A letter to the stranger in me

Photo Credit- @thatescadagirl

Hello fear,

Time and time again I've allowed you possess me. You've constantly reminded me of the times I've tried and fail.... Oh how I've limited myself and thought I was no good. I can't count the numerous opportunities I've allowed to slip away. My self-esteem has suffered greatly as I've embraced comparison (the killer of joy).

Even though my hopes have been dashed at some point; today I choose to stand unabashed. Whether you like it or not, this little light of mine is going to shine so bright you're going to have to run for cover. Allow me borrow these words from Marianne Williamson ".............And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

As many of you reading this, get ready to tap from the light. No need to fear, PHCN won't harass you.

Tari Fearless

Paddle your canoe while I paddle mine

So after what happened tonight I realized nobody else would be in a better position to tell your story the way it is than your self. I have always being one who seems to treat other people's issues like they were mine.

Talking about been tagged Everybody's Warrior, fighting others battles and getting them out of "not so nice" situations. But like tonight I discover that when tables turn and its my own battle I'm left to fight it all by myself. 

For instance my colleagues and I go to charge our phones in the community and the place we happen to charge our phones is the house of one of our students. While trying to give the youngster our phones he makes a comment in his native dialect ijaw that implies he doesn't want this Aunty that is strict to charge her phone at his house. I did deduce that he had said something about me or perhaps was it my emotions at play?.

Whatever it was I had taken offense at the rudeness of the young boy and the reaction of my colleagues who chuckled when the comment was made.

I took my phones back and made up my mind not to charge my phone there. One of my colleagues came to ask me "Oge won't you charge your phones? And I said "no". Now I ask was it that these people failed to see through that I was upset about WA's that had made me decide I wasn't going to charge my phones. Which they knew was unlike me.

I knew if the reverse was the case, I would have cautioned the young chap not to act that way again and would have implored my colleague as to know what was wrong and convince him/her to charge their phone. Anyway, another lesson has been learnt "paddle your canoe, make I paddle my canoe".

Tonight's experience is a clear case of stop drinking other people's panadol for their headache when they wouldn't even bother to go to the pharmacy to get panadol if it was you.

By Francisca Okwulehie

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Guest Post: Tari's golden fleece

Tgif!!!. It's really breezy today that all I feel like doing is sleep and sleep..... Ehn, I'm not that lazy- I actually spent most of the day on the farm, yes ooo farm. Don't ask me what I was doing there.

Ok ok, onto the matter. Sometime in January while traveling back to my serving point after the Xmas break, I met this beautiful young lady on the bus. We got talking, I mean who doesn't make at least one friend on a long boring trip. She attended my school which made the gist flow really well. She sent me an excerpt from her book some days ago and I enjoyed it, I decided to share it here for your reading pleasure. I hope you have a good read. Lest I forget, one of the character in the book has my name *smiles. Enjoy!!!

"Tari, I learnt your Ma now works with the oil company at Ogbenibi?. Is that true and does that mean someday you would be leaving us in the village for Ogbenibi". 

Tari grinning said "Oh David, it's funny how news flies fast in this village. Well my Ma is working as a cook on one of the big ships there. I don't know which one it is, but she told me it won't be for long."

David had a look on his face that was probing for more information. Then Tari said "about leaving the village, David I don't know but if we should, I would really miss you all, for it has always being my dream to go to the city. You know all that I read in the newspapers and our textbooks, I want to experience them.

David I want to be able to use a toilet that flushes itself". And at that David burst into laughter, so did Tari too. As they laughed Perere came to them. "Why are you two laughing like this?" she asked. David replied "your brother wants to go the city so he can use a toilet that flushes itself".

Perere having found that amusing added "how about a toilet that cleans your buttocks for you and flushes itself". All three laughed hysterically. 

Excerpts from Tari's Golden Fleece by Francisca Okwulehie





















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The beginning of the end

Hi guys, it’s been a while. Well I feel really happy today ‘cos I’m about to complete another phase of my life. I’ve been counting down to the end of service for a while now and it’s just #30 days left. So while waiting to get my clearance letter signed by my staff supervisor, I decided to do a vox pop. The post title seems a bit serious but bear with me. Enjoy!!!

