The Nigerian Psyche

Sometimes, I wake up at about 5:30 in the morning for about ten minutes before I fall back asleep (I don’t know why it might have something to do with me falling asleep at 9pm like a geriatric). Normally this is a generally peaceful process but this morning was different, this morning I heard a noise in the distance, possibly down the street. It sounded garbled and distant and to tell the truth, I didn’t really care what it was but it got closer and louder, enough to make me get up to see what it was.

It was a man, walking down the street with a megaphone in his hand, preaching. This was no ordinary megaphone either; it was fashioned with its own little power system that the man carried in a bag beside him to amplify the sounds from just uncomfortable to downright obnoxious. I mean, for the love of all things that are good and pure in this world, why would you do that!

I don’t have a problem with spreading the word of the coming kingdom but it’s so intrusive and at such an ungodly hour. If I thought I was irritated, the Hausa muslims who are not entirely on board with the second coming thing must have been pretty pissed off.

Well, there is not much one can do about it short of joining the crusade; maybe I’ll take the side streets and he take the major throughways, I mean I’m up already...

xo, Nola

I'm a blogger now!

...so I just decided to join the whole culture of blogging because lets face it.... people like to hear themselves talk.

I'm not sure about blogging culture but I assume digital introductions are in order. I'm Nola and I have been far flung from Nigerian soil for a bit but I'm back now...to Lagos, to family, to traffic, to smog, to congestion, to no light, to red-headed lizards and the whole nine....AND I LOVE IT!

A johnny just come, I've brought back some clearer eyes to see this place and some of the sights are just plain comical.

I still cannot bring myself to understand how a grown man, in a full suit at high noon can just whip "it" out and start to pee on the side of a major street, I mean, for real? It must take at least 30 seconds to hike up the jacket, before unzipping the trousers... ample time to think "hey, maybe I will not indecently expose myself on a street where there might be, oh I don't know...other people" but I digress. I don't get it but I guess I don't have to.

Lagos life is pretty spectacular, if you are open to the possibilities. I try to be sickeningly optimistic and so far it has worked for me. It is absolutely essential, if not, I might find myself going up to people and kneeing them in the crotch for what would be no apparent reason ( yes, women too!)

Anywhooo, I think I might like this blogging thing…I’ll keep you posted.

xo, Nola