June 26 2010..P.M
As I type this I'm still relishing the miracle of water…it cures in many ways than one…yes I just drank a cold glass of water that did more than quench my thirst (that was bordering on dehydration from a jog through the Namibian Desert )it almost healed my soul! And it helped wash off the sweat that had formed a slimy layer dirt on my skin that seemed to be almost clawing at my insides sef! The sun was not smiling!not forgetting the speckles of spiky hair that didn’t make it off my skin from the barbers and all the oil and random hair products that had formed a semi BP oil spill on my forehead. Yes in summary I had a cold shower…the summer is here and Paris is pretty hot!!!!!
I'm sure you’re wondering why a hair cut would help me feel home…I mean it’s a blade scraping the excess hair that has grown thru my scalp and just my desire to look extra hot…”so why the feel of home”? Here it goes
Yesterday I had decided to cut my hair but I randomly decided to go swimming instead and cut my hair after my practical class today. So after my class today I get on the bus and go on a seemingly everlasting ride to the ghetto zones…if you are a regular reader you would know about my Chateau Rouge stories….well this time I decided to go to another part of the ghetto—Chateau D’Eau similar name but slightly different place…this area is like hair making Headquarters…every black weave, hair product you shall find here. In fact there are Hair Hustlers…Hair Hustlers are guys whose primary jobs are to strategically place themselves at the exits/entrances of the metro to harass women if they want to do their hair or If they want to buy weaves, make up, dresses and so on…but basically hair and with each customer they get a certain cut aka/commission. Pause. “kai! Black people we are the same all over the world sha! The same thing that happens in Yaba/Tejuosho, the Projects in Brooklyn, Brixton---Peckham in London now Paris Strasbourg…it’s so funny…the hustle is the same everywhere…on one hand it breaks my heart but on another hand I can’t blame them….the hustle is better here than the level of lives they live back…where ever home is…and I mean hair has to be made… I mean I can’t walk into Provost or any other normal salon to get my hair cut…it would be a waste of 26 Euros!
Anyways before I over digress…I stop and randomly start walking to find where I could get a haircut as it was mostly salons for just women so as I walk past one bar I decide to follow the turn it led to and voila! I see salons that did both male and female hair. Before I go further…let try and build the ghetto scene my eyes beheld I navigated through the calm mayhem. At the corner was a woman with her horrendous weave, scarlet red lips sticks on lips that were larger than life, with her carefully bleached skin hustling some less-than-palatable costume jewelry,. Then to her left she had her nemesis…her extreme-complete opposite… some robust woman with her weave that looked like Beyonce's mane.. she too was hustling some sun shades and some “I-must-wear-bling-bling” jewelry moving on there was just an endless array of boys and young me who were either hustling hair deals with females passing by or just hanging with cigarettes or weed and like the girls everybody is ghetto fabulous dressed out…the ones that were sporting the hip hop look dem dey..their hats, baggy shorts that sat on their thighs, then the ones sporting the new age European fashion…tight jeans, tank top…ice on their ears, extra colourful sneakers and shoes….then the girls…shorts with piercings on every angle of their face and their gum pooping like bomb blasts, unnecessary colour combination of weave colours…oh well I'm sure you get the point….
but I felt at home…I was somewhere I was instantly identified with..even if we were not all Nigerians…I felt at home…
So as I pass some salons that said they would collect 14 Euros, I hiss in my mind and look for a 10 euro deal…and since these hair hustlers are pros and highly experienced in this game…one just picks the “google.com” looks in had on my face ”now searching for a 10-euro-deal” and I was going to speak French to him first but I asked him in pidgin “how mush to cut hair?” “10 euro” he replies but I could tell that he was French or some other origin but oh well we were agreeing on something…10 Euros to cut my hair!…so I follow him into the salon….
The salon was just like what you see in your hood…(and not like Victoria Island Nail Studio etc…or Bobbys…no….just like Mama Justina, elegant Twins... Rose Hair Salon…we wash and set and specialize in all types of design…”) bursting at the seams with endless women under dryers, the smell of shampoo and relaxer, hair all over the floor, the workers dressed as they liked, endless chatter from women, then boys to men all waiting patiently for their turn, then the barbers talking random talk...yes beautiful mayhem…everyone looked like I could holler in Yoruba or pidgin but…Africa is not Nigeria….wow see irony…so alike yet so different!
As I walked in, luckily there was a free space…then the barber spoke to me in English but he was semi speaking phonee …in my mind I was wondering why?” Was my face so extra butter!” I didn’t want to get my hopes up he was Naija…but eventually he asked where I was from with a look and an attitude that said “why are you asking an obvious question” I replied…”Naija now” “ah we are all Nigeria” (please note I wrote Nigeria and not Nigerian…that’s how he said it) then the awkward barber and customer conversation started… what I was doing in Paris etc…out of fear that he may just rob me of my identity all I told him where lies…I had to protect myself small ke… before I would miss in this Paris… but still we chatted and talked about where we lived in Nigeria, how me miss home and the hustle in a foreign land...let me point out he was Ibo and his name was Jude. From what we discussed he has been round Europe a lot…he just got into Paris recently…and haircutting for now is the hustle…
While I was getting my hair manicured (yes because he was cutting it with so much care as he felt like he was hooking his brother up…I was not complaining) I could not help but marvel at the happenings at the salons…kai!! One old woman came and was selling plantain chips, those women from earlier with their excuses for costumes jewelry came and hustled their stuff too…the salon was alive with all the women getting their weave sewn, hair relaxed, excessive chatting, loud hollering across the room, then a few young boys where getting their hair dyed…that reminded me of NEXT in Yaba...and in the same vein you would see how these boys where desperate to look so ghetto fabulous..i mean the dye looked like coal tar in its freshest from in their surgically shaped scalps!
