LE GRAND DEBUT

MARCH 22 2010…..LE GRAND DEBUT

As I type this I'm still torn between two wills.

The first is to curl up on my bed and sleep. The second is to write this and at least envisage me posting it tonite as well even if I don’t do it physically!

However, I'm genuinely tired… not that I had a helluva day at school but it was the events that followed after I think?…coupled with the fact I am mega hungry now and…in fact I have a third battle of the wills…I want to cook some pasta with my leftover sauce from Sunday as I have not eaten proper food today except cheese and baguette!( And blood oranges...) but I’m so tired… I'm sitting here… almost motionless*sigh*

I just finished labeling some of my things from school and mehn am I tired! Mehn do I miss my RIO!!! Pls Folashayo and Adeiye shey u feel me?! My pinky toe has developed yet another acutely excruciating blister!!! Which kain whahala bi dis! My right foot is sore as well and it’s so painful walking! And for this zones u no fit slow-walk at all o u go dey waka like say na Olympics!

(The above was being typed until my Skype pops up with my aunty Tosin calling me…a surge of energy somehow rushed through me! We talk for about 30mins and during that time I cooked my fantasy pasta that had a generous sprinkling of parsley and Good Lord was it DELICIOUS!!!)

The vibration from my BB did more than wake me up this morning…it reminded me that today was a day I couldn’t afford to be late!

Yes…today was my first day of school… on the surface...but at the root of my mind…today marked the beginning of the sprout/bud of a new phase of destiny for me.

Since my alarm went off at 6.00am I snooze it for a bit and sleep small…yes chefs need their rest! But at 6:20 I finally get up, staring back at my bed for a bit like it could do with some more lying down…but I motion further to allow my feet touch the floor so I could prise myself up…as I get on my feet I start worshipping……my my my! Early morning worship is sweet!

Like Pastor Tosin Sowemimo would put it…I officially prayerlize my year ahead! Anyway...details between Jesus and I!

After my good morning Jesus session…I move to get out all my documents I think I would probably use at school; so as taking out what I would wear…ok what am really saying is… I launch one plaid shirt I had been dying to wear out! Lol! After that’s done I glance at the time and see its 7:38am! Yeh!!! Sorry Ouussh!! I dart into the bathroom and like lighting I'm done bathing. The way I changed into my clothes mad Clark Kent look like a millipede! 8.00am I was out and for some strange reason I locked my door fast even if I still don’t know which key locks up or down instead I got it on the first tries.

Then the Parisian-walk begins...aka “the running walk” all the way to the Pantheon bus stop, however I stop to get a baguette because I didn’t have change to buy a one way ticket to school…as my week pass had expired! I choose a healthy variety with lots of seeds and natural stuff in it...and oh my was is hot and delicious! Exiting the shop, I also execute another Parisian tradition…”eating as you walk at 100km/h!” I briskly progress towards the Pantheon and when I have the Pantheon in view I steal a few moments to awe at the colossal splendor, when another structure shows up and seems to block my view too..in the middle of my awe and confusion… I realize its moving…”YEH THE BUS!!” omo I did the only logical thing…I RAN!!!! Paris tradition or not! Omo Bolt for fear sprinting na! Mehn! I sprint sote I fest the bus! LOL!!!

I dey wonder before “why dey dey sprint for dis place sef?”omo…I learn am today!

An out-of-breath-baguette-holding-me eventually gets on the bus and I'm Vaugirard bound. With my timer on I relax but simultaneously look out as well before I miss my stop. On the way I tried to think of what my first day would be like?

1. Would I make good friends today?

2. Would I find another at least African student? I trust that the possibility of me seeing another Nigerian was 0.1%...ok I'm being polite...0%!

3. Is my blood now rising? Is my heart rate any faster?

Then….nothing…really nothing….*sighs*.

My baguette starts to bore my taste buds at that point and actually started drying my mouth! So I put it away and down the bottle of water I had carried with me.

I get of my stop and start walking to school…I look at my watch and timer. The timer said 20 mins etc seconds..and the watch said 8:20am. At that point the following thoughts ran through my mind

1. “Guy now?!!! How faar?!! Which one u dey puma like this? School na 9:30am, u don land one hour before!”

2. “Omo na Covenant Univeristy blood o!

3. LWKMD! (Laff Wan Kill Me Die)

4. Hope say dey no go vex say I too early o! they do dey look me like I say my blood to dey hot?!

I put an end to all those thought when I realized I was in front of my school.

I entered with the pride and confidence of a prospective Prime Minister or the about-to- be-crowned Prince of Wales! I felt like this was the day I would be initiated to a fraternity or Knighted more like! On my inside I was probably dancing “Alanta” and doing the “Chicken Noodle Soup”…But my outward appearance played it cool…placing my phone on silent, I push the glass door and meet one of the ladies who hands me some forms and with her poor English jamming my poor French we figure out my name sha and By the way for my school I used my full name..ORITSEGBUBEMI…even some Nigerians I'm sure can’t pronounce that! (I now felt sorry for all these French, Japanese and all the endless nationalities that worked with the administration!) So she didn’t bother she just used my surname which was better for her and looked for my ID card; when she found it was missing my picture!

In my mind…

1. “hey…ermm auntie…hhmmm….if na play make e stop o!!! Na complete school fees I pay na! if na joke..make e stop o!”

2. “Ah! I sure say sen my pishur juoin na?”

But my mouth blurts out…”do you need me to give you a passport picture?” (with a tone that was filled half fear and half confidence) And she said I could do so. I whip out a passport from the stash I carry about, hand it to her and feel at ease!

I go to the winter garden and start filling out the survey and some other forms some old student s that passed me looked unhappy and unflustered…

I thought to myself “shet! That’s going to be me in a few months…yuck!”*sighs*

After I had finished, I was moved to the demonstration room where we were offered tea coffee and croissants and juice...omo I was shy at first to drink anything but oh well I gave in to coffee first with a croissant….the room started filling in small by small…people started trickling in bit by bit…I had met a guy named Antonio by the way…he’s Portugese but speaks fluent French as his mother is French..at that point he mentioned that I thought to myself “darn it! My wasn’t my mother French?!” oh well at 9:35am the room had considerably filled up…from Japan to Australia to Brazil and the Americans they came in..excpet any African... why was I getting my hopes high sef? Hmmm… Ifelt both bad and good… bad because every other person has someone from their place, why not me?...then good because I was the shining star for Nigeria and Africa!

The introduction was done in French first then translated in English…and everyone of us whether you understand French or not you look at the French woman talk whether you dey grab or not u go just dey look sha, the when the English own go land I go hear join! The intro went on for like an hour 20 mins during which we all introduced ourselves and where we were coming from and what we would be studying; we were about 50 of us and after which everybody “un-shyly clawed” at the croissants and drinks!

