Corruption

Anybody who has been poor in Nigeria (note that I don't say poor in Africa because I know how irritating generalizations are) knows that they will do whatever is in their power to make sure that they are and everybody they love is never ever ever is in that situation again. This and the fact that there is no guarantee that you will receive your pension, or that the state will be there when you are sick, or will make sure that you have some electric light to read by, or some water to drink, that you will not get robbed of the little you have with impunity, and that you do receive even that which you pay for: the benefit of your taxes.

This to me is the basis of corruption among the average Nigerian.

I'm not talking about the leaders corruption, neither am I supporting or justifying corruption. I'm just trying to show its not as simple as it looks.

Why else would a policeman hold a man hostage over 20 naira?
Because to him, it may mean more than just 20 naira, it may mean meat in his soup that night.

Addendum to pray for Nigeria

I pray for justice in Nigeria.

I do not pray for peace in Nigeria, because there can be peace without justice.
But never true justice without peace.

Praying for Nigeria

If you have seen the latest news, this is not a good year for Nigeria. The pictures from the escalating violence in Jos has brought fear to my heart. I feel so helpless, and I want to help,
I was then told of the story of Daniel, and how he prayed for his people. How he fasted for his people,
Daniel says:
In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. - Daniel 10:2-3.

My friends and I do not know if there is a guarantee for the solution of the problem, but I invite you to fast with us, to read Daniel 9 and 10, to think on it, meditate on it, roll it around in your mind.
We are only trying to show our sorrow for our nation and want to do what we can.

These are the daniel fast guidelines
http://danielfast.wordpress.com/daniel-fast-food-list/

Of course, if you can't do the daniel fast, a regular fast, or joining us in prayer will be much appreciated. You can also just send us positive vibes.

Sorrowfully,
WS

I hope it lasts

I took his hand that he stretched out to me and
suddenly, the world was upside down,
everything was different,
until i realized that everything was right side up,
and I had been all wrong all along.

"that which you seek is in front of you, if you could just see it"

Tribal Marks

I saw the hottest man with tribal marks , like seriously he was so fine the tribal marks even enhanced the unreal handsomeness. I was even at the point of going over to say hello and was doing my pre-introduction scanning when i spied the wedding band.

damn,


xoxo
WS

Tell me why

That irritating overweight girl in front of the line in the cafeteria thoughtful scoops up

every
single
spoon

of her meal, thoughtfully and with meditation, as though she was gauging carefully her calorific intake, and ends up putting

even
more
food

on her plate than me, who takes each scoop quickly, heartily and enthusiastically with a sense of realism, perhaps encouraged with the knowledge that an unwilling hour at the gym every other day should be ok.

She irritates me because she is slow, and gets in the way of me and food

when
i
am

hungry.

Thisday Awards 2010

Ok so I usually try to stay out of politics and controversy (we got Sugabelly for that)
If you have seen the list of people being honored at the Thisday awards 2010, you will say to yourself what a great idea but THIS IS A JOKE RIGHT

1. Ibrahim Babaginda is on that list.
2. Ibrahim Babaginda is on that list
3. Point one and two needed to be repeated. and also
4. Only one woman is on that list and Nigeria is NOT a country where women are not in the public sphere. This is not even about feminism. This is about fact. Only Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala made it on there. Obi Ezekwesili? Dora Akinyuli?? Chimamanda Adichie? and this list is just scratching the surface.


Nigerians, we should STOP letting this jokers represent our media and our opinions. Frankly this list made me ashamed, as foreigners are trying to sympathize with us because of our history of TERRIBLE leaders and here these *&$#&*^% people are honoring them.

I mean some people definitely deserve their awards (Fashola is an example)

But as one of my friends said when she told me about this DISGRACE

Be ashamed, be very ashamed.

Food thoughts

So one thing you need to know about me is that I lovvee to eat. I don't like all that junkfood business. I love good food o, using fresh produce, high quality free range beef or chicken, and butter not margarine. I always say if you are going to consume those calories make it worth it.
I'm the kind of person who when i lived in a small village in Europe for a little while made the farmer near me sell me his eggs because they tasted better. No for real those chickens were allowed to roam like they were in Nigeria so I was after their eggs (and the chickens themselves sef if I could get it). Don't let anybody fool you Nigerian meat is the sweetest, they let those animals wander around and eat what they like .... so I try to get as close to that here. None of this lean beef for me.
I'm the kind of person that would put diced smoked oysters in my efo riro.