Please lest I forget….there was even Rhapsody of Realties in the store and I could help but shout! “AHAN!!! PASTOR CHRIS DON RISH HERE TOO?!!!” “Yes o!!! all the church whey dey Nigeria dey here to o!” he replied my shock with a look of normality and that said “so you don’t know??” at first I was excited in my mind to go and try out one of the churches but…I considered my darling Hillsong…I calmed down….so yes Naija we no dey carry last!!! Trust our Churches!! And without doubt Redeemed is here!!!
Anyways after much plastering of oils, shaping, trimming different hairsprays, my haircut is over. I didn’t feel so bad to part with my 10 Euros…I looked good…
As I walked towards the bus stop it started to hit me..even me in the ghetto made me feel at home…there was someone I could relate to…people that understood me without needing to adjust anything….even in the heat of the salon I felt the touch of NEPA/PHCN, I felt everyone’s desire for a better life…yes it’s ironic…this a zone I probably wouldn’t identify with back home sef...but…my standard has been humbled! I almost asked for where I could get “mama put” rice sef but I thought that would be pushing it and maybe next time…
All in all, I have where for sure I can get a good hair cut and get a touch of home…even if it’s not the coziness of my room, the wheels of my KIA, the taste of my Mum’s Jollof Rice, the trips to the Island (SilverBird ,Ikoyi ,Lekki etc…) it’s a Nigerian dude cutting my hair, we can speak pidgin,I can be entertained by the antics of hood hustling….that is enough for me…for now…at least…
Please note I'm not in a well of despair and terminal depression….i’m only realizing I have a great life back home I miss…but I would get by…others have done it… why can’t I?
So to all my family and friends I love you to bits….you have no idea….I now know your value….but this is the price I have to pay for the greater destiny ahead!....see you guys at the top!
A Bientot!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
As the Journey of Intermediate Begins…
June 23, 2010
Truly in Life, the Higher you go the hotter it becomes not like physics where it gets colder….*sigh* I haven’t been able to bundle the strength to type a word to post on my blog as I was too afraid that I may slump whilst doing it…because it s always a lot to do and say…and why I'm I so afraid? Because I'm ALWAYS TIRED FROM SCHOOL!!!!!
As the 14th of June dawned, I woke up with a gusto and joy but with a drop of indifference as I was officially stepping into my second level of my diploma…Intermediate
The night before I had spent most of the day with my Friend who came to Paris for a training courtesy his office…he’s hotel was at Val D’ Europe a stop before EuroDisney… way outside the city, mehn dat was some chill part of Paris!! It was beautiful!!! Clean! don’t me started on the shopping outlet…..that is a post for another day.
So after spending the day with him I get home pretty late and I took the flesh route out I lay on my bed and slept off…I was too tired and my mum had called me and told me to iron and prepare well for tomorrow but I gave her the whole “mummy I'm not a baby speech” but painfully mothers always seem to be right (most of the time though…pls mummy don’t be too excited! Lol!) …let’s just say I paid the price dearly in the morning!
In the light of my bad habit of procrastination, when I woke up at 6am…I imagined I would have enough time to iron and get ready and meet 8:30am at school..I decided to do the heinous….I decided to “sleep small” really a little sleep a little slumber….it’s worse than a robbery! To cut a long story short…I was running so late I had to get into a cab and paid 12 Euros for it!!!! What was even more funny when it was time to pay, I realized my wallet was lying calmly on my bed at home KAI!!! I had to borrow money from my school’s till to pay…kai!!! I didn’t have the luxury to be angry I had to briskly rush and get into my class that had already started! But deep down I could not shake the feeling of my self-disappointment...first day of school...late..!!!!?? Not good….
Oh well I rush into class and it just started well I had missed distribution of folders but under 10mins our orientation had finished…briskly….and straight into class!!!! Ahan!! In my mind
“ahan!! Which kain first day of school bi dis na??!!!”
“...no snacks…no juice and Crossiants? Ahan!!! Chei!!! dem don see us finish!!
“We don turn old cargo!”....all this followed with bouts of smiles and muffled laughter at myself and the whole thing...
A few months ago my orientation was all “lets cater to you” “have more snacks” “need any help?” “can I almost carry you?” now it was “oya! oya!! oya!!!..no time to dull… this is your folder!, take it!…listen in class, bye!” on this orientation issue however it was funny to see the new basic students flow into school…we now looked like haggard old students while the basic student were all full of smiles and gleeful expectations of Cordon Bleu…then at that thought the nostalgia hit me….as they filed to pick their uniforms and storm the changing rooms with their try out regimes…I felt so old in the system and it felt like secondary school all over again…even when you just move to JS2…you’re sha a senior to the “new-mumu JS1 students”….lol!!! It was funny to see them admire their knife kits and just looking so generally lost! Ha! Then the usual routine of trying to hook up and make friends, looking for your country people and once again the Brazilians don’t waste time…even Leonado had hooked up with a few of them….(pls this is the beef in me talking…like I said before Brazilians are like Nigerians we hook up shap shap with ourselves…but since it’s not me doing the hooking up…I'm burnt! Lol!) and If you cast your mind back to one of my first entries…you would remember when I mentioned how I looked at the old students (whilst doing my own orientation with all glee and gladness) with contempt and fear of turning to be like him...looking old haggard and nearly tired of the system…sadly I was that old student today and someone or a few others had looked at me with that same contempt and fear…wow…life…constantly ironic!!! But please to that those eyes of fear and contempt…enjoy it while you can…you are next in line…you too would be like me...just a matter of 9 weeks that would slowly but surely come to pass…
On the note of class/Intermediate proper...let me bring you all to speed….Basic cuisine was all about classic-boring-French-food with a lot of techniques that chefs need to know basically (ok…what pun was intended) things like trussing, filleting glazing, cooking a-blanc ,organization when cooking and so on…now Intermediate Cuisine is learning about regional French food, cooking dishes that are a bit more advanced and generally taste better! And with a little more techniques and heavy utilization from what we learnt from basic…are you up to speed now?