During the introduction, a guy in front of me mentioned he was from the Philippines and I cast my mind back to Edith my cousin’s nanny(…I became somewhat alert in my mind...”ooh…I know someone from your country you know”…like…like that made me his best pal now…mcheww was I thinking) then I noticed him heading for the orange juice and voraciously ripping the cap of the tetra pack and since I was heading for the juice too I wait behind him and introduce myself and we start talking…and gosh do I fall in love…(straight-chef-respect love o!)

1. He was 21..just a year younger..but what the hell!

2. He has been working professionally in a hotel in the Philippines since he was 19!

3. Hes been cooking un-professionally since 10!

4. He had visited all the Michelin Starred Restaurants in Paris and started saving money to go and eat there! I hadn’t even thought of that!!!

See why I love this guy already!!!! He’s my kind of guy!!!!!!

Did I mention also

1. AND HE IS DOING THE GRANDE DIPLOME!!!!!!! 50 TAAAASAAAN DOOLLLAAHHHSSSS! JUSSSTSS LYS DASTS! GOLSH!

2. YELSK!!! $50,000!!!

3. OMO U GO FEAR PASSION!

4. ME whey dey do cuisine diploma I know wetin I pay…ah! He is really styrings!!!!

So yes my first made friend…as time went on I met Leticia an Athenes girl, Kristen an elderly lady from the States, Jeff from Taiwan, Wiji from Taiwan as well and a Brazilian guy who I can’t remember his name now.

Then my blood really started to rise when we receive our uniforms…my my my my!!!!!

Strolling into the locker room…I had never been so excited about getting dressed…for the first time I didn’t care whether I didn’t have a six-pac or at least a flat stomach, or that my chest wasn’t like a NACK model’s own or that my love handles or lower belly fat was exposed!…I take of my clothes and Try on my uniforms…I was nervous also because I couldn’t remember the measurement I sent and was praying so hard that all this weight I had put on would not further embarrass me destroying my freshly mustered confidence in the process!!!!!!!

But to my comforting surprise… the chef jacket was 2 sizes bigger than me! It was like a canopy on me!!!

HUURRAAAYYY!!!!!! For the first time in Paris something was ACTUALLY BIGGER than me!!!! FELT LIKE I WAS A SIZE DOUBLE ZERO SEF! With all confidence I IMMEDIATELY complain it’s not my size, my size is guessed by the ladies and I get my fit for my top on the spot and I got the trousers later…

After our small break we have our first class…but it’s an introductory one..Briefing us on all the rules and regulation...omo some kain CU tins...if you are 10mins late forget class and if you’re absent more than 6 times…forget your exams!!

By 3:00pm I had finished my class and collected my uniforms and locked them away in my locker…then Leticia and I got chumsy and hooked up to go and get my security shoes…with all our excess baggage of knives and uniforms we waddle through the metro and finally arrive at the store and they had my size thankfully…then she went home and I went to H&M AND DELAVEINE to find some knock about shoes for evrydayin Paris…picked up a black pair of tennis shoes at H&M and started to head home…I do so by trying to look for a bus first...but it proved uneventful so without no other option; the train I board.

I get home and I'm soooooo tttiirreeeddd!!!!!!! I drop all my load on my bed and just sit and open my laptop to YouTube a bit….then start labeling all my stuff from school….

Tomorrow there no school so I'm free but still have few things to do…mail aunty Toyin, check out something for Taiye and Alero, open an account…abit sha…

Now I can go to bed with a oversize sense of purpose…school has started….ii ask God to bless and help finish and ave

To all my family…Grandpa…all those that called before and after, spent nights at my place, sent/gave money…LOVE U TO BITS!

Bon Nuit

March 21 2010...The Eve of School Resumption

March 21 2010

Between arranging my impulse bought items and the aromatic wisps of steam filling the air coming from the chicken I am boiling to add to the semi-stew I made this morning and American idol on YouTube…I finally settle down to write and post this tonight! As I was touched my a message today by some Bishop on Inspiration TV this morning “Delay Procrastination!” so in order to live up I promised myself I would write and post tonight…Evidently…promise fulfilled!

When my alarm went off this morning…tow things went on in my mind

1. Yippee!!! Time to watch service and see Fountain and Pastor!!!!

2. Seriously! Its 7:42 already?!!! Can U pls wait time? I wanna sleep small…prewwy pls?

However, with a cocktail of “a grudged will to rise up and a strong will to go to the house of the Lord” I hoist myself up and drag my freshly awakened system towards my laptop on the table, jab at my keyboard, navigate to church’s website and see that Pastor hasn’t started preaching yet, so I whisper some words of thanksgiving to God and get with cleaning my over priced cubicle called a studio flat!

But I do so with all sense of responsibility and some level of gladness in my heart (but not as enthusiastically as my grandmother who still believes you should bend down to mop floors and brush them too! If she sees me vacuuming I'm in whahala!) mid way through all this, Pastor eventually comes up but at this time I had started peeling potatoes and frying tomatoes onions and garlic I had chopped up earlier to make myself a copy cat of my Nigerian Sunday-Sunday Breakfast…Yam and Stew… so I decide to multitask…as service was going on I was cooking whilst listening to allow the Rhema to hit me like a bullet! Today Pastor preached about true Christianity and how God loves you just the way you are; he used the widow who didn’t have anything left and the prophet asked her to bring all she had and even borrow more vessels for God to use etc; he also made me realize I can only operate properly in grace by knowing that I was bought at a high price and the devil has no power over me if I am truly giving all to Him! Ok I seem to be preaching now abi…ok…but before I drop the Mic…lol! I also listened to Joel Osteen in between first and second service and boydid he hit the home run!!!!! He gave a profound Rhema on God being the God of Acceleration. The message was simple but mind-blowing! When God steps in what takes you 20 years normally to achieve God can get you there in 2 years! He now went on to describe the process of wine making and how it takes minimum of 3-5 years to plant harvest and bottle and that the more the wine is aged the better and that can take up to 20 years sef!...at this point I'm like WT! whats your point now?...then like a Cobra he strikes! “you see in the bible what was the first miracle Jesus performed? He turned water into wine” he said it with that is near commercial/voice over tone coupled with his almost permanent smile that looks like a campaign for Colgate! Lol! “what takes 5-20 years to do God can do in a minute with Water!!!!”

YYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

SPEAKING IN TOUGUESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR LIKE 10 MINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KAI! THE RHEMA ENTERED ME!!!!

OK…moving on…while my stew was bubbling away…I kept on feeling so insecure that there wasn’t enough pepper I it. So I constantly chopped more slices of Rodo inside and kept stirring…after throwing in maggi and some herbs, I place the lid and let it simmer gently. To my computer I turn to watch second service; the player refuses to play! “Ahan!!! Wich kain satan bi dis wan na!” I sliently think to myself… or “maybe I should call Dele in I.T at church and scream at him!” I sha use sense for the internet and refreshed a coupla times and volia! It worked!

Like I said I was mulit tasking… I was also reminding myself that after church I had to test run taking the bus to school as I found out I didn’t need the metro! There are two direct buses! 10misn away from me! And trust Oyibo! If the bus dey come in 2mins…true true two mins u go see am! Chai! If u like dey wait for BRT! U go wait sote!!!

