I’d been sitting on a bunch of posts for a long time.
A lot of it I held back because I simply started to think a little too long, a little too hard. It is way past time and I’ve let myself get in my own way. I’m really not sure how to resume my blog but I can’t continue to leave it on pause. With that, I think I’ll start with a personal note. So here goes.
So I’ve waited a few days to get the new year new me blues out of my system. I’m not new, I’m not different neither so, we’ll have to manage. Oh, Kinda new Job though. That’s IBM in the image.
Yeah, I work there now.
I can't believe it has been over a month since I last put up a post. I took a self-imposed sabbatical from my social media presence to catch up on the projects I had at work before going on vacation. Now that I have been able to successfully catch up and keep pace with my workload, my other interests are slowly picking up again.
After being told on Day 1 that my passport was not ID, I went to my father to discuss my situation. To my surprise, he laughed and told me, "how can someone employed by a multinational bank tell you your passport is not ID?" Now, I had some renewed vigour, I was going back there to speak to whomever was necessary to get my account.
Upon my arrival in my country, I made it one of my goals to open a bank account fully under my name. The ones I had previously were opened on my behalf by my parents when I was young, so the opportunity to get one as a semi-adult was here and I was going to take full advantage. I also felt it was necessary to be able to have some reserve or contingency in Nigeria.
What more can be said about my grandma? She has been the cornerstone for our family for a long time; so when her children (my parents, uncles & aunts) decided to honour her with a birthday week, I didn't think it was too much. I was unable to make the weekday festivities since I had work commitments but I knew the weekend was not to be missed.
It is Christmas Eve and this is the first time I have spent the day at home since my arrival in Lagos. I thought I'd go by the beach and just enjoy the tranquility. I will be back storytelling after the Christmas holiday. There is the story of my ordeal creating a bank account, my telecommunication tales, celebrating my grandma and more to come. Lagos has been amazing to me.
For now,
Happy Holidays.
I've been in Lagos two days now and honestly, I have way too many stories to tell. The most important one though. TRAFFIC! Traffic on the day I landed was so bad, one LASTMA official ( Lagos State Transport Management Authority) gave up .
We the people of the North suffer from a natural inconsistency called winter. There is nothing I dread more in Canada than frigid sub-zero temperatures. I've survived 6 releases of this product of nature, suffice to say, this thing has terrible reviews.
For the first time though, I am not as afraid as any of the previous iterations. A lot of it has to do with having a furnace on wheels for the first time ever. I have never driven in winter so I am looking forward to this experience. I've bought winter tires for the first time ever as well. It was either that or teach my car to ice skate. The latter surely has no lived-happily-ever-after ending.
The next step to my preparations for winter; escape as much of it as I can. Seriously. I'm going on a vacation to Nigeria for just over 2 weeks. I haven't been there in 4 years now. I am so looking forward to some things; this is the part where I daydream about eating hot agege bread and suya immediately from the airport.
Every year, my winter militia seems more inadequate than the last. I have at least 5 sweaters and perhaps 2 overcoats as of last count but that infantry seems barely prepared for the war that is coming. I lost a faithful soldier one night in the wilderness that is downtown Ottawa and will be looking for a replacement soon. Hopefully that replacement brings major coverage to any gaps in my winter army.
My winter footwear stepped up its game recently, thanks to black friday Sales over at ALDO. My Timbs fought valiantly for me last winter, especially with all the job hunting I did last winter. So I think I'm covered there. My socks are also well stocked so I hope I don't get cold feet.
With Netflix & Chill no longer in season, seeing as winter effectively handled the "chill" , I believe the kids these days are into the #SeizeTheBae movement or is it "Cuffing Season"? One or the other, perhaps both. I have decided against this for this winter though, it is possible I don't have a choice but let's pretend I chose not to, okay?
Finally, I am thinking of getting a beanie and gloves. I will be looking for suggestions any and everywhere possible. Maybe wait for GQ to come through with some tips.
Cheers to the coldest time of the year.
It's a cold world outchea.
