Paper VS Screen

Do you prefer to watch a movie or surf the internet instead of reading?

I asked a few people this question and most of the people I asked prefer a screen to paper.

There was a lengthy discussion on this topic which I happened to listen to.

The virtual (online) world has such a strong presence and most people have willingly embraced it. Some people tend to be more active in the virtual space especially social media than they are in reality. Their social lives and things happen for them in the virtual space. On the other hand, in reality, some of these people will not participate physically in social activities.

During events, take a look around, when people get bored; phones are easy alternatives to get rid of the boredom.

What a morning!

I have had a rather eventful morning so far... 

My hair needs some fixing; I called a salon yesterday to book an appointment for this morning. I was sure to ask if they do African hair and all the necessary details and I got an appointment for 9am today. I got myself ready early and left, the place was extremely difficult to find, no one seemed to know the street. I found it eventually, and when I got in and told the lady there that I had an appointment for this morning, she said I was given an appointment for a consultation not for my hair to be made because their normal practice is to have a consultation then determine what needs to be done before they give an appointment for the actual hair do. Huh? I was irritated, I just wanted to get out but she was keen on giving me a lecture about my own hair and how the things needed for my hair are different and bla bla bla. I politely thanked her and left. 

There were a few hair salons on my way, I suddenly seemed to be looking for only hair salons and I got off the bus somewhere and walked into another salon. The lady there stared at my hair like ‘what do I have in front of me’ but I chose to ask the obvious, do you make African hair? And she said she had never had to but she still went ahead to ask what I wanted to do. I told her I wanted to fix extensions and she said she may know how to do it. At this point, I didn’t feel like letting anyone use my hair for a learning session so I declined and all I wanted to do was to get the hair straightened out. To my surprise, she says the way we flatten hair normally will have to be done differently for you and she was going on...I had stopped listening. When she finished, as usual, I thanked her and left.

I was ready to go back to the hotel to catch up with my class mates, hoping to meet them up before they left for the free cruise around the harbour because we got a free cruise from one of the tour trips we went on.

As I got onto the bus and it started to move, I saw another salon that had extensions and I was thinking to myself, this has got to be it so I got off at the next stop and walked back there. 

The lady in there was wonderfully pleasant, as the French would say, ‘elle avait une très bonne mine’ but unfortunately she couldn’t help me so back on the bus I got. The bus pulled over at my stop and I got off. Right in front of me, there was a salon and I walked in but the look the lady in there had said it all and without a word, I walked right out. Four hair salons in a day and no hope? You’ve got to be kidding me! I’ll get it done in London tomorrow. That was my consolation.

I got to the hotel finally hoping for something positive, I called all my class mates rooms but didn’t get anyone. I had missed them. Now, I am feeling so frustrated. The weather today is beautiful, it’s 13 degrees, the sun is shining so bright and it doesn’t look like it will rain (but who knows). The weather today is pleasant for the first time since we got here but here I am! The only good thing is: I'll get to finish up all my assignments. I’ll wait to see if they come back soon, if they don’t, I’ll have to venture out later on my own...again.

Were I ever to spend a long period of  time in Malta, I’ll have a major challenge with my hair and what other thing???

Am I doing the right course?

I decided to do another Masters progamme which has brought me all the way to Malta. I have got mixed reactions from this statement like...aren't you tired of school? How much knowledge do you want to acquire? I know, I know but what can I say? No knowledge is useless, besides I love this course I am doing which by the way is; Contemporary Diplomacy.

This is a truly beautiful place, I love the view from my room. So far, I have not been able to see the city because we have classes from 9 A.M to 9 P.M, it has been an interesting marathon. The time has flown so fast, we have one more day to go. The courses so far have been great, engaging. I wake up these days looking forward to having classes, a sign that I made the right choice.

Them!

The best man there is, able to achieve so much yet so human. Before him, I feel like I know nothing, but the beauty of it is that I can express myself just the way it comes. He is able to fill in the gaps where necessary and he helps in every way to refine my thinking. Blessed with intelligence, I never regret a moment talking to him.

Completely benevolent, his palms remain wide open for all to freely benefit from. He has nothing to hold back, I have learnt from his actions that by giving you get a thousand fold more.

A perfect gentleman who can make you feel as good as you choose to feel.

He is a man of integrity...he will not compromise his standards; he works with beautiful professionalism, a true fountain of knowledge...