The food from intermediate has been great so far...my favorite being the Salmon and Cabbage Roulade with Red Wine Sauce…yes I know it sounds bizarre…but it was amazing….then there was Poulet Basques…Chicken from the Basques region of France…that was great as well…. Its chicken braised with onions and bell peppers and tomato puree and served with saffron pilaf rice and a sauce from the slowly cooking onions and bell peppers as well….that felt like Spanish food to me sef…then another favorite so far was the Red Mullet with Tapenade stuffing with a Royal Savoury
Custard and grilled fennel…hmm that was delicious!!! Something I can create again for my restaurant sef! We had to split the fish open but leave it intact at the tail and make the tapenade…(which a paste made from black olives, parmesan cheese,, garlic, pine nuts and anchovies) to lay in between the fish and oven cook it and serve with a savoury custard! Trust me that was delicious!
Generally, this first week at school has revealed that unconsciously we have become better cooks even if there is a lot more to learn but we are sure evidence that constant practice makes perfect because some things that looked like giant feats are now a walk in the park for us. And we are only going to get better with the Chef who is in charge of us...Chef Patrick Caals…(the skinny fine boy Tom Crusie wanna-look-alike Chef) is a serious perfectionist and has a terrible case of OCD (Obsessive Complusive Disorder) when it comes to organization.
MY LIFE….
Crossing over these last 3 months has not been easy, having to deal with a lot emotionally…especially not just having my people around me…but I have come to recognize it is a period of separation to learn a lot about life, learn to appreciate the friends (true friends that is) I have, the family I have, the Life God has allowed me to live…I have also come to adjust well, I have a few good friends, at least I get to see my cousin Alero but since she works not so often but she has spent a few weekends with me though….that helped and still helps a bit…
My 10 day holiday was mixed feelings though...I was semi-depressed I couldn’t go to London. I didn’t process my visa in good time. Kai! I wasn’t semi depressed who was I kidding!!! I was highly sad! I had dreamed of seeing people like my Mum, Aunty Tosin, My cousin Iyinoluwa, my Trip to Manchester that would enabled me to see all my friends from School (Secondary and Tetiary) *SIGH* I had looked forward to a fun time seeing familiar people, seeing Carol Ofem, Yemi Spaine, Amuche Agu…the list is endless!!!! But oh well I was stuck in Paris!
I decided to stop whining and do something productive..so I decided to take French Lessons…”free” French lessons….so I tried hooking up with Adam from church but he was booked during the week so was Adrian my French dreams were shattered! Then I decided to go the Musee Du Lourve…(a popular museum in Paris) hooked up with a friend from school…and it was the only amazing time I had! I know museums are not everyone’s cup of coffee or sip of Zobo, I know I may be partial if I say this since I like art and sundry but Musee Du Lourve is must see! Ahan!! Oyibo sha!!! It was just aesthetic bliss to see paintings that were as old as 250 – 300 years old! To see artifacts that existed before Christ…but amongst all the ancient wonders my eyes witnessed my “all hail” moment was seeing Napoleon’s Apartment’s wow!!! His bed! His wife’s dressing table! The furniture!!!! I could only think…if they had such taste like this how many hundreds of years ago, what the hell happened to us!!!! Which also made me wonder, to what extent did Napoleon’s power and authority reach?! I mean they had no CAT, no Julius Berger, No Extreme Makeover Home Edition Team, No Big Shot Engineering company how the heck did they build such a monumental structure! And FYI the Musuem was originally built by Napoleon as a castle just for his wife! It cost France half a year in taxes! I mean there was gold everywhere! Mehn in this day and time if u buy a girl aunty Funmi hair, BB and car ur a Don…omo see uncle Nappy Showing boys the way na! Marble I haven’t seen in my life it looked like water! I mean if u see his wife’s dressing table made from crystal and gold!!! Omo even if u no fine If you look the mirror you gast fine!
So the above was the fun part! The rest of my holiday was spent mostly un-bathed, stuck on the right side of my bed with bouts of food ranging from Jollof rice, beans and dodo, water with my laptop entertaining me with all my shows...with major thanks to fastpasstv.com and all the other sites that managed to provide some warmth through the dulling periods of rain that left me stranded at home.
On a day when I couldn’t take it...I decided to go shopping…after calling my aunty to get approval…I go shopping as I didn’t have clothes! So good excuse to spend money and I did get a great deal for all the stuff I got…I won’t be shy to say I respected myself and solely shopped at C&A I mean they had the nice clothes for the RIGHT price…so why not! And again all the other stores are size-ists! So what could your boy do? And most of the clothes I had where cold weather stuff...needed some summer wear.
During this my period of gloom and evading boredom I kept active running almost every day…almost I said because when I wasn’t running I was swimming at least 6 laps…I won’t lie when I attempted my 6 laps….I almost died! On that day I remember I said to myself… I before I commit suicide in the name of losing weight I didn’t even wait to rest and try again…I fled the pool like it was a war zone! I shall live and not die…Lepa won’t kill me! *sigh*
During this period, I also took stock of my life (gosh I sound like a secondary school teacher! yuck) especially on the subject of friendships..who were really my friends and who was not…and I realized I was giving more than I was receiving and it hurt a lot….20 friends truly don’t play for 20 years… personally feel friends should always have you in mind…even if you guys don’t talk everyday but an effort to reach out to say “hey how are you?” “Just checking on you” “please forgive me, its work but you are my homie you know...much love mehn”… but nothing….
