Something You Don't see Everyday: Girl, X-box & Serial-killers
While I was away on my blog break, I played a good dose of Halo* on X-box. I came to realize that in this game, there’s no such thing as beginner's luck- at least not for those seemingly algorithmically challenged. That just isn't how the game is programmed. At all! Lol!
First, my player was lost half of the time. I had too many "wait-where-did-everyone-go?" moments. I kept running to all the wrong places and arrived at the right places when the battles were completely over. I spent most of the time restoring Ed’s player whenever he was wounded. I was basically like the Red-Cross soldier-gamer. I also spent some time shooting at my men, because I wasn't sure who the enemy was. Laugh if you will. Lol! This was my first time.
The most intriguing thing about this game, other than the fact that I became a serial-killer of my teammates was the uniform of my soldier. It really caught my attention. The armour covers the entire body surface of the player. You can't actually see him, he is completely encased in this bulky, imposing gear of protection.
Somewhere between my player's serial-killer attempts, I realized that this must be how the devil and his goons see us! When they look at us, they do not see me, Ike, or you, *insert name*. They see the whole armour of God (provided we have it on). They see God. They see strength, right-living, truth, faith, resilience! They don't see the flawed people we see in the mirror. Think about it, all those insecurities, failures and imperfections, all transformed into all that formidability. They are terrified of looking at us! God makes sure that there are no vulnerable points...unless we take them off - even then he covers us with his wings and his grace.
Baddest! I don't even know why Satan bothers.
So strap on the armour, the whole gear!
Guard your mind and reasoning with the helmet of salvation (know and acknowledge that you have been saved and are chosen);
Protect your heart and passions with the breastplate of righteousness (do what is right guided by the sweet principles of God);
Keep your pants up with the belt of truth (lies have a way of causing us shame by baring our behinds, don't ask);
Run around and tell people about Jesus, with your shoes of the gospel;
Protect yourself with the shield of faith by believing all of God's promises and confessing them (there are ~3,573 promises in the Bible. I probably have read only 60. Read one below);
You'd notice that the other items in the gear are protective, if you don't have a sword, you might as well be a punching bag that can't fight back. Attack with the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. It is active and sharper than any two-edged sword and literally can slice whatever! Satan and his goons get an allergic reaction when you speak out loud God's words to his suggestions. Seriously, he can’t deal. CAN NOT.
Eventually a certain someone got tired of killing her mates, so a certain someone bought the LEGO game, but who is she kidding? She is learning to play Call of Duty this week (hello, guns). Wish me all the best any gamer could bear!
If you don't have a helmet of salvation and are not yet God's soldier, you can, right here! Don't forget to get your gear! Do you play video games? What do you enjoy about them? When last did you personalize a promise of God? Here's a promise of God, regardless of how sad this week has been!
“You are my servant, I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand...Though you search for your enemies, you will not find them. Those who wage war against you will be as nothing at all. For I am the Lord who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I WILL help you.””
Halo* Military Sci-fi video game.
Amusing Conversation with my 70 Year Old Male Friend + Postpartum Snap-back tips
My days are never lacking in hilarious thought-provoking conversations. There was that time, mum and I talked about kissing bearded guys; and that time when my 7-year old nephew and I talked about paddling to the Caribbean on a human raft. This post is about a conversation that ensued between my ~70 year old caucasian male friend and I. He is very amusing. Honestly, children and older people get away with saying anything!
Friend: African women are so beautiful. Great physiques.
Me: *feigning modesty graciously*
Friend: There's just one problem
Me: What?
Friend: Once you have a baby, you never go back to the way you were
Me: So not true!
Friend: *not buying it* You know you'll blow up after your first child
Me: Haha! Well, I have to work to get back. Blame it on water retention and extra fat from pregnancy.
Friend: I dated a girl from Zimbabwe, you know. Beautiful girl. After one child... Boom!
Friend: Saddest thing is, they don't even get any in the boobs! Everywhere else, but not there!
Friend: I love shapey petite women. African women look so beautiful...then after the first child...White women, they go right back.