Secondly I was also going to check out Chateau Rouge where the African Market was more on the behalf of Alero Danner, my cousin who has been in France for 6 months (she studied at a different culinary school but she specialized in pastry and sweets stuff she on a dreadful IT program she cant wait to get over with!) and has virtually lost her mind as she has not tasted Egusi, Efo RiRo, Eba, Yam and even just plain pepper! So she had begged me to buy her some stuff to make Egusi when she gets into Paris in April. She also added a warning that if I don’t do this it would bring family problem!

After service was over, I hoover my wanna be Persian Rug, tidy up all the undone work and venture to go take a bath then set out; well as usual the laptop silently lured me its keyboard! And to make matters worse Tayo Ola was online so was Tosin Oyewole! *sigh*

So chatting and surfing, with Israel Houghton’s “You’ve Won My Affection” playing in the background (AWESOME SONG BTW!!!!!! I HAVE IT ON REPEAT!!!) This goes on till about 12noon when I obey the procrastination message once again and say no to all this distraction! So I say an official bye-bye to my chatters and swiftly get into the bathroom and out too!

At 1:40 something or so, after finally finding what to wear and what I was taking out…I get to the bus stop and was just in time to catch the bus! Because the next one was due in maybe an hour’s time!!! So I keep my eyes glued to the top of the bus where the stops were listed coupled with looking at the area I was passing through so as to be sure I was on track! Simultaneously cross checking my trusty Map book!!!

The bus ride was roughly 20 mins, I arrive at Rue D’Alleray, I look at my map connect the dots and figure that I was maybe 200m from school. So briskly, I walk down, cross checking with my map at each intersection be it a parking lot sef! Was constant cross checking. All in the bid to not miss my way!

So, easily I figure the journey out and locate my school’s street and evidently my school!

I whip out my phone and see that the journey is really about 30-35mins this way. Yes I had my stopwatch watch running!

At the entrance o from I try to imagine what tomorrow would be like…

1. Would it be like my first day 100 level in CU?..nah definetly tucsher!!!

2. Would I be in awe?

3. Would I meet good people and possibly one I can share the flat at Convention I was eyeing?

At that point I decide that tomorrow can handle itself and God was in charge. So I think my dear Jesse Jags “wetin dey” was still playing so earphone plug into my ear and I trot to the metro and I'm Château Rouge bound!

After a rather fast 25min train ride…when the train doors prise apart one sniff of the air…I knew this wasn’t regular paris! Then my eyes confirmed the gut feeling in my stomach…they were black people everywhere!!!!

NOW I'M WRITING THIS IN CAPS SO U CAN READ MY DISCLAIMER!!!

I'M NOT PREDUJIUED TO BLACK PEOPLE! ONLY THE GHETTO IGNORANT ONES!!!!

With the clarification above I move on…

Now when I say black people…these where they type of people that were either soo black they looked like polish or they looked like Hajia Suliat! Was so tempted to speak the last Yoruba to so many of them but sadly strictly French! I started having mixed feelings even more when I came out of the station

Rising from the underground, my bladder reminds me sharply that it needed to be emptied! So I promise it that the first fast food restaurant I see I would go in and grant its wish! And like an answer to my bladder’s prayer KFC stands strong like a city in a hill that cannot be hidden. As I venture to access the entrance I notice how dense the ghetto presence was! From the women I their Ankara and coats, to the very black Hausa looking guys, the evident Muslim Alfas, the young men in their ghetto fashion and hood swagger, I knew I was in the hood! In that flash second I feel so insecure and my insecirty was heightened when I noticed that the only white people I saw were a desne collection of police men in their full regalia! I thought to myself “na so si place take ruff! Wey police dey stand for day break like dis?! Chei!” following that thought I first unconsciously then consciously hold tight to my bag! Then my BB!!!! And rush into KFC to use the Loo…when I enter KFC I think to myself…”hmm some measure of safety now” only for my reality to be buzzed by the sight of two huge and hefty body guards in suits!!!! Standing in the hall way and one in front of the toilet!!!!!!!! GOSH!!!! In that second I think my bladder empathized with me because all of a sudden my urge to piss seemed to have died! So I grudgingly make my way to the counter, I join the queue and swoop the area…GOSH all ghetto!!! Women with their kids eating like animals! Their makeup resembled something out of Dinosaur Age! In fact a lady in front of me was so ghetto her French sounded the same! She had on this cleavage boosting top with a net that revealed her more disgusting chest! Her hair was like an unkempt farmland! Let’s not even start with the nails! Anyways it’s my turn and I order a variety chicken meal, mercifully, the guy spoke some English so we Deejayed French and Anglais and my order came through. As I made my way to my table I won’t lie I did the following

1. I cursed in my mind…shit! 7 euros just to take a piss!!! Beacsue I dey fear this guys make dem no com bust my head say y I com piss for where I no chop!”

2. Stole a glance at the guards and wondered the damage they were possible off since they were hired to keep peace in this highly ghettorized hood!!!!

I find my way to a bar stool and start munching away at my fries when these two guys who were looking like some hustlers take a seat near me at that point I cling even closer to my bag and cross checking that my BB was in my inner pocket!!!!! I take my frist bite of my chicken! Mama mia! It was delixcious!!!! I devoured the chicken and unaplogetically the bones too! Na my 7 euros ke?! When all was said nad done I boldly make it to the toilet…on my way I had also calculated how I was going to buy hand sanitizer to wash my whole body after I use the toilet of this hood KFC..as I venture to enter, the guard hollers something in French…in my mind I'm like ”ah! Oga na mistake I come like dis na out I bin dey go I miss my way… no ves abeg…u no say I new for dis town” with all the beggary tones in the world! But I bustle up some boldness and ask in French and English “oh someone is in there?” “Yes someone in” he replies “good he speaks English phew!” entering the toilet eventually! My surprise had no rival as the place was spotless!!! It was so well designed even my toilet in Nigeria no fine rish am! It smelled of better perfume sef!

After my release of nature….I take the boldness a bit further and ask for directions to the market and the guy tells me that it’s just outside to my right! So I head out and what my eyes see made me start to miss home a bit.

There was yam, palm oil, rodo pepper, Egusi, dry fish pan nla, stock fish, garri, maggi, iru powder, Exeter corned beef, green leaf, okro, red onions, sweet potato, cocoyam, weavon Ankara, beans and so on…I was like mehn now were talking but then again that gut feeling returned…cos all I saw was stereotypes; Arab young men selling knock-off Louis bags, so were the black men, and even the African produce shops were run by mostly Chinese!!!! Only two stores had black people running it!! Then it started to hurt…..

1. Why are the blacks the relegated lot?

2. Why did I feel happy at one moment then sad the next? When all I could see was second class and even 10^th class citizenry!