Maybe I love too much and it irritates people but I thought too much of love could not possibly be a bad thing!? I think I am just finding hard to accept that life changes people and people change and have new friends….I think…that’s the issue….but please I won’t lie I'm still semi grieving that some friends have just gone like that and we are all at different points of our lives…truly 20 friends cannot play together for 20 years but however the few that have remained all these years…I'm grateful! And I have realized that this has also opened the door to new friends…my destiny is bigger than my friends from 20 years ago really so why not the people I know…?
Enough of me ranting about my issues…back to school notes…I won’t lie I am seriously gunning for best student…yes I have never really achieved some academic top honours…it hurt then somewhat…so now I'm in my element what’s going to be my excuse?! Even if there are people like Won-Hoo who has 10 years Pro experience, Leonardo with 2 years that are in my class that just oppresses one with their speed and sheer show of skill that says “yes we dey learn together bet we no dey the same level” but I have decided to just do ma thing and chase perfection! Top 5 is on my mind….
HILLSONG
I’m sure as you have reached this point of my post you have probably uttered or at least thought out loud or said the following in your mind
“this boy and this eim church sha?!”
“this boy wont let us rest with this his church o!”
“this boy and his Hillsong sha..!”
Yes…at least something amongst those lines… but I can’t help it…week after week..God is just showing up in bigger ways…we have moved to a new venue which a theater and its pretty amazing and the Word is on check…and let me not even start with the worship… well on a church note..my my friends Adam and Aaron just moved to a new apartment and we had the party on Saturday…omo their flat was overballin!! Some Superstar tins!! The view from the flat was breathtaking! Eiffel Tower, Montaparnasse Tower, Monmarte Sarce-Coceur and just the extensive blow out of buildings and grassland that makes it look like something that was painted and placed out of their window. The flat was a very modern one…it was like something out of an Ikea catalogue…and yes when I pondered upon my flat..sorry box I could not help but weep on the inside..they were paying only a 100 Euros more and they had 40m2 and I have 17m2 and just a plain ugly old style house compared to theirs…but oh well…by the time I had consumed excessive amounts of Adams American-chewy-style cookies and the endless spread of snacks that they had laid out, coupled with chatting with everyone else...my sorrows about my apartment left me…up until I arrived home and the reality hit me…again..but I could only take of my clothes and curl up on my bed and sleep…my complaining is not going to get me a new place….i can only be thankful I have a roof over my head…even if it Is an overpriced one….
Chaetau Rouge….
On my way from my famous ghetto district Chateau Rouge…I had gone to buy some credit for my LeBara phone…desending the stairs of the metro I heard “u no wan go again! Mo we dey rish Gare Du Nord na!” like my spines nervous reaction I turn to identify most definitely with my country people…but hence…after looking at the speaker of the pidgin..i turned back..faster than even my involuntary nervosu system and hurried dwon towards the stairs…call me judgemental or whatever….that is not the level of person I must be found with..before I know it I would be sending school fees money to his brothers at home or worse he would robbed me of my passport sef! because I doubt he had any papers….
In Closing…..
My exercise is paying off!!! I have lost some weight…*somebody shout halleluyahhhhh!* it not so much that I have defied gravity or something but little enough to respect my hours of running and swimming and sheer denial of food most of the time!
I'm looking forward to my trip to Madrid, Spain and possibly Switzerland….this my Shengen visa must work for me…or I must use it wella! I should be going sometime in July….i’m soo excited!
So that’s the story of my life so far…I have recently become a twitter addict and I won’t lie I'm loving it! I have also moved much closer to God and I feel so good about that!
okay lemme confess.....I miss home terribly…I would give anything now to be in Lagos…even though I hear its raining like as if Noah needs to build a new ark…I miss home…I miss my room, my car, Iya Ruka’s rice and stew, my mum’s Jollof Rice, my mummy…(yes mummy’s boy :p) my church!!! My Best Friend!!! Ah!!! But it is well….the plan of God for my life is taking place…it has to cost me something…I know I would smile in the end and be happy and joyful!
To my family and everyone that made sure they were a part of my awesome destiny….God will surely reward you and honour you! The works of your hands shall always be blessed! And if you ever prayed for me or even just wished me the best…same goes for you…as far as you support me…God bless you
Too much Amour!
A Bientot!!!!
Truly in Life, the Higher you go the hotter it becomes not like physics where it gets colder….*sigh* I haven’t been able to bundle the strength to type a word to post on my blog as I was too afraid that I may slump whilst doing it…because it s always a lot to do and say…and why I'm I so afraid? Because I'm ALWAYS TIRED FROM SCHOOL!!!!!
As the 14th of June dawned, I woke up with a gusto and joy but with a drop of indifference as I was officially stepping into my second level of my diploma…Intermediate
The night before I had spent most of the day with my Friend who came to Paris for a training courtesy his office…he’s hotel was at Val D’ Europe a stop before EuroDisney… way outside the city, mehn dat was some chill part of Paris!! It was beautiful!!! Clean! don’t me started on the shopping outlet…..that is a post for another day.
So after spending the day with him I get home pretty late and I took the flesh route out I lay on my bed and slept off…I was too tired and my mum had called me and told me to iron and prepare well for tomorrow but I gave her the whole “mummy I'm not a baby speech” but painfully mothers always seem to be right (most of the time though…pls mummy don’t be too excited! Lol!) …let’s just say I paid the price dearly in the morning!
