you after 2 years (or is it 3?), all grown and matured, was really a home coming. I loved arguing with Amarachi’s husband, I loved going through the bush and hugging little cousins at home, I loved the healing I got from forgiveness (wish there was time to visit dad's plantation) and most importantly, I loved hearing grandma say ‘Nwa mo, bia bie mo ma’ (My child, come and hug me)...It felt good hugging and kissing her. It felt good eating Ofe Nsala with her and cleaning her home. I loved praying with her and I felt at peace as I went to Obinze knowing Mama Kuku told me ‘Ije Oma’ (safe journey!!!).

Falling in love with you, Owerri and promise to be back soon, perhaps for Ezinne’s traditional marriage.

Dearest Portharcourt,

I will never forget my first welcome greeting, ‘Ah, fine girl, I like your hair ooo, se e no be Brazilian, be careful ooo, so dey no go kidnap you’...

Ah!!! Thank you so much for not kidnapping me (No money sef). 

Thank you for the wonderful weather (Lagos is so hot. Please share some of your rain.). I had fun going round Woji, and Artillery and Nkpolu and Tank Road and Choba.  Will I love to live in Ph? (Uhmmm!!!). 

But I loved the town and would visit soon. I love the warm welcome at ‘Chi’s’ home. Super grateful for my amazing friends, jenny, my lil muna and Chi . 

Me and the best friends in the world

Our lil homework chair.

Dearest Benin-Ore Road

You were my major headache and fear when I was travelling. I wondered about the popular Benin Bypass and Okada road that is known for housing high way robbers, I hated the trucks, which in my opinion shouldn't be travelling during the day time (100 at a time). I hated the ‘standstill’ on Ore road and had a new found love for the policemen and soldiers risking their lives on the road. I loved the beautiful scenery, tall trees and rocks, filled with cool air and never ending water (ok, some were murky).

I loved the Banana too but still think about what one hawker said when we complained about the traffic we were on (for one hour), she said ‘Ah!! If they fix the road, how are we supposed to eat? don’t you know we make money from the traffic?’ (And they do. Warm water was sold for 50 naira and cold water for 100 naira. Man must survive).

Dear Onitsha Bridge,

You are no ‘london bridge’ but I loved the architecture and funny advert of Nigerian films on you. Been reading a lot about the Biafra and wondered what role you played during the civil war? I heard you were blocked by Nigerian soldiers to prevent food supplies to Biafra. I don’t know. But I’m interested in knowing your history my new favourite bridge.

I wonder how often you are maintained and marvel at your strength to hold a 100 cars climbing your back every day and every night. I also loved looking at the River Niger.

To my amazing Seat mates

I had an amazing time with you. You kept talking to me even though my eyes were on the bushes we passed, praying and hoping, big guys with guns don’t disrupt our trip or our bus don’t break down. We argued, laughed together and screamed when the driver was on 160km/hr (really scary). Learnt a lot about the east from you than what I've learned from books. Learnt about truck drivers and their joy of being on the road for 2 or 3 days. The toilet at Umenede stop over was bad like you said (Yuck!!!). Learnt that sensitive and loving people still exists in the world. Thank you for teaching me how to calculate my trip and showing me the major landmarks we have.

Dear Life

Everyday is a gift and I’m grateful that I’m still part of this thing called ‘Life’. The various accidents on the road taught me the importance of being safe when driving (Trucks and cars in ditches and bushes. Some people, never to be found again). Looking at granny’s grey hair taught me that ‘old age is really a blessing’. I want to be old too and cherish my grand children. I cultivated some great friendships on my trip, learnt about history and places (passed through Bayelsa and Warri and Benin), saw some old huts in the open and people living happily there. I don’t know if I could manage there but it made me appreciate my home. 

The roadblocks in Warri made me wonder if there was an invisible war there and I thought Effurun looked beautiful from behind. 

Thank you so much for the education. Thank you so much for letting me see the school in Bayelsa that was turned to a relief camp. Would never forget the faces of those trooping in and out of the camp even if it was for a few minutes. It makes me want to do more in life.

Warri and their roadblock!!!!

Benin!!!!

Bayelsa.

And thank you for making me meet Miss Americana, the ‘funny lady’ who did not allow our driver pick a random stranger on the road. Uhmm, even though the driver eventually did and the man brought in some ‘Shit’ with him (apparently, he stepped on something awful) and we spent another 20 minutes cleaning up the car, Americana kept on saying 'I told you so' and that we had allowed the devil's agent in the bus. Can you imagine? I loved Americana’s outspokenness and wittiness (she made us laugh a lot) but I learnt about sensitivity and keeping your tongue in check. Yup. Think before you speak.