3. Why didn’t I see someone dressed responsibly or even if they were trying to be fashionable at least look proper?

4. Isn’t it a pity I don’t feel safe amongst my own race? Gosh!!!

Swallowing a virtual anti depressant pill...i.e. me consciously blanking all this thoughts from my mind, I decide to tour the neighbourhood a bit. Stepping into a store called “CITY SHOP” which was supposed to be an innocent window shopping session turned out to be my justified impulse shopping spree! I'm saying justified because the items there where stuff I needed and there CHEAP!!! I got a Wok for 8 euros!!! Can you beat that! I got some bowls to pack food, a towel to dry my wash ups (as I don’t have space to allow anything air dry!) two fine plastic bowls (that I'm sure my mother would obtain me when she comes) for 1Euro! So yes I couldn’t resist but like I said justifiable shopping. I would have it for the rest of my stay here and beyond! My Wok by the way is pretty cool!!! Its big and all! Cant wait to make my first stir fry or fried rice!!!

After here I walk into one shop that smelled like expired incense and wanted to check for barbing kit but the smell anf items sold were so putrid and ritual worship like (even if they were crosses and so on in the shop!) I almost started having anti-peristalsis…my feet didn’t even wait for my signal they moved my out sharply!

Being a Sunday the nice shops were closed so I decide to go home.

On the train I change my mind to check out Delaveine or H&M for some cheap shoes I wanted to but for my everyday waka but they didn’t open so I finally decide to go home.

On the escalator out of my metro station, I decide to branch Marche Franprix to get some milk and detergent for the week ahead, after which I randomly opt to have a crepe (waste of money!) on my way home I notice that Faruk’s friend Byron is at the Bar…so I chill with him, relay my Chateau Rouge Experience as well and even 6 foot rugby player heavy built Bryon said “ah omo u try o! even me sef I dey fear rsih dai side!” wow!!!!

Of course have I a drink! Sprite and menthe syrup…. Mocktail tho…hmmm not to bad should buy my own stash and make my own at home….when the clock struck 7:30 I decide to head home and bid Byron goodbye and 3mins later I'm home.

The smell of my stew still hung in the air…hmmm….it felt like home now….

Dropping my shopping and bag and jacket on the sofa I change and start tying this but of course between Facebook, Skype and Yahoo messenger….and yes talking to Tope Akin-Olugbemi my long lost friend for an hour on Skype!!!! **to all the people I chatted with I love still o!**

So its 1:10am and Alero Danner has ordered me to go to bed! My first day of school is a few hours! We skype for a bit and I realy all my Chaetau rouge experience and shes ROTFLAMOing

As I put that thought to motion in my mind…I silently just commit it to God.

I now plan to reach for my bed pillow and fleece cover now to rest for the next few hours as the date “March 22^nd” that had first been what I saw on the Cordon bleu’s website, then on my admission paper, what looked like 3 months away, 4 weeks away, 12 days away is now about 7 hours away!!!! I bless God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To my family….”Grandpa” in particular…God bless y’all

Bon Nuit

Some PICS...PARIS AT NIGHT...MY SCHOOL ETC

The DAYS gone BY

Day five

From the moment I woke up this morning I knew it was going to be a good day.

My schedule was simple.

1. Go to immigration for 9am

2. 2. Get my jacket down the road from immigration

3. Roam Chatelet

How easy and pleasurable.

But trust me; I got carried away on this laptop and YouTube! Watching endless Jennifer Hudson Videos and Bryon Cage and American Idol generally! I almost start running late! I rush to leave the cubicle for 8:20 or so and barely make it to Bastille in time for my 9am appointment.

So I queue and wait my turn and show my documents to signify that I was here for the appointment and the lady takes a look at them and returns that back to me and shows me that my appointment for medicals is for the 25^th not the 15^th! Gosh!!! Me and my hot blood! Why didn’t I read the paper properly!

Anyways I go down the road to the shop were my Jacket was still patiently waiting for me…as it was on sale…I was worried someone would have picked it; but I forgot that Paris is not Lagos where even Iya Ruka must open as the dawn breaks…here 11am up that’s when they open and they even take break for an hour and close the shop at 2pm sometimes sef! So, I wander but not aimlessly; but in the midst of my innocent wandering…I fall victim to the crepe bar, a (bakery) an apple at a super market and a minute maid! Eventually the shop opens and I am literally their first customer! As I watch them pull up the gbogbo e sef. Anyhow I buy my jacket and I feel Parislised!

On my way out I decide to look at another side of Bastille and wow was I in awe! Shop after shop, edifice after edifice and so on then at about 9.30am it occurs to me that I didn’t turn off the heater at home and that I booked a 10am meeting with a lady at my school! Gosh!

So I rush off to my school and on my arrival I meet with another lady instead of Mrs Consavela who took me round and I didn’t know when I had whipped out my BB to start taking pictures of my school! I asked all the questions I needed to ask and glared in awe at the kitchens I was going to be learning in and beginning my professional life as a chef…*tears* lol!

After school I rush home to turn off my heater and drop my excess baggage and decide to stay in.

BTW I now know the secret of French people and why they are not fat…..yes they don’t diet evidently as their only diet is carbs and fat! Yes from croissants to macaroons, ice-cream to crepes, cold fatty meats, endless assortments of breads and sorry I'm forgetting the copious amount of cheese!

So what their secret….

Them sabi waka!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even with the era of MacDonalds in Paris…nobody’s obese!

Did I mention Paris is beautiful?!!!!!! I feel sorry for the enter key on My BB surprised it hasn’t given way and fallen out yet…I’ve taken like a million pictures now!

I'm sleepy now….

God bless my family….

Bonne Huit

WEDNESDAY MARCH 16 2010

Today was in one word…GREAT!

When I woke up this morning I first forget then remember I was going to see Eric and join the class in his cooking school today. With some measure of excitement I drag myself out of bed and realize that its almost 11am! *sigh* (Eric by the way is Yetunde Osodi-Fraedeau’s husband…Aunty Moni Fagbemi hook ups.. )

But of course in true Gbubemi-Style I settle in front of my laptop and waste small time and eventually see I'm running late and rush in and out of my bathroom and head out to the 18^th.

Finding Eric’s school wasn’t so difficult thanks to my map but it was still challenging cos I'm new in Paris and don’t know the ropes well ke!

I arrive at school at say 12:40pm and find out it’s actually a tourist cooking school (it’s called COOK’N WITH CLASS by the way) and it’s just for 4-6 people per class

My My did I have a blast!!!!!!!!! I had a free three course meal, the best wine, cheese and dreamy crème brulee

In fact the menu’s below

SCALLOPS AND MUSSELS WITH A SAFFRON CREAM SAUCE

CELERIAC AND POTATO MASH WITH A PORK TENDERLOIN ROULADE SERVED WITH A COCKTAIL GLASS OF JERUSALEM ARTICHOKE PUREE

PLATTER OF ASSORTED CHEESE AND COLD MEAT

CRÈME BRULEE

FLOWING WHITE WINE

Now see why I said today was great!