Modupe

Modupe: It's not been easy, as there were times I felt like running away by thank God it's almost over.

David: It's been God, fun and a blessing to me. I've gained some good friends and hope to gain more.

David

Nnamdi: I'm feeling happy and free *hum- at the end of the tunnel, I can see a light shining*. Can’t wait to take off the rag/prison cloth. Someone can’t even travel freely, for what?

Nnamdi

Ifeanyi: It’s been swell, I’ve had an interesting experience with the people I’ve met and the places I’ve visited in and around Bayelsa.

Ifeanyi

David- *hums- I’m on top of the world.*

David

Tivhe: I feel good, it’s an experience I won’t forget in a hurry and won’t want to experience again.

Tivhe

Rebecca: I’m so excited, can’t wait to leave.

Rebecca

Tina: I feel alive

Tina

Me: It's like I'm about to win a lottery. I'm doing everything possible to avoid issues. I mean if I'm asked to swim in a lagoon I'll definitely do it (as if I can swim sef) as long as I get my discharge certificate 2nd of July.

Me

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Tales of a corper shun (4)

Name: Abraham Oluwasegun Adegoke

School Attended: University of Lagos

Course Studied: Mass Communication

State of deployment: Abia State

Initial reaction to posting: Indifferent mostly although I would have preferred somewhere closer to Lagos at the time.

Camping experience: Good enough, generally

a)Happy moments: Working at the Orientation Broadcast Service was the bomb for me. I did loads of writing and editing. It meant I could stay up way past night out time on a few occassions and I kinda enjoyed that. And getting to listen to stuff I had written being read on the parade ground was a thrill. I loved the early morning drills too!

b)Boring/sad moments: Those long, never-ending lectures were downright boring. Sad? None that I can think of.

c)Funny moments: I had loads of that in my dormitory. Picture a scenario where you have about four or five natives of Oyo state with strong accent gisting and sometimes 'yabbing' (a random, unlucky fellow) in Yoruba. And that's on one end of the hall. The other end had guys from the south-south, themselves funny characters, who most times got into it with the Oyo peeps because of the language limitations. The result: downright explosive nights that extended well till midnight sometimes. You just couldn't get to sleep when those guys were in groove, that was frustrating atimes though.

Place of Primary Assignment: It's been an experience indeed. I was posted to a private secondary school. In a way, I was looking forward to the job. Afterall, I had not done any formal academic teaching job until then. But, what I met there was downright depressing. Majority of the students were extremely poor. As poor as an SS 3 student not being able to read properly. And I was given the unfortunate task of teaching Literature-in-English to students like that! Of course, that was just a reflection of the school's standard. Here, students don't fail. Honestly, it took me a couple of weeks to shake off my depression. I've been teaching English and Lit-in-English and I've enjoyed connecting with some of the kids. I've been frustrated too by the depth of ignorance some of them possess. Most of all, I've enjoyed those times I succeeded in helping some of them understand a lesson...what blissful times those were!

CDS group: Editorial/Press group. If I had a choice, I wouldn't have chosen the press group. I had been doing press-related work for over 6 years at the time and I wanted to try something else. But that wasn't to be, I ended up in the Press group. Anyway, I ended up talking too much, quite uncharacteristically, at the meetings. At least I talked enough to have to pull a stunt to avoid being made president of the group. Don't ask me why.

Accommodation (How easy was it to get a place): My employer had that covered. He got somewhere better than I had expected.

Cost of living: Just slightly lower than it is in Lagos.

One year service, is it worth it?: I think so although there were times I wished it were over and done with. I'm sure it's gonna fit into a larger picture.

Final words!!! You would have to wait a couple of decades to get those.

Congrats to 2015 Batch A on their swearing-in ceremony today. Meanwhile the countdown is still on.....#56 days to go.