Me: I know, right? *quirky comebacks severely elusive after boob comment*
Friend: When you have your first child, you need to work at it, Ok? Promise me. Go back to how you were.
Me: OK. I promise
Cringe. There I go making promises that I now have to keep. This conversation really got me thinking, because my friend has promised to laugh at me when the time comes. Smh. Below are a few things I found on preventing water retention and some snap-back-into-shape tips. I'm keeping them here as a reminder.
Snap Back Tips
1. Gain the recommended weight (~25-35 pounds/11-15 kg*)
2. Getting your weight back depends on your habits before and during pregnancy. Develop healthy habits that transition smoothly (somewhat smoothly) into pregnancy. I have pregnant women in my Zumba class
3. Gain healthy weight. Snack on fruits, vegetables. (My cousin says she ate a lot of carrots when she got hungry between meals)
4. Breastfeed
Preventing Water Retention
1. Drink a lot of fluids (like your life and sexiness depends on it)
2. Reduce salt intake
3. Stay out of the heat
4. Avoid standing for too long
5. Eat juicy fruits
6. Recruit impregnator for massage duties
If you are a mum or have any information about snapping right back after kids, please share your knowledge. You would be helping someone and you would be rescuing me from this wager. If snapping back is still project for you, please share your milestones! Power to you!
*Recommended Weight breakdown
Baby: 7.5 lb (3.4 kg) Enlarged Uterus: 2.0 lbs (0.9 kg) ; Placenta 1.5 lb (0.7 kg); Amniotic fluid 2.0 lb (0.9 kg); Breast enlargement 2.0 lbs (0.9 kg); Extra blood & fluid volume 8.0 lbs (3.6 kg) ; Extra fat reserves 7.0 lbs (3 kg)
Source recommends that extra fat reserves should be controlled, because it's the only weight-gain factor than can be safely manipulated.
PGI's November Girl: Akor(The Techy Creative)
I was torn between "The Techy Creative" and "The Inspiration Sparkle" for Akor's PGI Girl tag. "Inspiration Sparkle", because she literally goes around sprinkling inspiration dust without even knowing. I find her oblivion darling and refreshingly modest! I tell you, I spent 4 months trying to convince her to be a PGI girl. Her argument was that she had nothing to share and she wasn't aware of any inspiration she was responsible for. Well, think again. At the end of the post are 4 things I learnt during this interview with Akor.
After cyber-stalking her for a while, she finally said Yes! I think she was trying to get rid of me. Haha! I'm joking. Akor is a creative writer who works in I.T. In our interview, we chat about creativity in I.T. We also chat about boyfriends, banga soup, and modeling experiences! Did we laugh a lot? Errr...definitely!
Please meet the beautiful and wonderfully witty Akor.
You have the prettiest name. What is your full name? Where are you from?
Akorwuotomi Oluwatowoju Akpenyi;
Agbor, Delta State
I love your names! What do they mean?
Akor means Wisdom is life
Oluwatowoju means God is enough to look upon (Yoruba)
What's the coolest thing about Delta state?
Our pounded yam and banga soup. Not of this world!
Banga soup...hmmn! I almost lost an ex to banga soup one time...
Yeah, you didn't stand a chance *straight face*
Yep, I think it ended that very moment. I have many questions about banga soup. What's the magic? What's the most important ingredient of this soup?
*laughs* Palm oil makes all the difference, in my opinion. Fish, stock fish or meat make it good but if you get the palm oil wrong, I don't think there's a remedy.
Three ideal ways to start your day?
A) Most ideal: wake up on the beach, just before dawn, watch the sun rise and maybe do a dance to God for creating such a view *dreamy look*
Back to Reality
B) Wake up before dawn, still, spend some time quietly recalling and meditating on the last bible scripture I read. Ideally, I'd like to stay there until the thoughts of God’s love and care make me smile.
C) Someone interrupts my sleep before dawn to give me gist! *laughs* I don't want you to think I like gist! I know it sounds like I'm a morning person but I'm not (at least not yet). I prefer to be up before dawn to prepare for the morning.
Favorite smell? Dodo or Rain?
Rain! Babey, rain! *laughs*
What are you reading these days?