In the light of my bad habit of procrastination, when I woke up at 6am…I imagined I would have enough time to iron and get ready and meet 8:30am at school..I decided to do the heinous….I decided to “sleep small” really a little sleep a little slumber….it’s worse than a robbery! To cut a long story short…I was running so late I had to get into a cab and paid 12 Euros for it!!!! What was even more funny when it was time to pay, I realized my wallet was lying calmly on my bed at home KAI!!! I had to borrow money from my school’s till to pay…kai!!! I didn’t have the luxury to be angry I had to briskly rush and get into my class that had already started! But deep down I could not shake the feeling of my self-disappointment...first day of school...late..!!!!?? Not good….
Oh well I rush into class and it just started well I had missed distribution of folders but under 10mins our orientation had finished…briskly….and straight into class!!!! Ahan!! In my mind
“ahan!! Which kain first day of school bi dis na??!!!”
“...no snacks…no juice and Crossiants? Ahan!!! Chei!!! dem don see us finish!!
“We don turn old cargo!”....all this followed with bouts of smiles and muffled laughter at myself and the whole thing...
A few months ago my orientation was all “lets cater to you” “have more snacks” “need any help?” “can I almost carry you?” now it was “oya! oya!! oya!!!..no time to dull… this is your folder!, take it!…listen in class, bye!” on this orientation issue however it was funny to see the new basic students flow into school…we now looked like haggard old students while the basic student were all full of smiles and gleeful expectations of Cordon Bleu…then at that thought the nostalgia hit me….as they filed to pick their uniforms and storm the changing rooms with their try out regimes…I felt so old in the system and it felt like secondary school all over again…even when you just move to JS2…you’re sha a senior to the “new-mumu JS1 students”….lol!!! It was funny to see them admire their knife kits and just looking so generally lost! Ha! Then the usual routine of trying to hook up and make friends, looking for your country people and once again the Brazilians don’t waste time…even Leonado had hooked up with a few of them….(pls this is the beef in me talking…like I said before Brazilians are like Nigerians we hook up shap shap with ourselves…but since it’s not me doing the hooking up…I'm burnt! Lol!) and If you cast your mind back to one of my first entries…you would remember when I mentioned how I looked at the old students (whilst doing my own orientation with all glee and gladness) with contempt and fear of turning to be like him...looking old haggard and nearly tired of the system…sadly I was that old student today and someone or a few others had looked at me with that same contempt and fear…wow…life…constantly ironic!!! But please to that those eyes of fear and contempt…enjoy it while you can…you are next in line…you too would be like me...just a matter of 9 weeks that would slowly but surely come to pass…
On the note of class/Intermediate proper...let me bring you all to speed….Basic cuisine was all about classic-boring-French-food with a lot of techniques that chefs need to know basically (ok…what pun was intended) things like trussing, filleting glazing, cooking a-blanc ,organization when cooking and so on…now Intermediate Cuisine is learning about regional French food, cooking dishes that are a bit more advanced and generally taste better! And with a little more techniques and heavy utilization from what we learnt from basic…are you up to speed now?
The food from intermediate has been great so far...my favorite being the Salmon and Cabbage Roulade with Red Wine Sauce…yes I know it sounds bizarre…but it was amazing….then there was Poulet Basques…Chicken from the Basques region of France…that was great as well…. Its chicken braised with onions and bell peppers and tomato puree and served with saffron pilaf rice and a sauce from the slowly cooking onions and bell peppers as well….that felt like Spanish food to me sef…then another favorite so far was the Red Mullet with Tapenade stuffing with a Royal Savoury
Custard and grilled fennel…hmm that was delicious!!! Something I can create again for my restaurant sef! We had to split the fish open but leave it intact at the tail and make the tapenade…(which a paste made from black olives, parmesan cheese,, garlic, pine nuts and anchovies) to lay in between the fish and oven cook it and serve with a savoury custard! Trust me that was delicious!
Generally, this first week at school has revealed that unconsciously we have become better cooks even if there is a lot more to learn but we are sure evidence that constant practice makes perfect because some things that looked like giant feats are now a walk in the park for us. And we are only going to get better with the Chef who is in charge of us...Chef Patrick Caals…(the skinny fine boy Tom Crusie wanna-look-alike Chef) is a serious perfectionist and has a terrible case of OCD (Obsessive Complusive Disorder) when it comes to organization.
MY LIFE….
Crossing over these last 3 months has not been easy, having to deal with a lot emotionally…especially not just having my people around me…but I have come to recognize it is a period of separation to learn a lot about life, learn to appreciate the friends (true friends that is) I have, the family I have, the Life God has allowed me to live…I have also come to adjust well, I have a few good friends, at least I get to see my cousin Alero but since she works not so often but she has spent a few weekends with me though….that helped and still helps a bit…
My 10 day holiday was mixed feelings though...I was semi-depressed I couldn’t go to London. I didn’t process my visa in good time. Kai! I wasn’t semi depressed who was I kidding!!! I was highly sad! I had dreamed of seeing people like my Mum, Aunty Tosin, My cousin Iyinoluwa, my Trip to Manchester that would enabled me to see all my friends from School (Secondary and Tetiary) *SIGH* I had looked forward to a fun time seeing familiar people, seeing Carol Ofem, Yemi Spaine, Amuche Agu…the list is endless!!!! But oh well I was stuck in Paris!