In the class apart from the free food and lessons I had received, I met some Americans I found interesting. First I would talk about Katrina who was a beautiful 22 year old girl that reminded me of my cousin Taiye. This girl speaks four languages, French, Spanish, Italian and is learning German! She is running her Master’s program in Electrical Engineering and had worked in Paris, Disney to be precise. She’s also worked in Milan, Germany and is going to do her PHD right after! And she’s only 22!!!!!! Gosh!

Her mother Martha was also very pretty and she was so intrigued by a young boy from Nigeria that came to Paris to pursue a cooking career at Cordon Bleu! But she now dulled by asking if we speak English in Nigeria?! With a look that wondered if I was telling the truth if I was Nigerian or not! In my mind I was like “THIS WOMAN YOU CHOP CRASE?! ABI U SMOKE LALA?! Y U CON DEY TRY TO DEY SOAP MY PPLE?! WETIN DEY WORRY U SEF?! NO BI ENGLISH I DEY TOK?!” but what escaped my lips was “ of course we speak English” with a smile that hid the volcanic lava boiling in my belly!

Then there was Theresa and her husband Pete. Theresa who is a specialist nurse in the ICU, she also has so many degrees and is just good at what she does and talks a lot! Her husband Pete was the opposite. He sat and only ate and hardly said anything. But when he heard I was Nigerian he spoke up and said his first roommate in University was a Yinka Akande who he even took home for Thanksgiving. They also told us stories of their son who’s in the military in Afghanistan and how they hadn’t heard from him in five months! And the one time he called a bomb went off while they were talking to him! Gosh!

When we asked them how they deal with this they answered that they had come to learn to live with it.

Also on the Nigeria note, when I proudly brought up the fact that they should all come to Nigeria at a time, like they planned it, they all chorused “IS IT SAFE?” with a layer of fear and apprehension on their faces! At that point I had milliseconds to think of the right thing to say.

The following ran through my mind

1. Ah! Will I not rep my country?!

2. I know the truth we not get better police o!

3. But it’s not that bad now? Even for Yankee, person dey enter school shoot one whole class na!

But my answer was thus “Oh it is, but some parts aren’t, but if you know someone it makes it better, and you should only go to Lagos, Calabar and Abuja” with a smile I forced with the hope it was assuring enough for them to even give Nigeria a thought in their minds! I also added that Fashola was really making Lagos awesome and how Abuja was just really awesome too and how Calabar had mountains and real tourism tins…all this lobbying in the bid to somewhat reassure them that Nigeria is a safe country..omo after my speech Jonathan suppose gimme special adviser to France ke!

Then South Africa came up and their crime issue and trust me I was quick to point out how high their crime rate was and even Pete concurred and pointed out how towards the World Cup they had even ordered the police to shoot on site…Sorry S.A…I be Naija 4 Life! I had to make you look bad for my dilapidating country to have some form of goodness..sorry!

Moreover, on the food note, as a Nigerian boy I would have loved some spice mehn! Oyibo no dey feel seasoning! Na small salt and black pepper! Me I was like I need some garlic and some more salt at least! But I had to tell myself the following

1. Gbubemi it is free food! Awuf no dey complain

2. This is the style of cusine I'm going to learn and when u master it…spice it and change it all you want!

3. Till then …SHUT UP AND EAT!

Oh! I'm almost forgetting to talk about our teacher PINO!

Hes just the best teacher in the world! He made cooking so easy to do and pleasurable to do! And he not

only was interested in our cooking abilities but in us as people generally and he told us a bit about himself how he hails from Italian and French heritage and started out as a chef in France then New York and moved back to Paris to teach as he got tired from restaurant and catering business.

Anyways at 3pm we rounded up and another class…actually a test run class of cake decorating taught by a cute Australian lady (whose name I can’t remember now). The class went on till 7:30pm but I had to go… I was getting cold and needed to get to FNAC to check out their camera deals.

So arriving the Champs Elyeese rising out of the Metro I was welcomed by sheer awesomeness! I take my hat off again for the Parisians! They town is over killing it! So I eventually find where I was going to and look intricately at the deals but still I decide not to purchase in a rush and instead check out some deals from Yankee since Taiye was coming in a bit.

Arriving home I come to terms with my tiredness and fix myself a cuppa tea and dwindle at my laptop searching Bestbuy, Amazon and circuit city for the best deals…I decide to go with a Canon semi-SLR from Amazon. It costs quite a bit but I'm looking at it as an investment and not just another camera.

So mail the link to Taiye who replies that I should pray her luggage doesn’t get missing this time around! I should beg her to carry it on her neck sef! At least she can be lost by the Airline na! LOL!

Oh well it’s like 1am in the morning and I'm still wide awake…why?

I need to keep the faith by the way I am slipping…! Lord keep me! I need to be Holy focus beacause Paris is a gift and a curse too! It take s God to remain Holy in this town…and I think when your “free” generally! The opportunity to sin is so free! And there no one to warn to scold you! But I know I have God’s In-Dwelling presence! I messed up a bit but God has made me realize even that I am dead to sin! So I'm here to live life to the fullest and not in fear of sin!!!!!! HALLELUJAH!

So to all my family members that allowed God to use them to make Paris a reality…God bless u!

I'm not overtly missing you guys yet but…I love u all!

Bonne Huit

THURSDAY MARCH 18 2010

Before I write anything down I would love to salute the founding fathers of Paris or whoever was in charge of their architecture and their city planning even if they millions of feet below the earth and are the in world beyond…I would love to Thank them for leaving behind such wonders.

Secondly, I don’t care whether it’s my cousin Toun’s Nikon SLR, Uncle Ade Shonubi’s SLR, Sumi-Smart-Cole’s Camera, Dave LaChapelle’s Entourage of cameras, TY Bello’s millions mega pixel gadget, or even the most expensive $10,000 digital camera with all the works or maybe just my not-so-bad BB camera….NOTHING!…I REPEAT NOTHING! Can capture and justify the beautifulness of Paris, nothing cant contain it captivation, nothing can fully grasp it’s majesty expect….your eyes and your mind.

With that being said…to The Taiwo Kamsoons and the Toun Okunnus of this world who have their cameras as their Siamese twins joined at the bag and hands please still go with your camera. At least the camera still serves as a somewhat tangible reminder and can at least give people who weren’t with you a glimpse of the awesomeness you experienced live! And it helps with the reminiscing too!

With that being said,

When I managed to prise my eyes apart this morning I glance at the clock on my Wi-Fi box…12:02pm in my mind I scream “GOSH!!! WHAT AM I DOING IN BED AT THIS TIME SO LATE” but physically I was near paralyzed on my bed, drowsy to bits…like I was a tranquilized elephant! I manage to force myself up from my sofa bed and pay a bit and start trying to figure what I was supposed to be doing today.

But I sit in front of my computer for a bit…dabble up and down the internet whilst multitasking in my brain my plan for the day. So in my subconscious I agree with myself to do some more random walking and touring and I decide to go to Palais Royal Musee Lourve. That’s the museum I always pass but never stopped to look. So I get out of the house for like 2pm and briskly walk to catch a train and I was Musee Lourve Bound.