Another thing you should know about me is that I used to be fattish (I was a size 10-12 at age 9). If I had continued on that route, hmm I would have been very large by now. Then I started working out like a demon when i was about 15 and became a size 2. True Story. Im now a 4 but its a nice compromise.

Now tell me why I've started eating all sorts of admittedly delicious experiments and not working out. My mother says "youre behaving as if you are naturally slim" LOL. I can no longer fit into my graduation dress that I had made last month oooo hmm

Please does anyone know any dieting plan that involves delicious food so that i can be slim by the end of may. I can't seem to get my exercising P back on...

seriously
x
Smith.

Gender wahala / Happy Single Awareness day

"Men will say anything at all to get what they want"

"ehen, as in what?"

"Hmm to get in your pants , abi!"

"ahn ahn they are not that bad, women can be useless too"

"No! you must assume a man is useless till he proves otherwise."

"Guilty until proven innocent?"

"Yes o, my sister!"

"Ehn, so you hate men?"

"I didn't say so!"

"So what are you saying??"

"I'm saying, when they are waxing poetic, watch your back!"

"Abeg Abeg, me im looking for love, and they have to make an effort jor."

"Im trying to say its not what he says, its what he does!"

"Hmm, so in short you're roasting* for valentine's day"

"yup, until i burn"

"hahahaaha"

"shattap!"



*roasting: Nigerian slang for alone, single but not in an empowered way.

why?

A friend once said to me
"You have no morality!"

Because I don't believe

that everyone should be
exactly the same as me.

Since i've been gone!

So Ive been a bad girl, keeping away from blogville. I don't even think anybody comes here anymore, but I had a most interesting past six months.

My experiment with the African Women initiative sort of petered out. (is that how you spell that?)

I was sick in all kinds of new and interesting ways. I had diseases like Shingles and lung infections -My doctor started to think I was HIV positive or pregnant, but no it was just stress apparently.

My two best male friends are apparently no longer speaking to me. I really was rather fond of them but hey. They know where to find me. (i'm hoping one will read this and call me)

My college family is well: One is engaged :D

My real family and I made up: my favourite grandmother died and we had to bond together and pick up the pieces.

I went to Nigeria for Christmas and fell in love with Lagos all over again.

I'm taking a creative writing class :D

I've grown a lot in the while I've been away. Growing up is not so bad after all.

as always
x
Smith

Graduation

The raindrops fell hesitantly, in that New England manner, as though it couldn't decide whether or not the day would be rainy or simply cloudy. I watched two children roll giggling down the grassy hill, getting up and climbing back for more fun times. I thought it would be great if we could all take life like that - what seemed to me to be potentially dangerous and probably painful seemed like great fun to them.

My friends graduated today and I will miss them. But I want them to succeed in whatever they wish to do and to be proud of their many achievements so I am going to keep smiling at them and share their excitement.

next year will be just me, about to set off down that hill called life. I hope I find it fun too.

Only one.

I only like one flavour of ice cream - cookies and cream. I will eat other flavours such as vanilla just because every one is having ice-cream or I need something sweet but I don't get quite that sort of satisfaction i get from two large scoops of oreo/cookies and cream. But I don't eat it too often because that would not be healthy and it is not good for me. There other things that are better for me  that I like to eat too, like cold oranges on a hot day or fresh bananas or just 10 hot buffalo wings after a long 2 weeks of healthy eating and exercise (LOL). 

What am I trying to say?

I saw this episode of Ugly Betty that debated the differences between your first love and your current love. Your first love can make you giddy in ways that you think will be impossible to duplicate but your first love can be so bad for you. There are other things in life than giddiness, which is why your true love and your first love are often not the same thing and your true love will never drive you as crazy as your first love did (I hope!) Like the way the feel of that cold cold orange on a hot Lagos day will never make you fat or guilty later on.

I was thinking of my first love recently and how the people I thought I liked before don't compare to how i felt (feel?) about him. Oh but how bad for me he is, especially if he knew what was going on in my mind.

Today or True Story 2.