I decided to stop whining and do something productive..so I decided to take French Lessons…”free” French lessons….so I tried hooking up with Adam from church but he was booked during the week so was Adrian my French dreams were shattered! Then I decided to go the Musee Du Lourve…(a popular museum in Paris) hooked up with a friend from school…and it was the only amazing time I had! I know museums are not everyone’s cup of coffee or sip of Zobo, I know I may be partial if I say this since I like art and sundry but Musee Du Lourve is must see! Ahan!! Oyibo sha!!! It was just aesthetic bliss to see paintings that were as old as 250 – 300 years old! To see artifacts that existed before Christ…but amongst all the ancient wonders my eyes witnessed my “all hail” moment was seeing Napoleon’s Apartment’s wow!!! His bed! His wife’s dressing table! The furniture!!!! I could only think…if they had such taste like this how many hundreds of years ago, what the hell happened to us!!!! Which also made me wonder, to what extent did Napoleon’s power and authority reach?! I mean they had no CAT, no Julius Berger, No Extreme Makeover Home Edition Team, No Big Shot Engineering company how the heck did they build such a monumental structure! And FYI the Musuem was originally built by Napoleon as a castle just for his wife! It cost France half a year in taxes! I mean there was gold everywhere! Mehn in this day and time if u buy a girl aunty Funmi hair, BB and car ur a Don…omo see uncle Nappy Showing boys the way na! Marble I haven’t seen in my life it looked like water! I mean if u see his wife’s dressing table made from crystal and gold!!! Omo even if u no fine If you look the mirror you gast fine!
So the above was the fun part! The rest of my holiday was spent mostly un-bathed, stuck on the right side of my bed with bouts of food ranging from Jollof rice, beans and dodo, water with my laptop entertaining me with all my shows...with major thanks to fastpasstv.com and all the other sites that managed to provide some warmth through the dulling periods of rain that left me stranded at home.
On a day when I couldn’t take it...I decided to go shopping…after calling my aunty to get approval…I go shopping as I didn’t have clothes! So good excuse to spend money and I did get a great deal for all the stuff I got…I won’t be shy to say I respected myself and solely shopped at C&A I mean they had the nice clothes for the RIGHT price…so why not! And again all the other stores are size-ists! So what could your boy do? And most of the clothes I had where cold weather stuff...needed some summer wear.
During this my period of gloom and evading boredom I kept active running almost every day…almost I said because when I wasn’t running I was swimming at least 6 laps…I won’t lie when I attempted my 6 laps….I almost died! On that day I remember I said to myself… I before I commit suicide in the name of losing weight I didn’t even wait to rest and try again…I fled the pool like it was a war zone! I shall live and not die…Lepa won’t kill me! *sigh*
During this period, I also took stock of my life (gosh I sound like a secondary school teacher! yuck) especially on the subject of friendships..who were really my friends and who was not…and I realized I was giving more than I was receiving and it hurt a lot….20 friends truly don’t play for 20 years… personally feel friends should always have you in mind…even if you guys don’t talk everyday but an effort to reach out to say “hey how are you?” “Just checking on you” “please forgive me, its work but you are my homie you know...much love mehn”… but nothing….
Maybe I love too much and it irritates people but I thought too much of love could not possibly be a bad thing!? I think I am just finding hard to accept that life changes people and people change and have new friends….I think…that’s the issue….but please I won’t lie I'm still semi grieving that some friends have just gone like that and we are all at different points of our lives…truly 20 friends cannot play together for 20 years but however the few that have remained all these years…I'm grateful! And I have realized that this has also opened the door to new friends…my destiny is bigger than my friends from 20 years ago really so why not the people I know…?
Enough of me ranting about my issues…back to school notes…I won’t lie I am seriously gunning for best student…yes I have never really achieved some academic top honours…it hurt then somewhat…so now I'm in my element what’s going to be my excuse?! Even if there are people like Won-Hoo who has 10 years Pro experience, Leonardo with 2 years that are in my class that just oppresses one with their speed and sheer show of skill that says “yes we dey learn together bet we no dey the same level” but I have decided to just do ma thing and chase perfection! Top 5 is on my mind….
HILLSONG
I’m sure as you have reached this point of my post you have probably uttered or at least thought out loud or said the following in your mind
“this boy and this eim church sha?!”
“this boy wont let us rest with this his church o!”
“this boy and his Hillsong sha..!”
Yes…at least something amongst those lines… but I can’t help it…week after week..God is just showing up in bigger ways…we have moved to a new venue which a theater and its pretty amazing and the Word is on check…and let me not even start with the worship… well on a church note..my my friends Adam and Aaron just moved to a new apartment and we had the party on Saturday…omo their flat was overballin!! Some Superstar tins!! The view from the flat was breathtaking! Eiffel Tower, Montaparnasse Tower, Monmarte Sarce-Coceur and just the extensive blow out of buildings and grassland that makes it look like something that was painted and placed out of their window. The flat was a very modern one…it was like something out of an Ikea catalogue…and yes when I pondered upon my flat..sorry box I could not help but weep on the inside..they were paying only a 100 Euros more and they had 40m2 and I have 17m2 and just a plain ugly old style house compared to theirs…but oh well…by the time I had consumed excessive amounts of Adams American-chewy-style cookies and the endless spread of snacks that they had laid out, coupled with chatting with everyone else...my sorrows about my apartment left me…up until I arrived home and the reality hit me…again..but I could only take of my clothes and curl up on my bed and sleep…my complaining is not going to get me a new place….i can only be thankful I have a roof over my head…even if it Is an overpriced one….
Chaetau Rouge….