Let me point out something now, since I had been touring Paris in my own little way, I had seen beautiful buildings and unbelievable edifices but nothing I had seen prepared me for Musee Rivoli Lourve.

Rising out of the metro I come to the face of Palais Royal and the Museum I ask a random man how much it was to go in and he mercifully spoke a level of tolerable English and explained to me it was even free on the first Sundays of each month and nothing more than 10 Euros to get in… so excited I go in and I had not even gotten underground of the museum but I had to consciously use my hand to close my mouth because it was ajar in awe of the history and grandeur my eyes were beholding. I got into just the open space that had other buildings which I can’t remember their names but it was beautiful! Kai! Beautiful is even doing the building sooo much injustice as an expression! But oh well…BEAUTIFUL!

After my glimpse of heaven on earth, I venture towards nowhere…yes nowhere…I was first trying to figure out how to get to Chatelet from there but evidently got lost…but you see in Paris and in civilized countries generally you really don’t get lost do you…so I just walk because I know I would soon see a train or link a landmark or something…

I come across more structures that defied the frontiers of architecture and yes my trusty BB was always out and clicking away! People in Paris are nice! They all waited for me to take pics or they would go under…make I try that one for Onipanu bustop if my phone no go miss! Tok of bend down dey wait for me make I take picture! LOL!

After so much globetrotting my feet start to signal that they are tired and my stomach protested too. So I decide not to argue and start looking for the closest station and head home.

So I'm home in like 15mins and I drink like a whole bottle of lemon water and stay up again at my computer skyping with Alero and talking to Taiye on the phone and sorting out my camera stuff! Doing all this till I'm tired enough to sleep.

All in all I'm I realized I'm very blessed to have this experience. This is not London or something. Its Paris.

God bless all my family members…Grandpa I have never loved u more! All my aunties and all my cousins that gave me your $100 and 20k here and there…God bless u!

Bonne Nuit

Friday 19^th March 2010, Vendredi 19^th Marche 2010

I forgot to mention in my previous write up that the weather is sure getting better. It was so warm yesterday I cud walk with my feet on the tiled floor and could go out in a T- Shirt! Today was even warmer!

Today was a supposed to be a well organized day till I decided to do some unplanned house searching as I have to move out of this box soon! So I call my friend Marcus to come help me speak French to the local immobile in my area he mercifully sacrifices his time from the train station on his way home to come down to my end to assist me with some communication! The lady tells us that she only has a place outside Paris that is available for only a girl but she’s willing to talk to the mother to allow me rent it. But sincerely I smell trouble…and I hear French woman trouble makes Nigerian women look like child’s play! But oh well she promised me to find somewhere though.

I return home with some stuff I got from the market near me…some bread, apples, herbs, milk and sesame oil for some stir fries!

Then I do some serious searching on ParisAttitude.com and find so many awesome offers which I should use them in the first place! Hmm I know better now…let me not be too hard on myself! So I mail the Clemmence lady about my choices. Then my Dad calls to check up on me and in the middle tells his usual 1967 gist of Paris and if this and that still exists…*sighs* love daddy! Lol!

So I check the time and see that 2:30 was approaching and I remember I said I was going to figure out how to get to Taiye’s Hotel and school by foot because I had seen it on the map that I could sort of walk to school. So I grab my jacket and muffler and I am Rue Vaugirard Bound!

So I'm following my map and trying to obey it like it was my GPS system to a hidden treasure! O the way I discover that a gracious edifice was under my nose all along…THE PANETHON! OLUWA!!!!! KAI! Grand is an understatement! It was so out of this world I let it all out…WOW! In quite and audible tone..i couldn’t hide my razzness! I couldn’t contain my dumbfoundness! Well the pictures would try to get you to feel my pain…so I after many angles of BB snapping I get back on track and continue following the map and keep getting the way…I get to Rue Gay Lussac which I remembered from the map on net and from nowhere one semi old man stops me and starts offering help and starts giving me directions I thank him expecting him to go but he starts chatting me with me..ok at this point I get a bit worried.. in my mind I ask myself “wetin this man wan do na? Hope say e no go start to dey beg for money?” but no he was just generally being helpful to a lost Nigerian in Paris!

And smart of me I do not follow his instruction and of course I missed my way but I also discovered some hardware shops I should visit soon! I also passed Jardin Luxemborg…I didn’t bother going in cos it was too beautiful and too big to do in the limited amount of time I had..so I said t myself..another time!

I find rue Vaugirard but also remember its quite a long road and I walk down taking at least some 20mins to study my map! Gosh I'm not used to this...Okada da?! Hmm so I keep studying this map like it was my first exam at school! And I finally decide to go in the direction in front of me and halfway I decide to face the other way just in case I was wrong and volia..I end up on Saint Michel! At this point I was like “omo tomorrow mehn!” so first settle down to down the delicious Arrabiatta pasta I bought when I was nearly dying of hunger faster 2hours of walking and trying to figure out where I was going! I almost asked myself”WHAT THE HELL WHERE YOU THINKING!” But like I mentioned earlier..when your walking in Paris…it’s win-win situation, you exercise and get o see so many beautiful things and there are no Okadas or extreme temperatures to tempt you to hitch a ride!

After my pasta I decide to go into Delavine and do some shopping. They sell some classy, fashionable nice and cheap menus stuff and even better they had this new eco wear line that was next to nothing! And a general massive sale…so I scout around and pick a few things and venture to try them. At this point the message was clear!

PARIS DOES NOT ACCOMMODATE OVER WEIGHT PEOPLE! GBUBEMI UR FAT AS HELL! LOSE THAT WEIGHT!

Seriously! All the nice pullover things and t shirts where all so skinny fit I tried a t-shirt on I looked like a drag queen!!!!! I think the clothes in Paris if we could hear them when people like me come close to them I'm sure they start rebuking me! “gerrout! Je n’pas ur size!” “No don’t even try me on!” “ur tzoo fatz”

But mercifully I find a plaid shirt, two pullover with shirt things inside of them that fit so I feel forgiven by Paris and there and then in my mind the decision solidifies! “I MUST LOSE THIS WEIGHT!” That’s the good thing about Paris you are motivated to be slim!

Leaving Delavine I realize a blister is killing me on my small toe and I start looking in desperation for a pharmamcie and when I find one and see the price for the plaster I respectfully exit the store and gracefully bear the torture within my shoe!

At this point I also notice I was sweating and had to remove my jacket! Hurray! It felt good…not to be in all that heavy regalia and battle zero temperature winds!

I decide to go home and chill so I can do this again tomorrow and hopefully get it right!

Getting home I pick up some Ginger Ale and Tonic and settle in front of my only friend..My Laptop! But instead of me to write this I started browsing randomly… I fix myself a pretty late dinner of Asian Vegetable Noodle Broth, I knew it was late but felt like some soup to battle the cold that seemed to appear from nowhere.