The Greatest Salesman in the World (A life-changing read). Even though it's a book that teaches the principles of marketing and sales. It also holds a lot of life lessons applicable to our daily lives. It actually has helped my spiritual life. It taught me to personalize my confessions, scriptures prayers and God's promises.
The most challenging thing about being a model?
I have to think back as it's been a while. I haven’t done any professional modelling jobs in a bit. Finding an inner excitement for every picture, even if I had been on my feet for hours and entirely famished
How do you keep that beautiful face so straight?!
I think of the final picture. No one wants a smirk in a fierce look
A reader of PGI once advised models to “flirt with the lenses?” during shoots. Is that what you do? Are lenses lovers? #modelwisdom
Well, for ‘flirting’ I think it depends on the mood of the shoot e.g. a sexy shot. But in general, I just look at the lens like it is the eyes of someone who loves me. Someone who sees no wrong in me. It boosts confidence regardless of the context in which you’re shooting
How did you get into modeling? What’s your fave part of a shoot?
I just finished NYSC. I needed to make money, also I was bored.
Every part of the shoot can be great with the right music and amazing crew. But makeup is the least interesting for me. I actually hardly wear makeup to work. On Fridays, I do, much to the delight of my colleagues *laughs*
What do you do for work?
I work at an IT firm as a business analyst/Innovation incubator
How much creativity are you allowed in IT?
Well, not much, until I joined my current firm in this new role. My role involves me thinking about creative ways to make IT attractive to the average individual (mostly Nigerian), and then actually getting them to use it! *laughs*
What skills would you say are most important to survive working in IT?
There are different skills peculiar to the different IT roles. For technical roles, Certifications! Certifications! Certifications! In general, I’d just say read the news…stay abreast of IT trends and forecasts. The possibilities in technology are almost endless.
Do you doodle or daydream?
Doodle
Doodles rule
Okada or Napep?
I’d rather trek (no kidding)
Okada riders in Lagos are auditioning for "Fast and Furious Naija", I've never been a fan. A few months ago, I would have chosen Napep, until this thing happened...I was in a Napep and we almost got crushed by an oncoming truck because the Napep driver drove so recklessly. I asked the guy why he drove that way, and he goes “Ah! Na God hold our life, if he say time don reach, e don reach”. In other words, he was suicidal.
So, yeah, if I had to choose between Okada and Napep, I'll buy a bottle of water and start my walk.
The word ‘man’ is synonymous to …..
Dab? Ham? *smiles* ok, Dude, Protector, Motivator.
What age did you begin to write?
I was about 14, it got me through a difficult time of my life.
Favorite poet?
@writtenbyHim
What’s your most recurring writing theme?
“Live the hell out of life” (literally too)
If you had to write "Live the Hell Out of Life For Dummies" what would be the summary of the book in 3 sentences?
You are enough. Don't store up your magic because you worry about running out; so put your first foot forward everyday and watch how you evolve into new wonders each day. Love brings meaning to everything.
3 things on your bucket list?
I've had to redo this list a number of times *laughs* but somethings have stayed a while:
A) Perform in/ organize a flash mob
B) Get photographed by Jeremy Cowart
C) Learn a rap song
What’s your weirdest muse?
I love to read God’s message to the people of Israel at different times in the bible. It portrayed a very intense love involving a lot of chasing and wooing and vexing and loving proclamations. lol
For example, just look at Isaiah 28:12
“God has told his people,
“Here is a place of rest;
let the weary rest here.
This is a place of quiet rest.”
But they would not listen
So the Lord will spell out his message for them again,
one line at a time,
one line at a time,
a little here,
and a little there,
so that they will stumble and fall.
They will be injured, trapped, and captured”
Song stuck in your head these days?
Holy Spirit by Kari Jobe
If you had God over for dinner, what would you make?
I’m not a great cook, so I think I would dance for Him instead. Really, I have this dance choreographed in my head for God. I plan to perform for Him when I get to heaven.
What song would you dance to?
Ty Bello's 'Dance for you' and Big Daddy Weaves's 'Without You'
Do you drive in Lagos? Ever outsmarted LASTMA?
