Independence Day

Today, my country is 49. A whole FORTY NINE!! Another year, we'll be half a century old.

A lot of people say Nigeria is in shambles. That it is a terrible place. I see a lot of people hustling, doing whatever they can to "travel"; "go abroad". The various embassies are full to the brim. Even tiny ass countries have no respect for Nigerians. Because everyone is "suffering" there...or so outsiders have been led to believe.

Unfortunately, I have never seen this Nigeria. My Nigeria, the Nigeria I see is one full of opportunities. Its a Nigeria filled to the brim with talent. Talent that big time companies all over the world are hungry to tap into. The Nigeria I grew up in was one in which the standard of education, for someone looking for it, was stellar. I thoroughly enjoyed attending school there.

People are poor. Boohoo. In the US during this time of recession, statistics just reported that the rich have actually become RICHER while the poor and the middle class are losing money......sound familiar? Yet in this poor Nigerian economy, people own their own homes. Their own land. If you own a car, its most likely yours free and clear.

We have corrupt leaders. Who doesnt? Seriously.

I hear about all these "problems"; everything that is wrong with the country. We openly criticize our homeland to perfect strangers. But has anyone done anything about it. Personally, everyday, I crack my head and I ask God to guide me. To show me how I can use the little talents I have to better my country. I try to make a contribution where I can. I have always supported home grown. I am fiercely loyal. Fiercely patriotic. I really wish I could be political, but I'm not.

I wish there were more people like me. No, dont comment saying you are. I get way too many: "if i could leave this country', "this foolish country", "i beg i dey look 4 greener pastures", "i have no plans of going to naija. lai lai!!" So i most certainly dont believe any of you. We keep saying we have no control over how our country is run. But I think we need to look back to 49 years ago, then 10, even 2 years ago. We ARE moving forward. What we need is patience. In our heads, we are already super powers. That's good, we need to dream big. But unfortunately, in reality, we are the ants on the grass the elephants are trampling. But thank God, with the genetic manipulations going on, that doesnt have to be our permanent state (sorry, i had to go geek right there he he). Let's keep pressing forward. We're only 49. Yeah that's old in human eyes, but countrywise. we still get snot for nose. So keep it up guys. Keep your shoulder to the wheel. Forget instant gratification, and prepare for a time when your descendants will be proud of their ancestry because you did what was needed to get Nigeria where you want it.

Let's WORK at being that Giant we keep wanting the world to see us as. Dont forget, at one time, shaq was a lil squirt.

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!

The Date That Never Was- a true story

My friend comes to visit. We had a fun weekend, then on sunday i take him to go visit his childhood friends. who are now engineers. we meet the first friend. yawn! boring! his subscription to popular science is waay more interesting. then another friend shows up. he comes in and they start "catching up". then i hear those magic words "how's the phd going".

now, i must pause and tell you that i'm an education whore. you know how other chicks gravitate towards fame and money? i LOVE education. smart people make me.....well you get it.

to make the pot sweeter, he's an engineer. (have i ever mentioned i have a THING for engineers?) bsc in electrical, masters in electrical/materials engineering. his ms thesis was in an area that spilled over into the industrial aspects of MY field. oh joy. i perked up. actually closed the magazine and joined the conversation. he plays tennis. cool. likes chess. correct. he hikes. (o God!) loves salsa dancing (O GOD!!). goes rock climbing (OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH!!!) and wants to go sperlunking (yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!!!!!!)

..... and that, ladies and gentelmen was a mental orgasm :)

i collect his number. promptly text him. then i find out king tut's in town....well his tomb and stuff anyway. i call him up. we go. very nice. he pays for dinner. opens doors. does all those gentlemanly things. the exhibition was awesome. he decides to take me to this really cool club afterwards.

post date. ....yeah i have accepted that WAS a date. we're calling. texting. emailing. then he stops responding. call his phone, no reply. email, no response.

a month or two later he sends an email. apologising. sends new number. we start to talk again. finally he proposes we go catch a movie together. we agree to meet at the cinema. he never shows.

THE END



what u were you expecting? geez people the title already gave it all away.