When I got to Lag, I laughed at the Irony of how beautifully carved Lagos is on the outskirt but on the inside ‘I saw this mountain heap of dirt that decorated Ojota bus park. Shaking my head.

Image source: Mountain heap of dirt :(

I’m happy to be back home in lagos and back to reality. Grateful for ‘Ije Oma’.

fire-y lagos. #Shalom :)

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. 

Robert Louis Stevenson

I think more need to be done in terms of our road transport (Not many people can afford an air ticket, you know?). We need more law enforcement personnel's as well as better roads.

What's up?

Thanks a billion for reading. Grateful for ‘Ije Oma’ (Safe Journey) and wishing you same as we go through the journey of life. :)

IN AN UNCUT WORLD: A Picture Story

One of my favourite cities in the world is Calgary.  I love it not because my best friend lives there (and I get to disturb him a lot any time I visit), but because it is Clean. I was looking at an awesome website, where they listed out a  list of the world cleanest cities. Places like Adelaide (Australia), Honolulu (Hawaii), Kobe (Japan), Wellington (New Zealand), Minneapolis (USA), Freiburg (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), etc made the top ten list and looked like something created from the mind of a ‘Pablo Picasso-like’ personality.

These cities are clean. They are beautiful. The whole environment has this surreal feeling but the truth is, whether we chose to believe it or not, they are as real as they come (My best friend can testify to that)...

I’m a freak for a clean environment. Living in a dirty environment is a total nightmare. And if given the opportunity, I would change the whole world and paint a picture of green grass and happy beings all over the world. I would also take on the job of a full time environmental police, try to be a female 'Al Gore'. Who wouldn't?? 

However, I wonder if the cities mentioned above have slum-like places; the places hidden behind the facade of green grass and world class architectural facilities. The places also called the ‘Ghetto’ where the struggle for survival is norm for everyone. The places where ‘social’ child abuse is important and children fend for their families. The down town place where sand, rock, and dirt pave the road, and seem forgotten by the government. The place where the ‘happiest people’ live in a blissful abandonment not bothered by the state of their environment. The backyard. 

I wonder if these places have been edited so that they can look perfect and welcoming to an average tourists...I wonder what their 'Uncut state' is like...

Yesterday, I sat in the bus with a man talking to himself. I was scared and distracted myself by looking at some pictures I took of the ‘Backyard environment’ I’m talking about (Out and about in Lasgidi)...

I wish something can be done about our environment...

Presenting my 'uncut world' Collection...

Another beautiful day in Lag

Stucked in traffic, taking pictures and trying to figure out how the road side sellers do what they do? Do they make money from what they do? Do they save? Do they ever get off the streets? You can buy anything you want in Lagos especially when our traffic 'tie wrapper'...~Sighs~ Even little kids join in the hustle, selling on the highway, traffic or no traffic, at their own risk, fending for their life :(

Struggle to the front of the road. Sighs

Told you. You can buy anything you want :(

Whew, traffic clears and its a race and struggle with the Okada riders...It's not the safest mean of transport but they ride like they own the road....In a Lagos traffic though, they are your sure bet to getting home early...

Standing at the busstop, and grateful that the crowd had thinned ...

My favourite means of transport, The BRT, they have their own lane and all but nowadays, it's like the regular 'Molue' bus (My Opinion)...People are packed like Sardins in the bus and for some, the mini stair and doors are bad...

The downside of life...Pegs as hair clips :(   

Movies and wires :(

A beautiful working mom who is doing all she can for her kids. Sometimes, I wonder if she wanted more for her life....The struggling guy who came to town for a better life, I wonder if he's found peace yet...
I'm grateful they allowed me take their pictures..The guy behind even posed for me....

'Rocks, papers, dirts, pave my street', He said 

'We even had to use a rock to hold an electrical pole from falling', He continued

A typical road side shop...Man must survive...

One of the few 'good' houses in down town lagos...

Yeah, I know, my ‘Utopia’ mind is at it again, wishing the world a blissful perfection.

Sometimes, when I take sad pictures like these, a lot of questions bug me; I wonder what went wrong in their lives. Is it fate that they end up like this? I heard someone say that the demarcation between the rich and poor is here to stay. Nothing can be done.  I don't agree with that statement, still, I wish it weren't so...

Is a cleaner environment, affordable 'good' housing and better standard of living too much to ask for?

Just ranting...

Share your thoughts on these please.....

Thanks for reading...Hugs!!!!