*sigh* Yes, I drive o. haha I haven’t outsmarted them. Unless you agree that refusing to ‘tip’ them and choosing to pay the normal fine was pretty smart *laughs*
What’s your idea of a perfect date?
Lots and lots of laughter, food and great music and maybe some randomness- some dancing.
Favorite nail polish color?
Nude
What’s your hidden talent?
I must say I’m pretty good at the Rock’s “Can you smell what the Rock is cooking?” eyebrow thing…for both eyebrows! A pretty big deal I know.
I loved our Skype call but this hidden talent was the highlight of it all! Thank you, Akor!
"Can you smell what Akor is cooking?"
4 Things I Learnt
1. You can lose your boyfriend, if he is lured away with Banga soup. Fact.
2. During your quiet time with God, sit there until you feel Him. Feel His love and His arms.
3. A camera does not judge you.
4. Do not hoard your magic or your best work! Always put your best stuff out there!
Thank you so much, Akor, for being PGI's November girl! Love you loads!
PGI loves to honor everyday people who inspire. The great news is, we are all capable of inspiring! Do you know someone who inspires? Click here and share with us!
News for the Modern Couple: Why Being Equals isn't Trending Anymore
A few years ago, I conversed with a woman who couldn't relate to the concept of submitting to a man. I was newly married then and had no understanding of it, myself. I obeyed it as a rule and nothing else.
"It's 2014! We are equals", the woman exclaimed, "who submits in 2014?!"
Well, it's 2016, and I am very proud to say I submit, consciously and intentionally to Ed. I don't crawl on my knees to bring him dinner or lie down at the doorstep, so he can walk all over me, neither do I cower when he walks into a room. There's another name for those situations but it sure isn't submission.
The word, submit, comes from the Greek military term, huppotasso which means to "fall into rank under" or "to arrange in a military fashion under a leader." It's a military term. Sexy, I know. Submission is not oppression. It's a call to responsibility that shouldn't be taken lightly. It's definitely not passive and it doesn't mean you should be silent and servile.
A husband is the General. His wife is his Lieutenant General. He has a role. She has a role. Her role is just as important and the significance of her femininity is very profound. If you are a woman, be honest, sometimes you scare yourself, all that complexity in your head, your ability to sense and perceive things from a unique perspective and all that insight, when that intuition is working in over-drive...fascinating. Women are great at many things, I can't write them all here but there's one special skill women possess- the ability to acquire information. No one else comes close to info-acquisition and knowledge management like women, which maybe why we are prone to gossiping a lot. Haha. So how is this skill useful?
Men make decisions, that's their job. It's innate, it's instinct, it's divine. As a wife, it usually helps not to struggle with this fact. It's what he does. Where do you come in as a woman in this decision-making? Information provision. Nothing can stand against the power of an informed decision. She provides the information, he makes the sound, informed decisions. Everyone knows where they fit. If both people struggle for the same role, things usually spiral out of control, everyone gets cranky and no one has sex that night, which means this post published a while back would be useless.
Men are assertive decision-makers (even when they have no clue what they are doing lol!) They are always assertive, it's a gift that I admire, and I praise them for it. Now, for some reason, women seem to know the answers or the best mode of action before men do. Our intuition is killer, we listen, we feel, we ponder, we know, we share (solicited or not). The issue, sometimes, is the way we share the information, a little forceful, naggy, a little condescending-just a teeny bit. No one likes a wise-guy or an I-T-K*. The goal isn't to prove we were right, the goal is to make sure our plans and endeavors as a couple materialize. Many men ask their wives for prayers, it's not because we are super-prayer beings. It's because he knows your role in his life. If this was a chess board, you'd be both queen and bishop. Most older women in their array of experiences and prudence tell me, "He makes decisions, pray for wisdom for him because he will make the decision anyway, and if it's an unwise decision, then you have to reconfigure it in prayers and damage-control takes a while." Being Lt. General is not a joke. At all.
I love being Lt. General, I'm not trying to be equal with Ed. He already treats me like royalty anyway, which is way more than an equal. So why in the world would I struggle to be an equal and aim for less?