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Tales of a corper shun (3)

It has not been easy doing this 'cos some of my bigheaded friends have refused to take me serious....*wipes tears. Ees not fair, anyhow sha we'll be fine. Thanks to this 'beta pikin' for agreeing to do this. Enjoy reading!!!

Name: Akintade Katherine Oluwaseun

School Attended: University of Lagos

Course Studied: Accounting

State of deployment: Benue State

Initial reaction to posting: I was first told by a friend that it was Borno, which made me sad and happy. Sad 'cos I had to go to the North for camp and happy 'cos that was automatic redeployment for me. When I later found out that it was Benue, I was indifferent 'cos I wanted God's will.

Camping experience: Camp was just there. I made friends.

Place of Primary Assignment (Experience there):   I was posted to teach in an almost non-existing school which made NYSC boring to me because there were just few teachers and students. I later got a new PPA which made me realize teaching can be fun tho stressful cos you have the opportunity to impact lives.

CDS group: Entrepreneurship Development CDS group.

Accommodation (How easy was it to get a place): Getting accommodation wasn't a big deal because one can get the cheapest houses in the community I was posted to. Just #1000 per month.

Cost of living: Benue State na, #FoodBasketoftheNation. Food stuffs aren't so expensive, tho some other things can be so expensive.

One year service, is it worth it?: I really don't know if it's worth it but I expected much than I've received.

Final words!!! It's been God all the way

So I'm counting down to end of service. #61daystogo

P.S: If you'll like to be featured, holla at me via email. Merci beaucoup

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Tales of a corper shun (1)

Hi guys, as promised in my last post I'll be having a couple of my friends share their NYSC experience. This is the first in the series. Enjoy reading!!!

Name: Scott, Mary Adeola

School Attended: University of Lagos

Course Studied: Mass Communication

State of deployment: Oyo State

Initial reaction to posting: Pure Joy!!! That I FINALLY get to leave Lagos! Dad was tough though; said I would go nowhere if it's not Lagos. He finally agreed sha.

Camping experience:

a)Happy moments- Chai! They were few o! I couldn't wait to leave the place; I was passionately involved in the countdown thingy. The few happy moments I had were when I was in the hostel with my bunkie, when I got hot water from Mammy to make tea and when I got my posting (I'd been DREADING a school posting).

b)Boring/sad moments- Boring moments were definitely when I was still being forced to march and those early morning drills. Lectures would have been on this list but I made sure I went with ENOUGH novels.

c) Funny moments- Hmm... Did I have funny moments in that place? Maybe watching the social night performances ... And of course the dramas in our hostel. It was also funny to see peeps engaging in one activity after another just for posting. I had a friend who was marching, very active in fellowship, playing volleyball, dancing and was in the band! Some ladies went as far as sleeping with soldiers...

Place of Primary Assignment (Experience there)- I love being in my PPA. I was posted to the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State and I work there as a Reporter. I go out a lot courtesy of the job; I've even travelled out of Ibadan a few times. I also get to meet dignitaries and that's cool. More than all those though, I enjoy the opportunity to practice my profession. It's really fun!

CDS group: Editorial. We work on the production of our newsletter, Periscope and the magazine called OyoKopa. Again, I get to practice my profession.

Accommodation (How easy was it to get a place)- Getting a place didn't take normal procedure for me. A friend of mine who was also posted to Ibadan got a room through family connections. The place is close to our respective PPA's so we share the room.

Cost of living: Cost of living in IB is definitely lower than Lagos where I come from. In fact, I fell in love with the place. It's also less stressful unlike Lagos.

One year service, is it worth it?: Wow! For me, it is! I really needed to be away from the comfort and reliability of home. I got to make some decisions that gave me a glimpse of what RESPONSIBILITY meant; I saw things in a new light. Here I wasn't really plagued by the Daddy's Girl syndrome... it's really worth it

Final words!!!

No final words abeg *winks* I'm out!

Kindly visit her blog HERE. Thank you for your time.