On my way from my famous ghetto district Chateau Rouge…I had gone to buy some credit for my LeBara phone…desending the stairs of the metro I heard “u no wan go again! Mo we dey rish Gare Du Nord na!” like my spines nervous reaction I turn to identify most definitely with my country people…but hence…after looking at the speaker of the pidgin..i turned back..faster than even my involuntary nervosu system and hurried dwon towards the stairs…call me judgemental or whatever….that is not the level of person I must be found with..before I know it I would be sending school fees money to his brothers at home or worse he would robbed me of my passport sef! because I doubt he had any papers….
In Closing…..
My exercise is paying off!!! I have lost some weight…*somebody shout halleluyahhhhh!* it not so much that I have defied gravity or something but little enough to respect my hours of running and swimming and sheer denial of food most of the time!
I'm looking forward to my trip to Madrid, Spain and possibly Switzerland….this my Shengen visa must work for me…or I must use it wella! I should be going sometime in July….i’m soo excited!
So that’s the story of my life so far…I have recently become a twitter addict and I won’t lie I'm loving it! I have also moved much closer to God and I feel so good about that!
okay lemme confess.....I miss home terribly…I would give anything now to be in Lagos…even though I hear its raining like as if Noah needs to build a new ark…I miss home…I miss my room, my car, Iya Ruka’s rice and stew, my mum’s Jollof Rice, my mummy…(yes mummy’s boy :p) my church!!! My Best Friend!!! Ah!!! But it is well….the plan of God for my life is taking place…it has to cost me something…I know I would smile in the end and be happy and joyful!
To my family and everyone that made sure they were a part of my awesome destiny….God will surely reward you and honour you! The works of your hands shall always be blessed! And if you ever prayed for me or even just wished me the best…same goes for you…as far as you support me…God bless you
Too much Amour!
A Bientot!!!!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
What June Has Brought So Far....
June 8, 2010
Wow, in another 3 days I would be 3 months old in Paris…jeez how time flies?! I still remember when we were saying happy New Year and I was hustling visa and so on….kai!
I would start by saying I'm very grateful to God for the weather…though it rained a bit and dulled the atmosphere for the budding summer season...however the Sun has resumed its rightful place in the sky and I hope it stays that way because I'm loving it!
In the last week a few good things have happened…I would like to point out that I have been bedridden most of the time though and eating some Nigerian food I made pretty well (mummy would be proud ) watching online TV…Big Bang Theory to be precise and yes….24!!!..Jack Bauer lives on to me! No matter what! Kiefer Sutherland is always going to be Jack to me…and one day he would eat my food la gbara Olorun!!!! Amii!!!
Hillsong United/1st June
As the night of the 31st of May slowly crept forward past 12 midnight, the 1st of June slowly dawned. My only excitement was the Hillsong United concert that was to take place later in the day…I looked forward to it with extreme eagerness because of the sole reason of extreme boredom! (Ok...i’m being extreme I wanted to actually see them)…The worship would be great (I considered) …
However on the note of boredom still, eating and watching online TV is not good for my lower belly and my desire to be slimmer!! However, the concert was at 7pm and I still had the whole day to wait and lounge before 7pm. So yes, the part of my bed I sleep on I'm sure hates my underbody! I stay like an anchored ocean liner (like those abandoned ones in CMS) and watch some show…Big Bang Theory in this case...(God bless fastpasstv.com, MegaVideo, WiseVid, zshare, freeonline-tv.com and all my internet entertainment providers..God bless u!) During my lounging I realize that I had no clue where the concert was taking place…so Google maps to the rescue…so I figure out where the place was…not far from me as such as I had discovered a faster way to move with the RER instead of the normal metro line….at 5:40pm my eyes meet the clock on my laptop and I jump up and jet round my box..sorry flat…bathing, looking for what to wear….eventually I finish and I head out…armed with my jacket as the skies where looking dark and unfriendly.
Getting to the metro stop that was closest to the venue I realized it wasn’t something too obvious to locate…and as I couldn’t ask anyone now...what could I do? Yes! Google Maps on my BlackBerry…so I type in the address on my Google map application and slowly but surely the directions come through and in another 5mins I was at the hall….(kai!! Oyinbo sha!!! Tech-i-nology!!! chei! *snapsfingers!*)
As I approached the venue I noticed most people from church were viciously on the queue…(”na wa o!!!---my mind”) so I meet up with Jon(my Austrialian Pastry Chef Friend) how was just arriving about the same time as me…so we find a spot on the growing queue…in the midst of our chatter the unbelievable but none-surprising thing happens….I feel drops on my head…RAIN!!!!! Thank God for the jacket! It became my umbrella! As if the rain was not enough I started feeling very very hungry! So after much indecision to go and grab a bite I decide to find a supermarket to buy a drink at least and a sandwich…after much budget checking I go for a baguette and sliced chicken and make a sandwich enough for Jon and I….by the time I rush back I realize the queue had moved and Jon was in the front!!!
By the time I even got in…I noticed a sigh that said pay 2 Euros to keep your items…
“hmmm...pay two Euros to keep my food of 5 Euros!!! I go chop for house! Mcheww!”
Omo I gave the food out to two girls from church that could not get in at first but later did…
Anyways….getting in to the venue….I was first happy to get in…then I see this small black space…and before my mind’s displeasure could gush through my mouth my friend Jon spoke in his crisp Aussie accent ‘oh its kinda small ya know? (“ah bros how u take sabi wetin ah bin wan tok!”) “yeah I was thinking the same thing” I answer him the educated version of my minds backward expression! But oh well we chill…and even seat on the floor and wait for the concert to start….it was a standing somtin! At this point I was still thinking the following to myself….
