shirak!

This should have come before the last post.

Decided to take a vacation to America in January.
Yes, January.
Bad choice.
But, it worked out pretty ok.
Spent most of the time in Jersey and a couple of days in Austin.
Its amazing, these 2 places are almost as different as night and day.
My time in Austin with a friend and his wife was awesome!
They took out time to make sure I enjoyed meself.
So was Jersey. Actually drove out one night with my host in Jersey to Atlantic city! - A renowned gambling town. Went in to places like Ceasar's place, Trump plaza etc. Places I only saw on TV.
Guess what, I lost $30 gambling. Yes, I know. It was a shame.
Also took a day trip to New York, the big apple. Yes!
Hung out at Madison Square Garden, broadway, fifth avenue, the Goddess of liberty, Empire State building etc etc. The list is endless. Pity the cold did not allow me to make the best of it.

I don't think there is anything more valuable than friends.
Find them and keep 'em. For life.

Its amazing to notice how the environment influences the way people live their lives.
Currently on vacation in the US. Believe me, it is a whole different environment.
Thought of myself as a liberal person but I'm not too sure anymore.
All the stereotypes I grew up with in Nigeria came to the fore. No thanks to movies and music videos. - african americans are either gangsters/drug dealers or 'hoes'. To some extent, that is sometimes true, but not always true. (common entrance exam)

Actually got into an argument with a Nigerian American about these stereotypes and she almost bit my head off.
Nigerians here actually work a lot harder that those of us here. Most of them are great people.
Its funny, I think if I work as hard as they do here, I'd be a $ millionaire already!

I thought that cold could never kill a Naija guy until I came here. Believe me, if we had the weather they have, (-3 to 3 C) half of Nigeria would die in 24hrs.
Refused to wear winter hats because I thot they made me look like a gangster, I had to get one the next day after I almost died of frostbite of the head. (If that exists)


Coming over here was great for me. Opened my eyes well, well.
In Nigeria, we care too much about what people say and we are too interdependent. An extreme. America has the other extreme. I think it has got to be balanced to some a large extent.

But, I will come back to Naija a different person.
Life is too precious and short to live my life the way other people expect me to.
Its between me and God.
I plan to enjoy it.

another year strolls in.
just like that.
Its the big year for me.
The big three-oh year.
Yikes!
The time of kidding meself of my youth is drawing to a close.
My bones feel a bit cranky and brittle already.

Thank God, though.
Its because if him I'm still here.
YES, I am a believer. A Christian. A follower of Christ.

Been off work for a week now. Great.

We've had incidents in the country this past year that has made me do some thinking about life and my purpose.
If I die today, what would I leave behind? How many lives would I have influenced? Would my footprints remain on the sands of time? Like Achilles, would my name be remembered?

Answer is NO. Not yet. Not until my purpose is fulfilled.
So, what is my purpose?
.
..
...
....

That's my business.

Back to the new year.
What are me plans?
Priority 1: Get a lovely apartment by quarter 1
Priority 2: Get admitted for an MBA degree in one of Europe's top universities by mid year - online or fulltime
Priority 3: Find a beautiful lady to share my life with. Timing is flexible
Priority 4: Become God's leading man. NOW

These are not my resolutions. They are my plans.
Resolutions.....?
Not too sure of them.
I might do a blog of that later.
I could do with a lot of improvements now.