Yes plenty Pepper and lemon grass did the trick! My warmth was restored!

I decide to learn some French online and do so for like 15mins and retire to my bed and scroll through my TV and my gosh! Is there free sin on French TV!

But I find out I have a Nollywood channel! Me that I hate Nig movies! I was sooo thrilled! I also find Inspiration TV and lucky me Pastor Paul Adefarasin was about to preach! So at this point under me quilt and watched it till I slept.

Bonne Huit

March 20, 2010

The days are getting closer… so I have been in Paris now for 10 days...hmmm

Today was looking promising till I decided to be idle and do what I wasn’t supposed to be doing on the net! But I forgive myself as God has my back. But my apologies to Him and His mercies I receive!

Anyways with that being said I consciously wake up early 9:30am not too bad? And my plan to today was simple

WALK TO SCHOOL AND TAIYES HOTEL

From the Google map, I already knew I had an hour’s walk to school but wanted to try it.

But this I don’t do till about 3pm!

Eventually I head out and notice it had even rained! Wow! But it wasn’t blazing cold surprisingly as I was ready to grab my coat because I had only worn a pull-over.

On my way I indulge in some MEZZI PASTA again this time I order gnocchi cos I had always wanted to try it! Same Arrabatia with extra Tabasco, in fact I poured so much Tabasco I finished the bottle and felt shy sef!

Starting my journey of 10km I walk and do so with some briskness telling myself I am on the road to my long time planned weight loss! In between the hustle and bustle of Paris (the beautiful hustle and bustle) that is… I eventually get to school and realize I really don’t need a train ride and change so many times…but then again I ask myself is it practical every day? So I decide somewhere in my mind to do it at least 2-3 times each week cos walking is good exercise and yeah good exercise!

I found a gym that has a reduction for students! Gosh students enjoy for this country o!

I also found a cool immobiler (estate agent) they have the best deal so far but it’s a gamble I have to pay them to find a place for me! A WHOLE 160 EUROS! But its less expensive than the place at Convention I'm looking at. I also saw somewhere else another estate agent that is but there were closed but my BB camera to the rescue I took down their details via a picture…couldn’t be bothered to write anything…lol!

At this point I'm making my walk back to my place and this time I have a timer running and on getting to my area I realise I could take a bus to school sef..but have to practice that tomorrow though…

I get to my street and fall victim to two scoops of gelato…*sigh* so much for exercise…”I'm on a holiday and its Saturday I tell myself” yeah right..!

Getting into my cubicle I wash up my dishes and sort my place out then Tayo comes on the internet…gosh I'm I missing my best friend!!!!!

So I finally post all this… I promise not to be too lazy hence forth…lol!

To my family I miss and love u!!!!!!

Bonne Huit

I would do a proper album on Facebook and post the link later and also post more pics for the sake of those who aren't my friends...

THE FIRST FOUR DAYS

BONJOUR

The above title is me reminding myself that I'm not so lost in Paris! i speak the Lingo...yea right! Yes i thank God that i am finally here and please whether it is illiterate of me to say this but... i can’t believe i am here! Gosh a dream come true but a reality I'm still coming to terms with.
From the take of when my parents and sister said goodbye at the airport i tried to even warm up those mushy feelings and question my system on how it felt to be leaving my family and my life as i know it in Lagos....my family, Ilupeju, My unannounced sleep-overs at The Kasunmus and the Odukales, my constant Lagos trotting, Church!!!!!!!, My business, Friends, Silverbird (yes sliverbird!) my KIA RIO! but still nothing..... just the feeling of..."you'd better not miss your flight o!"
Well...My flight was smooth and mercifully I had an awesome window seat and the man next to me was an evil...a typical French man that refused to socialize but it was a blessing in disguise as i did not have any random conversations or any awkwardness throughout the 6 hours we flew. In fact we both slept for most of the journey after I realized that even Karen Kingsbury's heart rendering stuff couldn’t be caffeine enough for me to keep my eyes open.
At 5:46 or so we landed safely and I still didn’t feel anything... i had to tell myself..."Gbubs...for real… you are in Paris..." nothing still. Then did I mention i felt what could be possibly so difficult in travelling with two suitcases....ALONE! IT IS A NIGHTMARE!!!!! NEVER TRY IT! So evidently it was a horror maneuvering with my gift and curse but miraculously there always seemed to be someone to help me. A man allowed me to use his phone so did a taxi driver (i did not even patronize as i had to call someone in Paris.) Anyway after being directed via phone through another Angel of God with the name of Marcus Bibang sitting in McDonalds I learn how to use the train in a matter of 2mins! I was like mehn Okada would be nice now ke! (pls forgive the razzness in me) As he literally ran with my luggage to the train and he had to run to catch his 10 O’clock train at 9:30!
After that episode i rise out of the metro like a freed bird to a world i could only describe as amazing!

Paris is just plain beautiful. Period! After getting my keys from the agent I ride home to what I find it’s a cubicle instead of a studio! Poor me! After the landlady finishes with me and all the formalities with me, I pray and take charge of the year ahead.

I eventually venture going out well I just walked up and down my neighbourhood so, getting home I meet Faruk waiting for me and immediately he starts putting through and especially how I need to move out of this box disguised as a studio and the ridiculous rent I am paying and stuff like my administrative issues and bank accounts etc

He takes me to pub where he and his friends usually hang out…met a seriously Igbotic man! Gosh…after all these years in Abroad no tooshness! Kmt! And he went on and on and on about Nigeria’s issues! At first it was engaging then it became a bitter Ibo man sulking uncontrollably! And when Faruk now asks what I would drink I said I would have water…he then asked “ahan not even a beer?” and I'm like “I don’t drink” then he almost passed out! “You don’t drink alcohol?” he said in with his voice disappearing and a look on his faced that also asked the question “So you don’t you breathe air too?!” when It dawned on me I had not eaten anything I ask for food and order a plate of chips and wings which almost made my already big belly double in size…never again!

I get a phone from the Virgin Store and after a small tour of the Champs-Eylsees, I go home, call Faruk to let him know I got home safely and start to write this and take all this in.

In between all this I struggle with this cold matter! My heater is like a boiling kettle! Highly ineffective! Mhceww!

But I thank God for this rare opportunity…I’m still unsure its real but it till it proves otherwise

Bienvenue a la Paris

(I hope that is correct sef…**sigh*)

WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING!

Troisieme jour a Paris…..Third Day in Paris

“What The Hell Was I Thinking!?” that is the question I seem to have asked myself throughout today.

Because its 1am in the morning and I am still very tired and most confused about the events of today al because I was nto thinking straight!

My day started off great… for one it was not so cold as I could venture to boldly step out my front door into the invisible torture called wind in two sweaters and my muffler! And the Sun was somewhat out; wow the joy that filled my soul! As the last two days my body had been undergoing some serious climate shock. Today my plan was to fashion up! Cold style! I had seen a beautiful classic yet funky jacket on Rue De la Rouqette in Bastille and also Chatelet to check C&A out and I thought why not do dome grocery shopping at Leader Price on Rouqette.