I woke up and decided to cut my hair 

So I called up my friend and told him what I planned

He said nothing and gave no suggestions,

He took me to his barber,

who smiled,

and said "it's real soft",

I smiled and said "make sure I still look like a girl",

He did a good job,

Now, I have JUST enough hair

Thoughtfulness

Recently I've been thinking of my life and all the changes I've been through in the past year.

When I started this blog I felt so alone, but now I've built a family here in the real world that i often forget about blogville (sorry guys :D)

I was having dinner with my friends today and I was looking around at the table, how we accept each others oddness, love each others good attributes and are generally there for each other, and I realised how MUCH I love this new family that God has blessed me with. It' s been months since I had a real conversation with my family at home due to some issues but these people are making me not miss leaning on my family quite so much because they are so supportive and now some are graduating *sniff*

One of my friends was pointing out that some people come into your life but they fit in just like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, so perfectly and like they belonged all along just where they are. That's what good friends are like.

I'm looking at the most beautiful sunset right over the lake behind my building and it's probably causing this reflective mood that I'm suddenly in -I should be studying so I can become a senior soon

x

Smith

True Story

I had a dream, a really strange dream. I was a warrior princess and I had a really cool headdress and warrior princess outfit. My weapon of choice were two long knives/daggers.
I was at war, and I was a fearsome sight, lol, somehow I managed to be while being 5 feet 0. I was worried I would die in battle but I was not afraid of fighting to defend....whatever it was we were defending.
I fought and fought, enjoying the look of surprise as the invading army realised who I was just as I got to them...
Then I woke up, my heart was actually beating and I was looking around looking for someone to fight...
What do you think this means? P.S  I never play video games so I'm wondering if this is a past life flash back. hmm

Vanity upon vanity

So I'm home studying on a saturday night feeling lonely as hell. I need someone to cuddle up to...

anyway.. this is something I've not worked on in depth but hey, this is my place and I can post what I want.

My one serious vanity has been my skin. I often sit entranced by the way it reflects the light and the way it just seems to glow with a light of its own. I love how in the summer time or at home in Nigeria, its chocolate-brownness takes on a golden undertone that speaks of health and good living. I especially loved how my face was smooth and clear like a little child.

Was. 

Now I stare in horror as little black scars appear one by one on the sides of my face. As soon as  I spy one zit looking for a place to anchor itself, I take off for CVS looking for the latest in fresh skin technology and fight a war against it as though it was a fledgling nuclear power.

Let me explain or try to explain: I was not a very pretty adolescent. I was round and wore glasses and thought only of being the best in class. All I believed I had going for me was my skin which did not break out like the so called most beautiful girls in that class. So at the young age of 13,  I began a very loving skin care regimen of cocoa butter, vaseline and good old face washing every morning and night. I headed off spots before they had a chance to reach maturity and took care of my skin with military precision. And it was lovely.

As time wore on and I began to 'bloom', I forgot my obsession a little bit until one day I looked in the mirror - and it was awful. Spots! More than one! Oh dear...

And so it began again-

But I still love my skin, its glow fascinates me and I wonder why anyone would want to be any other shade but caramelicious cocoa brown...

Looking for me?

I can be found here at a new project but this is still my home! I havent posted because I really haven't had time to be wordsmithy (lol), but I will play ask me anything again if anyone still comes here.

This month has been hard for me because I have had difficulty finding summer employment, but God will provide.

x

Smith

REMEMBER THIS---OMG

Cheers!

This is my fiftieth post!

and in celebration of this and because I have been accused of hating on men often, I would like to dedicate this post to the male influences in my life.

A toast:

To Papa Smith: who taught me by experiential learning how to handle difficult men

To Aburo Smith: who taught me the importance of the occasional silence

To J: for being the most steady friend a girl can have. Except for that one year disappearance lol. Glad to have you in my life to remind me about real guys who don't always suck.

To T: for being the best older male influence I could have asked for, even if you do occasionally try to get into my pants. For remembering me as the bright laughing so so young girl you met and facing down the darkness that came later and being right by my side for those tough times, and for cooking and making me eat lol.

To R: for teaching me about love and understanding. I'm glad you found happiness now.

To B: for loving me and letting me go no matter how hard that was for you. Perhaps we will meet again at a better point.

To T.O: newest member of the crew, for keeping me grounded.

May the Lord Bless you and Keep you. May you all find happiness, you deserve it. May we continue to be good support systems for each other in good times and bad.