The greatest woman alive: brave, fearless, full of courage and ready to take on the world, nothing can stop her once she sets her mind to achieve something. I have learnt that I can be and achieve anything I want as far as I set my mind to it. 

I share my goals, all I want to do and be with her, and she encourages me on and asks me not to hold back nor give up.

She has a heart so large and is always willing to go out of her way to put a smile on a face. A person you can count on at any time, that’s who she is.

Strength, grace, beauty, elegance and all that makes up a virtuous woman is what she is made up of.

Together, they have watched me grow in every way, from the very first breath till now and are still watching. 

They have and continue to provide all within their power, they have made my life worth living.

The freedom to share and correct despite the age difference is never an issue. They taught me to value myself and stand up for what I believe in. I am who I am today because they are.

So many times we let life pass and do not appreciate the people who are most dear to us. Our loved ones mostly, are the recipients of our best and worst emotions. 

I have been nasty, rude and done things that hurt them so much sometimes but their love for me is unconditional. I have every reason to be grateful to them and I count them as the greatest blessing I have in this world. I am taking out this moment to say I have the BEST PARENTS, they are everything anyone would wish for in parents and I love them to death.

Dear God, thank you for these wonderful people, please continue to keep them and bless them and may they keep blessing us, their children and the world at large.

They definitely have much more years to live because they haven't seen the best of me yet ;)

A sudden change! ! !

How has your life changed since the 1st of January someone asked . . . In response, life for everyone has changed in so many ways; we had a gift given to us by our president that day which wasn't well accepted by most of the citizens of our dear country.

Plans suddenly changed, people were unable to return to their previous destinations from their holiday points...The subsidy on fuel, the only thing Nigerian citizens enjoyed as an oil producing nation had been taken away with no warning. Rage is what most people feel towards the government at this point.
How does inflicting more hardship on citizens bring development when there are no services rendered at all? A country so blessed yet poverty thrives among her citizenry.

Rally points agreed on, unions coming together, youth activist movements ready to do their part to demand that the government do what is right by her people. Posts, comments flying all around, with one voice the movements started. There is so much to be said to the government, placards with all sorts of messages conveying our distrust and feelings towards the government are held up high. The national strike has begun!

I AM

I am sitting here reflecting on the events that have taken place recently in my beloved country and nothing but anger fills my mind.

We watched these things happen on TV before, but now, it seems it is all here to stay with us.

We have a government that has failed her people in every respect of the word.

From providing basic amenities to protecting the people,

the government has not been able to do anything at all. 

Series of bomb blasts happened on Christmas day and the best our president could do was give a speech that angered instead of comforting anyone.

These are the words I can find solace in right now...

Big and strong, a shelter to all yet filled with shame and disgrace,

A home to so many, leading others yet backward in so many ways,

Blessed with fertility and no natural disasters but corruption has ravaged the land.

Known for vast ethnicity and a rich cultural heritage but consumed by religious, political and ethnic bigotry.

I am a nation for all to learn from...

Years of fruitfulness, years of boom but they all rest in the past,

A time of pain, struggle and disgrace is more of a reality today,

Basic amenities, infrastructure, shelter, food....survival is all that clouds the mind.

Poverty stricken, some are willing to spill blood to get a little for the present not thinking beyond,

So much waste, so much decay for a place so blessed, yet...

I am a leader to so many...

A wide divide between regions, there is hardly any room for unity.

Leaders so selfish and thinking only of their pockets,

Political ambitions so strong, bloodshed of the innocent,

The old standing in the way of the young, idleness leading minds to evil,

Tasks so great await able minds and bodies but locked out by those connected.

I am a mother to many nations...

A continent big enough to contain other ones, I hold an important position in it yet I sleep,

Smaller nations rise to take my rightful place, negativity clouding the minds of the world yet I do nothing to change it.

 Nostalgic feelings of the former me when I had a name and others looked up to me,

I am the giant of Africa.....

I am Nigeria!

Tales from the diaspora.....

I wrote two pieces with this same title and content for a magazine earlier this year so I am adopting the same title.

These are some experiences out of many which I have chosen to share:

A place of beauty, a place of light.
Preserved monuments, glorious to behold.
A place known for love...
Covered with snow but still as beautiful as imagined.

Right in front of the Eiffel tower, staring at the different shades of light, the glow, the beauty, wonderful to behold.

Walking into the train station, we ran onto the train, almost missing it.
A lady was seated where we went to sit and as we sat in front of her, she stared with a an all so familiar look and left to sit somewhere else. My friend called her a silly thing right as she left without a care in the world.