Lagos - Sights and Sounds: Part 1

Adventures in a 'Keke-maruwa' 

So I went to Bible study with my mum today. On our way back, we decided to take the infamous keke home. The first one we got into broke down after about 30 seconds. The engine simply went off, no apologies, nothing.
We got down from the machine and stood at the side of the road, trying to hail another to take us home. After 3 minutes, the broken down machine started up. But rather than pick us up, the driver simply sped past us. My mother goes 'After dropping us in the middle of nowhere, you now drove off without thinking twice, hyan' lol.

Finally, after about 20 kekes had driven past, we got one going in the direction we were headed. We got in and immediately noticed it was not empty as we imagined. There was a fairly large man sitting in the other corner at the back. When the keke began moving, the driver and the man began speaking a language that was either Ghanian or Igbo (my mother and I are not in agreement here lol). So at this point I'm thinking 'ok its dark and this is Lagos. If they try anything, we can jump out at the traffic light'. We turn the corner, the man drops off and the driver picks up two more passengers - more men - and mum and I calm down.
Trust Lagos, there is traffic.
We drive a few minutes and notice these girls trying to hail a cab across from us. Our driver acts as the middle man because, well, they couldn't see the taxi guy.

Girls: To Ajah.
Driver (to girls): He said #5000. You dey go? (Are you going?)
Girls: (gesture for him to move)
Driver (to taxi guy): They no get money. (They don't have money).

We all laugh.

Driver: They wan go Ajah this night na for club now. Before e go reach Ajah today eh.... (They want to go to Ajah this night for a club. With the traffic, they won't get there early).
Mi: But a taxi to Ajah though??
Driver and other passengers: You can just take bus to Shita. Then CMS, then you get Ajah straight. (You can take a bus to Shita, then to CMS and then get another one going from CMS to Ajah). 
Mi: But they weren't dressed for bus hopping.
Driver: Eh no be to take am reach near Ajah. Then if they get a place like Shita for there, na to enter taxi N200 reach where you dey go. The people way you dey meet go see say na taxi you come with. Then runs gees fit tell the guy say the taxi na N7000. After all one girl do am to mi na. When we reach near the hotel, she tell mi say make I drop am, drop am. I talk say we never reach, na im she say she no wan make the guy see am.
(They can take the buses till they get close to Ajah. When they arrive at Ajah, if there is a place like 'Shita' close by, they can then get a taxi for N200 (Naira). The people they plan on meeting at Ajah would see them arrive in a taxi. For girls meeting their 'sugar daddies', they can simply tell him the taxi costs N7000. A girl has done it with him before. When he got close to the hotel she was going to, she asked him to drop her off so the man she was going to meet would not see her). 

lol.

We arrived at our stop and dropped off. Here is the conversation with my mum:
Mum: I was just praying as soon as we got on that keke. I thought it was only the driver, only to see the big man at the back with him.
Mi: Mi too, I was worried for a second.
Mum: I was ready to hit his head with my book (a hardcover she came with) if they tried anything.
Mi: looool mum though?? I thought we could just jump out at the stop.
Mum: Yes I figured you'd have thought of that since you were at the edge. But I was prepared to tell you not to worry because I have my weapon with mi. I was ready to knock that his head self!! I thought the plan was to take us to Shita and drive off from there. Since we weren't going to Shita, I was ready to knock him until he agreed to drop us off.
Mi: O_o looool your mind has gone a bit too far though.

And that was my evening today.

xoxo

Family Affairs

     Going 'home' is always a batch of mixed emotions. And the longer I stay, the more the sad emotions overwhelm. 

Before leaving in the beginning, I understood that I would has to sacrifice family to leave so far. With the ones I knew, it wasn't so bad. It's the ones I don't know that sort of hurt. 

Which is basically my dad's entire family line, save a few. 

    

Family issues and etc made it so we never grew up together like mum's side. So meeting them is like meeting strangers. We are all grown up with different works/paths in life. Do you know how freaking awkward it is to go see family and firs be introduced as family, then have nothing to say and get 'thanked for coming' when leaving?? Try doing all that when an 'uncle' (technically speaking) passes away. So the first time you meet the family is to say 'sorry for you-our?? loss'/nice to meet you. Of course we don't know what said uncle looked like so there's that. 

