Diary of a Patriotic Corper: The Final Chapter

Twelve months of national service—completed. The last year has been truly something for me. I have spent the longest time away from home with entirely new people from different parts of the nation and tribes, eaten new kinds of food, been to places that I never imagined I'd visit, seen fascinating things, had interesting experiences, and more. The list can go on, but in all, I am thankful for this journey.

At the beginning, I felt underprepared and perplexed. I wasn't ready to just go to another region of the country and live there for a whole year. I didn't want to leave where I was comfortable, and there was so little time to put myself together and travel a 12-hour journey. I did it anyway, and here I am now, having done exciting new things in the last 12 months.

This is probably the fourteenth entry in this diary of mine, Diary of a Patriotic Corper. It's the last, perhaps, and it is to commemorate the completion of my time as a Corper under NYSC in Rivers State, Nigeria. I wasn't sure what my entries would be, though, but somehow, here I am at the fourteenth. I am not sure if I thought I'd make as many or fewer entries. What matters is that I did. I'll link them all at the bottom of this post as a collection—for closure. Yet again, however, I'm not sure what "this entry" will contain.

Interacting and living with many people from other tribes who speak different languages made the experience rather interesting. I have heard of and seen food combos that I didn't think could exist. I mean, pepper soup and rice surprised me, but it sure is a tasty combo. And the soups? Heh, I don't know how many kinds I have tasted in this last year alone, but my taste buds sure know they've been somewhere indeed. Afang, oha, native, banga, and many others that only my nose and mouth can describe.

Energy. Ah...energy and lifestyle are very different across different places in Nigeria, as far as I know. How they are in Lagos, Ogun State, Rivers State, Akwa Ibom, and Delta—a few places I have been—are not all the same, but mostly enlightening, if you look at the bright side. When you're in Rome, just behave like you're in Rome. Because why do they close shops and all at 6 p.m. here in this part of Rivers State?? That's by the way...

My Place of Primary Assignment (PPA) was a technical secondary school where I taught physics. It was in this national service that I learned that teaching is not exactly my calling and that it is way harder than I taught. If I should start with the 300 examination scripts I had to mark every time ehn...

The lodge I lived in. Heh...I never would have expected a Corpers' lodge to be as fascinating as it was. I bonded with many people, to some extent, lived with different people at different points, changed rooms a few times, and experienced people in more colours than the rainbow itself has. It is well. I'll miss the people, the bonds, and the environment, that's for sure.

The last day, yesterday, was the passing out parade (POP) day. Ideally, there should be a parade where we'd march and all, but omo, nothing like happened o. I wasn't surprised, though. I already knew it was going to be like that. Instead, I found myself sitting for hours just to collect the evidence that I served—the certificate.

After my yansh don press finish for sitting for hours, I eventually got mine, and then, the main koko of the event—paparazzi. I took as many photos as I could with a lot of my friends, and after that, we went to "treat ourselves right" at a nice eatery. And, my fans, that was the end of the day o. Period. Nothing more than that, but guess who is now an Ex-Corper? Yes, you guessed right. Olujay! Or wait...who else were you thinking? Unless you're also one. Anyway...

I am thankful, grateful, privileged, and excited to be done with yet another phase of my life. Now, real life is real lifing...no more 33K allowance that I was doing big boy with (omoooooo X 17). It is well. Now, on to the next...