Everything starts with an understanding: For men- an understanding to honor and not suppress the voice of a woman. We always have a lot to say, we know, and it may seem overwhelming but if you listen...if you really listen...you would never have to fake assertion and the quality of those decisions you'd be making...wawu!
For women- the understanding that being Lt. General is a role that should never be despised, that submitting is honorable and worth many, many medallions. Most importantly, realizing that the standards are a little higher than being equals- having a man who treats you far more than an equal, while preserving your role as Lt. Gen- those are the new acceptable trends and standards.
What are your thoughts?
*ITK(I too know)- Nigerian slang which describes a person who speaks and behaves as if they know more than others.
How Does my Zumba Instructor Keep a Straight Face?
My Zumba instructor is the epitome of self-control. It's a mystery to me how she leads and coordinates a group of dancing adults with a straight face. I am the star of my Zumba class, of course. I steal the instructor's attention with my moves. I feel everyone staring at me because of these same moves. I also confuse the entire class with these very same moves. Haha! Yup, I'm that person in your Zumba class that makes your head spin; I turn left when everyone is turning right and I do the feet-shuffle thing to keep up with the pace and direction, true, I skip some steps and replace them with others, "I make my moves up as I go", yo.
Halfway through class, we face the wall-long mirror and quite frankly, this part is like a horror movie. Chalky-on-Elm-Street Horror. I try not to look at myself in the mirror but that's what it's for, I guess, to stare at yourself, as you dance like a drunken elf. I've made my peace. I look, I note what needs improvement and I'm working on them.
My instructor is great, although I'm certain that whenever we leave, she walks over to her water bottle takes a mouth full of water and just as she's about to swallow, remembers us and bursts out laughing, spraying the mirror with all the water in her mouth. Haha! She's sweet though, really holds her amusement in. I'd fall over laughing, if I taught Zumba.
The good thing is that she laughs at herself when she makes mistakes too. She asked me to suggest Nigerian songs we could dance to. Any ideas? I was thinking D'banj's "Breaking News"? What do you think?
I love Zumba and I can't wait for the next class!
While I won't be making class captain anytime soon, I'm very determined to be the very best Zumba student in the world, in my area code, in my entire home.
I'll keep you updated.
Do you take any fitness/dance classes? Do you do Zumba? Any tips? Nigerian songs? Do you have a show-stopper like me in your class?
How To Deal With Worry Once and For All (Tested)
I'm about to read your mind.
Pick a bird. Your favorite bird.
Have we played this game before? I think we have. *Note to self: Expand game selection*
Right, so pick your favorite bird.
I, really am about to read your mind.
*insert smug look*
It's one of these 3: The Eagle, The Canary or The Parrot. Wait, wait The Crow?!
Should I take a much deserved bow or should I dodge rotten tomatoes?
If you are holding tomatoes, make sure you call me out below and let me know what your fave bird is.
Before you do though, I want to place one last safe bet: I'm very sure your answer wasn't 'The sparrow'. No one ever chooses sparrows.
Sparrows are one of the most despised birds in history, literally. It really startled me how much people have tried consistently to get rid of this particular bird.
In Ancient Greece, sparrows were disregarded because they were common, readily available, not rare enough, not exotic enough and you know how we humans are great at taking available things for granted, right? The Greeks chose to use sparrows as symbols depicting vulgarity, lust and any other basal desire they could think of in between steamy sauna sessions.
In the 50's, watch this, this one really perplexed me, China launched a campaign known as the Kill-a-sparrow campaign. During this time, China was trying to contain 4 main pests that had been bothering their communities and hampering their access to good hygiene: mosquitoes, rats, flies and sparrows.
I don't know what's worse, being classified with rats or with flies. Ick!
In the famous nursery rhyme, “Who killed Cock Robin”, guess who was conveniently accused of killing Cock Robin, the sparrow, yup, with his bow and arrow, he killed Cock Robin.
If there's anything you are certain of at the minute, it's that you don't want to be a sparrow, it has always been a hard-knock life for them. They would love to be given a break!
I recently took on a new set of responsibilities and projects in my life and for some reason-for some absolute random reason- I have found myself panicking. Out of control panicking. It's completely out of character. In fact, my father who is like the chill master of all chill-zen masters once commended my consistently unperturbed demeanor. Why am I freaking out?