So feeling highly joyful I step out hope on the train and straight to Chatelet. Then on my arrival the validation amplified…PARIS IS BEAUTIFUL! GOSH! Even with all my exposure I dey look like Mumu…Oyibo pass us sha! We would get to that some other time…

So like I was saying I get to Chatelet and notice there was H&M sef so I go in with all gusto and that was the first time I asked myself ‘What the hell were you thinking Gbubemi!, Putting all that weight in Lagos so when you get to Paris you would lose it?!”

What the Hell was I thinking when I said I was treating myself! All the nice things were for slim people! I think I should even file a suit against H&M that they are discriminatory to well…Plus sized.. Individuals like me…OK FAT people like me! All the time I scanned through the lovely skinny jeans, t shirts and the spring collection I could not help but be filled with regret about all the weight I consciously put on! Kai! It was evil! The only thing I could buy were accessories and socks! All the stuff stopped at 36! Even at that..you need to be a 34 and below to look good in them!

*sigh*

Mercifully C&A came to my rescue… they even had 3XL.. almost two sizes bigger than me. I felt slim sef!…I’m guessing that’s because they are Originally an American store but I would deceive myself for my personal solace that that’s not true. (pls allow me to lie to myself..Thanks) and I got some real ok things some pulls, sweaters and a short jacket. So I changed hurriedly to my new clothes as my old ones now looked so frumpy and well old… so feeling highly “Paris-lised” I pick up a pair of shoes that could keep my feet warm because my moccasins where now just as good as rubber slippers in this weather! So I tour the stretch of Chatelet for a bit pick up a muffler and simultaneously admiring the grandeur of the city, then I look at the time about 5:25, so I decide enough and decide to go to Bastille to get my jacket and do my shopping at Leader Price. Who knew that leader Price on the same day as my shopping day would be one of the most nearly regrettable decisions of my entire life!

Getting to La Roqette, I walk for miles and realize that my shoes are seriously hurting me! I think the socks I was wearing was contributing like mad to it! Then all of a sudden I can’t seem to find the shop I I had seen the jacket and it was getting dark so I decide to go to Leader Price. Then I think to myself…since I leave far away why not shop for a long period of time say a month plus so I don’t have to come back often so I grab a trolley and start packing! But wait…”what the hell was I really thinking!” the depth and magnitude of my ineptitude and utter stupidity fully dawned on me when it was time to pack the bags and I realized.

1. You had to pay for the shopping bags

2. People in Paris have their strollers they put stuff in

3. Had I forgotten I was using the train and had to change to get to my line!?

4. Did I think I was in Lagos at Shoprite where my dear Rio would open its boot for me to dump my things in it and drive safely to Ilupeju

5. WHAT THE HELL WAS I REALLY THINKING!?

Of course I had to more or less beg the manager of the shop to carry the trolley but I realized “what the hell am I really thinking”

I don’t know what hurt the most…

1. The pain of my blistered feet in my new shoes…hell Fashion hurts!

2. The physical pain on pulling this trolley that now felt like yoke of all my sins past present and future!

3. Or the sheer regret and utter disappointment in my seeming proven ineptitude

Did I mention one pasta sauce broke so as my prized lemon sirop! *sobs*

I decide to sacrifice what would have been a nice pair of jeans or extra money with me to buy a trolly thing that couldn’t still contain everything from some Arab shop… after a much challenging struggle of carrying my yoke of shopping through the numerous flights of stairs at each intersection, breaking the legs of my trolley, missing a stop to connect to my line, I finally get home.

You know the phrase “HOME SWEET HOME” never meant so much to me. I thanked God sooo genuinely and asked Him to forgive me because only angering God could have caused all my drama today.

I’m sitting here soooo tired I cant even sleep..and there’s the cold creeping through cervices that don’t even exist! Anyway I’m armed with my cup-a-soup (potatoes and leek baby!) and extra ammunition of my three sweaters and my full jug of coffee heating away silently.

Today has taught me a good lesson “thinking before you act… and really think it through!”

Also I have learnt it is a dumb idea to eat copious amounts of food before to sojourn to a new land!

I have also learnt to FULLY appreciate things like Jollof rice, Suya, my Mother’s mama put stew or yes Iya Ruka! Because crepes, Paninis,, even Chinese is not just cutting it! And damn its expensive! I bi student o!*sigh*

Shey na me wan be abroadian…. Anyways I m grateful I’m alive to experience this…good or bad I’m living my dream..I’m in the Gods favour is here with me I have been experiencing it and I have been feeling it sooo strong!

I have to be up early for first service via internet…yay! At least I would still somewhat have Fountain of Life close to me…although I wish Church 3:16 also had webcast *sigh*

And please can everybody stop going all Julie and Julia on me…its becoming to cliché!

Bonne Nuit

DIMANCHE PREMIER A LA PARIS

Day Four

Today…definitely a better day from the semi hell I experienced yesterday, for one I went to church..but from the comfort of my bed…yes…I bless God for webcast! I could see Pator Taiwo minister in my room live! I was blessed…then rushed off to see Yetunde Osodi-Fradeau who Aunty Moni Fagbemi (God bless her soul!) hooked up with and her Chef Husband! It was just sheer amazement and joy! What more could I ask for… cold meat, bread, cheese, wine, fish baked in salt, a dreamy butterscotch and pineapple dessert and a house full of cook books!

Yetunde filled me in with all the Paris details gave me a map booklet and basically chilled with her( just jabbing at my keyboard searching all the Paris rental sites as I must move out of my box asap!) while she was working seriously at her figures that seemed not be adding up! Omo even if it was one cent it had to found1 wow I need her prudency! LOL!

I found out in her area that they are some nice flea markets and there are African markets! I saw Egusi sef today but omo my cubicle would not permit me to venture to start bleaching palm oil…they would arrest me for attempted arson! But I got some pepper want to start cooking…my holiday is sooooo over!

On my way back home I fought the temptation to roam Chatelet…I won! So I arrive safely home but still noticed that my feet still ached badly.

The week ahead looks so good… I get to go to school to sort out some stuff and do my Profecture business…Immigration tins…then I get to go to Eric’s school to get some free crockery and free lessons! Eric by the way is Yetunde’s husband.

Then I roam Chatelet and tour Paris small… via walking…Taiye and Alro would pay for all that when they come…*smiles*( well at least hopefully they would)

I plan on treating myself to nice restaurants once every month. I have my eye on the Brazilian one!

I gotta big day tomorrow so… I hope I can will myself to leave YouTube alone and my show…24 is still the best jo! Jack Bauer’s middle I’m convinced is “KOKUMO” I swear it!

I’m grateful to God for His mercies..they are truly new every morning! To all my family…Grandpa especially…I love You and I’m sooooo thankful

Four days down…7 months 26 days to go…I think..*sighs*

Bonne Nuit