Family and Christmas

Today's Christmas. It's a bit sedate and tranquil here. I'm with my family in the city of Ibadan. My dad isn't here with us. He'd be around by the weekend. My sisters are really making me proud. They just fixed that chicken by themselves and preparing the Christmas meal! I guess everyone is just growing up. You know what it feels like to be the only guy and the first child. Too much for someone to carry many times but a great deal of encoragement to face the bigger challenges in life.

Yesterday I wrote about friendship and people generally. Today, I write about family. I woke up about two hours ago to finish a movie I started yesterday night; "This Christmas". What a coincidence? Never mind me. I've had this movie for two months now, or thereabout. I hadn't just had time to see it, so what a better time than the Christmas eve/ the d-day itself. 

Aside, I'm thanking to God for PHCN. There seems to be some improvement in the power supply. I guess my prayers were answered. I got home to some near constant electricity supply, courtesy of a rich guy in my hood who got PHCN to fix a transformer right in front of my parents' house and glam, so is it! So, I could afford the luxury to watch the movie.#

"This Christmas" is a drama. I love Drama. It's so real, and something you'd identify with. I identify with Ma Dea Whitler's (Loretta Devine) family. It's a real African American family whose foundation (I mean the father) is long gone to the throes of divorce, but getting by with the help of another man, Ma Dea's new man. Quite a wonderful father figure, he was able to bring in Quitin, the family's eldest child; and quite a strong head himself. It's just a wonderful family. The story basically is about MaDea Whitler's family, and all its members coming home for the Christmas Celebration. 

Of course, typical of any family, the Whitler's family has its problems, collective and individual ones. It's a family strongly in need of a foundation (a family head), a mentor, someone to look up to. So much, Ma Dea wanted Quitin to be, but the guy won't just take responsibility. Regina King (can't remember her character name again) was having problems with her hubby. He's cheating on her after sacrificing everything for him; a college degree, a career, and catering for two lovely kids. She was angry when her sister pointed this out to her. It's a great lesson on dealing with one's problems and getting it sorted out! She's really angry and it's just deepening how she dealt with it. Her sister's a show biz person with a blossoming career out of town, but lonely inside. MaDea once told her, "your career won't keep you warm at night". Chris Brown's character is the youngest child in the house who's passionate about music but Madea won't allow another Quitin in her house who refused to take responsibilities. So is the story of this wonderful family at home for Christmas. There were confrontations, serious issues to be dealt with. Vetting out of anger, hatred, emotions, love, concern, worries et al against and for each other. So much outpouring of emotions. They all need healing collectively and individually.

Healing did come. Regina King dealt with her husband, tricked him into the bathroom and gave him the beating of his life! The sister found love with Mekhi Phifer and invited him to New York to come and visit her. Quitin learnt to take responsibility and came back after a merry-go-round back to his family. Madea Whitler later learnt to let her ex-husband go and accepted the new guy in her life as the mender of her broken heart. The other brother, God I forgot this guy's name in "Safe the Last Dance II", and "Stomp the Yard", reunited with her just married, white girl after a stint in detention over going AWOL from the Army. It's such a healing at Christmas.

Honestly, I can't but ponder over my own family as well. Unlike Quitin, I've learnt to take on responsibility at a young age and always loving of my two beautiful sisters. My family isn't where I've always anticipated it to be. Though a small family of five (father, mother and three children), it's constantly on a rocking oxen, galloping on a pot-hole ridden road, enhanced by my pop's financial status. But I'm hopeful. The pain of yesterday can in no way be compared with the blessings of tomorrow. It's so incomparable!

I love my family, and I look forward to those images where we'll all gather around the table with so much foods et al, probably with my sister's children and mine, and our spouses passing food across the table on a Christmas in any location on the face of the earth. Then we as a family can then look back at our travails and challenges and give glory to God. I believe it, so I crave and pray for a long life and prosperity for my parents and so much love in my family. 

May the good Lord give us the serenity to pass through this phase so we can better appreciate the riches when they come and live peacably with, and appreciative of one another.

I guess the Rice and Chicken is almost done.

Merry Christmas

Seasons Greetings

Dear All,

 

It's quite amusing how days pass by and metamorphose into weeks, months and then years. Recently, I was discussing with an elderly friend. He joked that adding up his present age with the age, he'd be seventy year old. He'd better start planning something to be remembered for by the world after death. That's thoughtful, more so, for me. I can't believe it; that the year had just passed by. Just like that! However, I think looking back, we can ponder over some things. My bible told me that if one can reason, one will praise God for his goodness.

 

This year marks the end of a phase for me, and interestingly, the beginning of another one. I graduated from the University with a good grade, and in less than a week, I started another programme. The Bar Part II Qualification to the Nigerian Bar, I later found out to be an arduous task. Things are different now. As pioneers of the new curriculum, coping with the new curriculum could be a pain in the arse. Thanks to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc which has continuously held on to power all the time. At the Law School, we had to plan our lives around the 8:00PM, and 12:00 midnight to use laptops for study. We don't have a choice but to stay in our group meetings some hours after a marathon class now called "workshop". The workshop is more of an overview of what you're expected to have read, and God saves you from embarrassment if you can't say something to any of the questions posed at you by the Almighty Law School Lecturers. It's a mélange of the sometimes amusing but many times shocking revelations of ignorance and lackadaisical attitude on the students' part. The most of all, of course, are the instances of our Foreign Colleagues. It's just exhilarating. So, you just sit tight at the group meetings if you're not as smart, or good, as some sharp ones in the group who'd muster some energy to spend time in the library or cope with the heat of their rooms to study and provide answers to the task posted over the internet for the next day work. So, we all sit down to soak up all we could for our lectures. If I must confess, it's a good thing we're doing at the law school. It just makes everything so practical that you can't just easily forget them.