Fact: God watches over sparrows.
No one else does; maybe Animal Rights, but not like God does.
Sparrows seem worthless but God watches over them because he made them. If God watches over the despised sparrow, he, sure is staring at you, watching your every move, guiding, keeping, protecting, not sleeping and working over time.
“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.
Why, even all the hairs on your head have been counted! Stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows.
”
How to deal with worry
- Don’t freak out
- Take a deep breath
- Say to yourself “If he cares about the sparrow, he’s definitely sooooo into me right now!” and say it like you mean it!
- Talk to God first! Not to a human. God.
- Dump it on his lap. Mentally paint a picture of your issues falling into God's lap. Step back. Thank him, forget about it and eat a snack.
- Wait for God
- If worry creeps in during the wait, do not freak out, start all over again from (2)
- Eat another snack
I would love to hear your thoughts on this! Also if I didn't get your bird right...you owe me a comment!
CSI Eden: Cain&Abel
Crime Scene Investigation Notes
Deceased: Abel Adam
? Wounds consistent with signs of struggle
Blood spatter apparent
Weapon: Rock
No human witnesses—sheep(maybe); God
Suspects: Eve, Adam, Cain (wow, 3 suspects on the entire planet, this should be easy)
Right in the middle of writing this CSI note, I got up from my desk, stood in the middle of my living room and acted out the entire story of Cain and Abel. Crime scene investigators do this sometimes, just so they have a deeper understanding of the crime scene. If my webcam was on, my career might very well be over.
This is how my one-woman play went; I started out acting as Cain (ploughing the ground with an imaginary hoe), then I switched to Abel, who is holding a staff and smiling sheepishly, and befittingly at his sheep.
Next thing, it’s offering time—Cain is running home to watch the next episode of Blacklist and remembers the offering-thing, so he runs past his corn field, grabs three ears of corn without stopping, dumps them outside the tent and does a blacklist marathon.
Abel, has been planning his offering for a while now, he has been feeding a few sheep a little extra to get them fat. He grabs the sheep, leads them home, ties them up to the tent peg and feeds them again.
The bible records that Cain offered his sacrifice first; I offer his first.
One of the most apparent things about this whole affair was how different their sacrifices were. Cain brought crops and Abel brought “fat portions of the first born of his flock”.
During the act of offering, as Cain, I knelt down, bowed my head and offered to God my scrawny corn ears but my offering act was interrupted by thoughts of Blacklist, those screenwriters are crazy, the last episode though — then I spent the remainder of the time staring at Abel’s magnificently dressed offering and comparing it with mine. As long as I stared at this imaginary offering of Abel’s, I got increasingly angered and envious, I may have gone over to it and kicked it over…just a little (I really get into character with these things). Later on, I hit him on the head and hide his body. Then I have nightmares. Loads of them.
Fact: The first murder ever recorded, was caused by comparison.
Compare
\kəm-ˈper\
verb
to look at (two or more things) closely in order to see what is similar or different about them or in order to decide which one is better**
Comparison is never without the elements of superiority and inferiority. The whole point of comparing is to see which is better or to see that they are at least the same and worthy of the same attention.
Comparison works in two ways, we compare, find out that we are doing better than the other person and we get complacent with a smirk on your face, which is a fool’s signature (not my words, Proverbs 1:32).
The other way comparison could work would be by discovering that we aren’t measuring up to this other person and then jealousy steps in, he/she becomes a reference for everything we do. You struggle and imitate so desperately until you lose focus and discover one day that you have lost yourself; your mission, your goals are all muddled up because you left your lane and are now on the sidewalk.
We choose how this ends. Cain didn’t have to kill Abel but he chose to anyway.
Jealousy is a crazy thing. It makes you lose the essence of who you are.
If you have been comparing yourself to someone or comparing your work to someone else’s, let it go. Your offerings are very different, no matter how seemingly similar.