It makes sitting in the room with all that family the loneliest place on earth. 

Then there is the funny aspect of the siblings not being close, to the point that they keep calling each other to get directions to the house of the late brother. How don't siblings know where each other live?? In the same state. It's so weird. 

The entire family is weird. 

Afterwards, I'm just exhausted, have a progressing migraine, and in need to sleep. 

But there's no one to tell this all to, so of course we smile and fake it. 

Mi

And the Father will Dance....

For some reason, I recalled the song we sang in high school. Don't remember the rest of the lyrics, but I recall the tune. Not sure why I thought about it either. Been feeling rather out of sorts recently. One thing I'm grateful for is my ability to mask it all with a smile and laughter. Gosh I am an expert at faking, should get a degree.

Thats off topic though....not that there really is a topic.

So the song had to do with God dancing I think, or a father.... (well, can't be any other choice). I just read a blog post about SIDS, a friend of a friend lost her baby girl and this song popped into my head. So I went and googled the lyrics. As I thought, it is in reference to God - should have guessed since it was a chapel song - and it talks about being renewed by God's love. Talks about.... I'll just post the lyrics here:

Refrain:

And the Father will dance as on a day of joy He will exult over you and renew you by His love Verse 1: Shout for joy, all you, His people Sing aloud and exult with all your heart For Yahweh, your God is in your midst. (Refrain) Verse 2: You have no more evil to fear (2x) Do not let your hands fall limp For Yahweh, your God is in your midst. (Refrain) Verse 3: And when the time comes I will rescue the lame And when the time comes I will gather the strays And when the time comes I will be your guide I will gather you in and give you renown Among all peoples (Refrain) Final: He will renew you by His love
It probably has nothing to do with grieve or comfort, but it is what I thought about so thats how it is. I pray the souls of those little infants rest in peace, and God comforts and draws the families unto Himself. The worst tragedy a parent can go through is to bury his or her own child. The worst pain a child can go through, is to bury his or her parent before their time. I pray God's promise is fulfilled in all our lives. 
xo Mi

Random Again :)

I have no idea what I want to write, but I simply feel like writing so here I am haha. This might turn into a rant about absolutely nothing, but we'll see.

So I am currently in my parent's house. First time in 4 years. Being in the country feels more weird actually. Being here is nice, the house I mean. Its just mi, mum and dad for now, and I must say, its been a lot more peaceful than I expected.
I spend most of the time with mum - did I mention I'm driving now?? So anyway, driving mum around, experiencing the horrors of traffic in this state first hand. Horrors is really the only description.

Haven't really done much in the area of socializing. Those are know are far away and too busy (apparently, everyone grew up while I was away). Those around I'm too lazy to try to get to know (making friends is a chore....) so thats that. (Save your judging please lol).

Odd though, I do feel kind of lonely. I mean I feel like I'm missing someone or something. Not necessarily my friends, haven't seen them in ages (besides the the ones in Japan). But just....someone/something.

Moving again by the way.... super far away this time....

Actually, I think these 'lonely' thoughts began after that lady planted it in my head last time I was moving. If she hadn't asked (Don't you get lonely? Are you running away from something??) I wouldn't have had these thoughts I think....

Ok, now this is getting dark. It was meant to be random speech day lol. Time to leave it means hehe.

Cheers

xo

He's Back

He sent mi a message, and I forgave him.
I haven't heard what he has to say. He said he would explain. he doesn't know I have forgiven him, but the speed at which I did annoys mi.
I could have tried to stay mad.
It's like I can't be mad at him, and that annoys mi. Even more annoying is the fact that it seems I forgave him for mi, more so than for him.
But I won't tell him. And I can't see his face. Because he would know.
He probably already knows, but my pride needs some sort of balm. He doesn't need to know any more than he already does, how much I....

He's back and I think I have mixed feelings.
 Kryptonite.
xo