 

The best thing God created in the world is people but He later regretted creating man. But His love for man, and his potentials are quite exponential so, he had no choice but to redeem him to Himself. I love people, relationships et al. I don't know how one could live in this world without people. I won't take up Will Smith's role in "I am Legend". I'll just pass out. Moreover, I don't envy Robinson Crusoe at all with how much credit many scholars and erudite people had given to the book and its author, Daniel Defoe. No doubt Crusoe thinks he's the best but of course he is in his own world. Funnily there are some like that even in the midst of us all. They see themselves as the only one in it. This is different, in my own opinion, from being the best amongst the equals.

 

In 2008, I've met so many people and made few friends. Of course I hit the 200 in my list of friends on facebook. That's astronomical! I don't envy the likes of Dobi, Seun Kelani and all who have 600 and 3,000 + friends on facebook. No doubt, Facebook is one of the great inventions of our time. But in relating with these people, it's surprising how much many  of them have in common that you can group them into classes, so you have like shares, classes of friends. I'd once written on types of friends, and it's a bit easy but not too easy to classify these interesting people. I still think about my old friends while meeting and making new ones. Those history we share can't be measured or compared with any things. I love them because they encourage, soothe, challenge, and prod me to being what I believe God has destined me to be.

 

I'm glad the 2008 came. It's a stepping stone for me to greater things. I'm very positive for 2009 and very expectant of greater things. To everyone - my friends, mentors, mentees, brothers, sisters, cousins and all, I wish you a merry Christmas and a prosperous 2009 in advance.

 

May the joy of this season be with you all from now on, and forever.

 

From me to you,

Segun Aluko

Studying in the US: My Two Friends as a case study

I really don't understand Doj and Barbara anymore.

Of course I'd rather do my LLM in United States of America. I've got other options though. Studying at the United Kingdom could also be a wonderful experience. At least Aderonke just finished her programme on Human Resources Management from Aberdeen and I guess it's fine. As bad as I won't want to study in UK, I think it's quite easy and flexible. Aderonke posts beautiful pictures on facebook often. Those pictures are just glamorous.

Chimezie is also in UK precisely at the prestigious University of Dundee, Scotland. My own Okpo to ikeneze often comes on yahoo messenger and nobody taught him to sign up on facebook to keep tab on what's going on among friends on the world wide web.

But my wonderful Barbara, like her colleague at the USA is so different. Log on to yahoo messenger and the next thing you see on Ufuoma's status is "busy", or "in the library". The latest on Ufuoma Barbara Akpotaire's status on facebook is short of amusing one. It reads: "Ufuoma Barbara Akpotaire had plans of studying in the library but now I know getting to the library is another exam". Please help me ask her how she's been going about it since she started going to the library. For anyone who cares to know, Barbara may just end up getting the best thesis or having a doctorate before she returns to Nigeria.

Doj the blaze is really blazing hot with his books. My pado now don't even have time to respond to posts on his facebook. Unlike before, Doj will spend time to reply messages and posts on his facebook. Besides, Doj would reply your messages until lately.

Anyway, Chuka isn't doing badly on facebook. Mr Ikuazom's so changed! Now looking dandy and casually chic. It's just cool to see that our Don! is doing great in US "studying".

I'm wondering if going to do LLM in US of A most especially at Cornell and UC, Berkeley is the best thing! Somebody help. 

To you Doj and Barbie, you must bag awards! I wish you all the best in your exams. Wish you guys come out in flying colours.

... At the Law School

Today's a bit funny. I made a new friend. Her name is Onosen. She's dark, tall and lovely. She smiles sheepishly although she finds that a bit funny. She smiles shyly. She dresses well. 

Onosen is from Edo State. We've exchanged casual greetings for the past one week since I noticed her. She sat two rows behind me in the "House of Lords". The "House of Lords" is not in England. It is right here in Nigeria at the Lagos campus of the Nigerian Law School. I got to find out that the nomenclature has been handed down from generation of lawyers at the Law School. It's been reiterated even by the lecturers during workshops. Even the lecturers must have sat at the "House of Lords". You'd have easily known that the way they refer to the House of Lords with admiration.

This morning was quite cool although I woke up feeling heavy. I slept quite late yesterday night. Some unfinished business I had to deal with. With my roomies, we walked out of our hostels, a result of a battle at taking a decent bath. Staying at the Law School could be worse than at the university  but it's a sacrifice you must take to be a barrister at law.

After a meal of white rice and plaintain a stone throw from the hostels, I walked into the auditorium with my laptop. While trying to get a space, Onosen invited me to a seat and that's how we became friends. She'd have loved to browse the internet on my laptop, but she couldn't have it for long as soon as we started lectures.

I only spoke to her about 30 minutes ago and it's  quite interesting how down to earth she is. She told me about her family and her aspirations in life. She'd want to teach God's word to people. She feels her mind goading her to doing that but she finds it hard to approach people or talk in front of people. She's shy. It's fun talking to her and I really enjoyed every bit of it. We're going to meet again tomorrow to get to know each other.