I, later acted out Cain and Abel a different way. This time, Abel didn’t die. Cain faced his sacrifice, apologized to God for the shabby presentation. He appreciated the uniqueness of his offering and asked Abel for tips on better presentation. Abel got to have a wife and family and we kinda had another race of humans from him.
The End
Oh yeah, case closed! Cain did it. Note to self, do not compare all this awesomeness with another person's unique awesomeness. That just isn’t a fair scale.
*wink*
What are your thoughts on CSI: Eden? What do you think is the best way to deal with comparison in our crazy world? Has this helped in any way? Have you read this post yet?
{Author's note: Humans had been kicked out of Eden at this time; it was used in this post because it was the most relevant geographical reference at the time of this event. **Definition from Merriam Webster Dictionary.}
40 Things You Can Relate With If You Went To ISI
Everyday I stepped through the gates of The International School of Ibadan (ISI), it was like stepping unto the set of a reality show. All that intrigue and drama, phew! We had our own culture- our own way of doing things, that was very, very peculiar to us; case in point, boys filling the pond with water and throwing girls in. Lol!
Thank you to all our teachers. You were truly brave and wonderful. I would probably have a panic attack if I had to teach ISI students!
One thing is certain still, we really should have had our own reality show.
Here are 40 things to make you smile (or not smile) as we celebrate ISI's anniversary today! If you didn't go to ISI, please read it anyway, tell us if there are any similarities with your old secondary school? What do you miss about secondary school?
40 Things you can relate with if you went to ISI
1. Delight when NEPA cuts off electricity during assembly
2. Trying to make it into the pedestrian gate before Oga T closes it
3. Sitting on an open notebook during assembly (girls)
4. By JS 3, you know not to sit on the center pages because of the stapler pin
5. "Picking field" for talking to a boy...and he still doesn't 'val' you(boarders)
6. The he-likes-you bench position: legs astride the bench facing you
7. Graffiti central-PTA block (Rated 18) Main block (Rated 30);
8. Lunch time peppered chicken--levels Lol!
9. Putting a book in your trousers while getting flogged on assembly
10.Pretending you don't want to play Devil's basket
11. Eating jollof rice and beef on Friday afternoons (boarders)
12. Watching boarders eat jollof rice on Friday afternoons and your parents still haven't come to get you--"Ayo!", you wave to your boarder friend frantically, fried meat is bae(day-students)
13. Ledge
14. The mystery of Imade on love lane
15. Eba cake for valentine's day
16. Mr. Tony's pie
17. Fan milk seller-sold out by 3.45pm! Anytime after that, she offers you a liquid, lukewarm pineapple fan lolly
18. The water tanker dude slamming his brakes to splash water on students *smh*
19. Mr. Adeyemi (points to left side of the board): Have you finished copying this section?
Noise-makers: No!
2 students: Yes!
Mr. Adeyemi (looks at us noisemakers for a second. Cleans board)
20. Soirée
21. Doing absolutely nothing for your sport-house but celebrating and gloating at Victory dance anyway! Up Osun!
22. The most unvisited section of school grounds-counselor's office
23. Valentine's Day. Cake. No knife. Solution: Ruler.
24. When bae has Food and Nut practicals*grin*
25. Music room air-conditioning+history of Bach = Sleep
26. Whoever used the laundry room?
27. ISI baby (youngest student in Js 1) had a cake, it was never enough to feed everyone to their hearts' content
28. Short-hand verbal test (lmao) "Payday is today". Answers already in the book
29. Bush path
30. "Aluta" drama
31. When you get to school in the middle of second period and you go straight to the library
32. "Abere ajesara"- first time I mentally used the F word
33. 14 into bracket q equals a-one-a four Q *in Mr. Akintunde's voice
34. When your parents reference Bosun Adeoti in every statement *RME*
35. Problem list
36. Da don spooky "wuz ere" -graffiti
37. Matron's zobo
38. Competing brands: "Iyawo"; "Mama K"
39. Students' assembly thrill. Eagerly awaiting to hear the gist and then they go ahead and insult you. *blank stare* lol!
40. "Sponsor!"
What was your favorite memory from ISI? What do you miss the most about your secondary school (high school)?
Happy birthday, ISI!
The guys' uniforms had always been cuter anyway.