Appreciate The Struggle

It has been a while I showed my keyboard some love here, but I'm back with new stuff and a bit of age/maturity in my writing (at least I hope so).
A quick life update from since I've been gone:
-I got married to myself
-Moved back to Nigeria
-Fell in love with a homie
-Understood and appreciated the struggle.

For the purpose of this post, let's talk about the last point Understood and appreciated the struggle. 
I went to church today and Jumoke Adenowo was the visiting preacher and she asked a series of questions about countries and the first thought associated with them e.g. Germany-efficiency, Italy-style, etc, then she came to Nigeria and the first thing people started calling out was the number one on everyone's mind CORRUPTION, but I had a different thought RESILIENCE because Nigerians have a very resilient spirit. No matter what you do to a Nigerian, we always seem to get up, dust ourselves off and try again (some real Aliyah moves right there).
And Jumoke said something very profound, you won't receive anything from a country you don't appreciate or resepect. That's the paraphrased version and it is very true; if you do not appreciate a thing with all its complexities, you can not and will not receive any value from it.

So fellow Nigerians, our country is scattered, has no electricity or good roads and a good number of our "leaders" do not have the interest of the nation at heart; however, we must realize that we can do so much by appreciating the good things about our country. Sit down somewhere, write out the good things that have happened to you since you moved back to Nigeria and if you never left, just write something down and count the blessings that you have received.

There is good in Nigeria and we will definitely add and draw value here.
Good night everyone and happy thinking!

Undue Praise

Hey there folks,

I've been listening attentively to the things we say about our politicians, about how corrupt Nigeria is and that the only solution to our predicament is to change the mindset of our young people, because really, most of the older generation hasn't done much to help.
Even when I was in University, I heard a guy say "yeah, I definitely want to go back to Nigeria after I get my degree, at least I can continue from where my dad left off", when I told him that we can't talk like that and how much we need to change Nigeria from the hand of the corrupt, this is what I got as a reply "babe abeg jo, it's the way things are done. I'll run for office and stay there for a couple of years, while I steal the most money I can," that is the unfortunate mindset of a lot of people in Nigeria, both young and old.

But, that is not my topic for today. Today, I want to talk about how simply annoying it is that things do not work in Nigeria, and when they finally do(ie the A/C in the airport works, or lines at Immigration move quickly) people begin to give undue praise to those involved. Nigerians have become so used to terrible treatment, that when there is a good road, or a governor such as Fashola decides to be a real governor and do the things he was elected to do, people roll on the floor as a sign of respect and appreciation.

If we truly knew our rights as human beings and also as Nigerians, we would definitely expect more from those who govern us, not laughing or smiling like little school girls when we are simply given the head of the goat, when we deserve the herd of goats being reared.

My sincere hope is that one day, we will know who we are and understand what we deserve, hopefully it comes to realization in our minds before the 2015 election.

Yours truly,
The Upset Nigerian

Been long you saw me...

Hey Folks,
 Happy two years later...It has been a pretty long time since I was here, and for some strange reason, I thought this blog had been deleted...oh my ignorance. Since 2011, a lot has changed in my life and in Nigeria, as is obvious.

I've been doing a lot of thinking, trying to find out exactly what it is that I am passionate about in life. It is never delightful to be a jack of all trades, and a master of none.

I'm in this phase where I see a lot of people doing things that they have so much passion for, and I sit back and think about what it is that I'm passionate about, and nothing comes in. So, now, I pray and hope that as the days pass, the Higher Power will tell me or at least give a girl a hint on what I'm supposed to be great in.

Thanks for being there for me, and once again, I apologize for the absence.


Yours truly,
The Upset Nigerian

We need to learn Tolerance

Hey guys,
I know it has been a while since I blogged last, but I've been working on my Strat Comm degree, graduation is around the corner.
I was on facebook this evening, and I saw  picture of Christians burnt alive in Nigeria by Sunni Muslims. My problem with the situation, is not based on hatred for any religion, but hatred for the act, because I would still be as angry if the act had been done by Christian zealots. I believe that the world would be a much better place to live if people just tolerated each other. There's a  song by India Arie, called The Gift of Acceptance, it says that despite race, sexual orientation, or even religion, we can respect each other and live happily.
I believe Nigeria is a great country with a brighter future, and as young people, and people in general we need to change our mindset because if we keep going at this rate...

To anyone who comes across this post, I plead with you to live a life of tolerance, whether it be religious tolerane, ethnic tolerance, or tolerance of gender and sexual orientation.

here's a link to the picture  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=261434137226842&set=a.261434133893509.56869.100000807734019&type=3&theater
The Upset Nigerian.

Twice in one night

A few days ago, I was reading through Al Jazeera (as is a weekly occurrence) and I saw that more bomb blasts had occurred. I'm tired of this. It may seem like a really stupid statement, but come on now! I am a very strong believer in Nigeria, but when things like this continue to occur, it tears the country apart and destroys a lot of hope that people still have in the country. I just pray that God touches the hearts of the people stirring up all this trouble, and if they refuse to change, then I pray that they all lock themselves in a room and shoot themselves.

Truly,
The Upset Nigerian.

Ok, I'm back

So I had started blogging so I could vent about the many things that aren't going so well in my life, but after a while, I decided to get a diary. lol.
Whenever I get older and more established in life, I really want to open up a center for young women, where they can come and talk to someone who is there for them. Someone who really cares and has good advice for them, because I remember growing up as a young girl and having so many questions to ask but I didn't have anyone to go to. Sure my mother was there, but there are some things you just can't say to a parent, or at least my parents. Anyways, I just felt so good today because I got a confirmation that it really is a necessary institution necessary for young women.

yours truly,
The Upset Nigerian

An interesting day indeed

Hey folks,
so I have not been the best blogger, and I take full responsibility for my disappearance. I won't bore you with excuses, but I'm back. So today started out pretty well, I woke up without a headache, went to class, had a lot of laughs in and out of class, ran some errands, and then settled down at my friend's place to do some artsy stuff.
It went pretty darn well, I didn't know I had it in me, but that isn't the point I came here to convey. I have a midterm tomorrow, so my friends and I tried to study, but when that didn't work, we started watching TV and sampling some wine (which was pretty badass) and as usual, I got hungry and decided to go get some food from Taco Bell. I went downstairs, got into my car and tried to turn on my car... it did not start, and that dear friends is where it became a terrible day.
I went back upstairs to my friend's apartment, hungry and irritated, then I sent a text message to another friend whom I had given my car over the summer. Long story short, my car got raped before I went home in June and I had asked how much the repair would be... well, I got my answer today. The repair for my car will cost a little under $1000, which is money I do not have. Anyways, I will jumpstart my car tomorrow and personally go around town in search of a better deal.

Wish me luck, and as always, thanks for being there for me.

Sincerely,
The Upset Nigerian