1. Ok the only gospel concert I have been to is Experience and it was definitely MAHD! BIGGER AND JUST CRAZY! So Jesus...how dis wan go kom bi na? only wan tason (one thousand) people!!! Hmmm…
2. I still dey ves for the chop whey I no fit chop! Ah!!! My 5 Euros gone! But at least na woman chop am….e no bad *sigh*
3. Oya make dis Hillsong United people komot sing jare….how dem go be?
While all this was going on in my head….I decided to let it go and allow whatever was going to happen take its course…so I handed the concert over to God and a blank mind slate….
3 1/2hours later…..on my way to metro with a guy from church all I could say was “WOW THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!” AND TO RECAP….IT WAS AAAAWWEWEEEESSOOMMMEEE!
When they came up…United that is… “so na dem bi dat abi?” ok na…ki lo ma korin?”
Then they started with a small speech and did a song I didn’t know…and I was first shy to rock out…but after another song…I dey jump pass Kobe Bryant! Of course when they switched into Worship songs I almost died! When they did Songs like Hossana and All I Need is You I almost wanted to faint! Wow! The worship was powerful…and what I loved about the night was…all their songs where so pure, genuine and really searched for the heart of God…they all had this desperation for the heart of God and the recognition of the sacrifice of the Cross…I felt new after..I felt forgiven, free like never before! Really you can’t place God in a box! It mustn’t be all Komole-ing and giving jesus a wiper! And you can’t dictate too Him where he goes to! He can arrive at a small 1000 standing black space and still show His Glory! Please I won’t forget to mention the lights and all the efizi the band pulled! Eewwwoo!! U go fear! When the crowd got to sing nko….wow!! So yeah it was a great night out….and I know my God is Mighty to Save!!!
Basic Graduation
The 3rd of June was the graduation ceremony for Basic Cuisine.....and sadly I arrived like an hour late!!! Ok my reasons are as follows
1. I had been nonchalant about going because since I was doing the whole diploma it wasn’t a big deal….
2. I couldn’t remember the time…
Oh well I get to school an hour late and meet the winter garden filled with everyone and their lovely clothes….and each student receiving their certificate…my name had been called but it was called again and I felt celebrity like as my ovation was warm and resounding and when I received my certificate I actually felt proud and quickly took pictures and straight to Facebook and Twitter….
After the ceremony we move upstairs to have champagne and hor’ d’ourves aka finger food, everyone was looking great in their respective outfits and in smiles as most people where only doing this stage so it was filled with smiles and hugs of goodbyes. For me it was really emotional when I had to say goodbye to Juan Jose….he had been a real inspiration in the sense that he was real gentleman, he was successful and he had focus and he always wore a smile….he had this admirable character that I dream of having when I'm his age...he’s not married and I pray he gets married to his present girlfriend…she won’t regret it! And there was Kristen…I met her Husband...he’s quite a huge man and she looked even more tiny next to him...it was sad saying bye to Kristen as well. We hugged really tight as we said our final goodbyes but promised to stay in touch via email…(I really hope we hold up) she was really great to me especially when she took me out….and I was really happy she gained confidence with her cooking skills…Basic was really hell for her at first but she conquered at the end of the day!
I also had to say bye to some of the Japanese crew...Kanayo and Naomi I miss them actually because at the end we were starting to at least understanding each other….
Oh before I forget….in my school top 5 students are announced….Leonardo came 3rd…on one hand I was happy for him on the other..i was fired up to be in that group…if I never made Top Student in normal education…this is my field I gast to shine!! so intermediate be ready for me!!
Aunty Mowunmi’s Visit
Now this had to be the most thrilling thing that happened to me all week!!!! One of my Aunty Toyin’s closet friend Mowuni Majekudomi came to Paris...my aunt had sent me her schedule ,she arrived at 10am and left at 9pm in the night…I had already figured out she was coming to shop and not see Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower! I was excited to see someone from home! I needed it! Plus my uncle had said he would send “something” *bank-smiley-face*
However when the morning of the 2nd came…on my way to get her…which I was running a little late I must confess… I get to the station and the train ride that should have taken me 5mins took me 20mins!! Because the train was delayed and I did not have any number to reach her on! Of course I had missed her at Gare Du Nord…so even after I waited for the second train to arrive and dint see her…I knew I had missed her..so in painfully I go back home…but like a miracle my aunty send me her Nigerian number that she was roaming…and not caring what it was going to cost me on my landline and cellphone I call her and hook up with her…when we hooked up we hugged and she expressed her shock that she didn’t know I was in Paris…which was a bigger shock to me because I was so sure my aunty had given her my information etc…oh well we had finally seen…and the shopping began… at this point I would like to point out to all men that shopping with a woman is one of the difficult things you can ever do!! That is the one sport women can beat any man hands down!!! Mehn aunty Mowunmi dey waka! But it was fun..we gisted as we shopped exchanged ideas on tastes and choices of clothes..I felt like Jay Manuel or one of those guys from E…but I just picked what thought when her husband carries her out he can beat his chest and say “na my wife bi dat!”
After much walking and purchasing we head to galleries Lafayette and it was my first time in 3 months going to the popular mall and why is that? You may ask?….let me put it like this…when all that is sold their ranges from 300 Euros up per item…really what I'm I finding there? What’s wrong with H&M and Delaveine?!!! But oh well…it was great seeing my aunty purchase Million-Euro Christian Lacroix shirts for her husband and generally soaking in the beauty and the grandeur of the compacture of designer labels together…it was inspiring to see the structure and design of labels and how everything looked so luxurious and neat…I mean why else would you pay 200 Euros for one shirt! Even now that my pepper has not arrived…I didn’t hold back from looking at clothes that were one month’s rent for my flat and behaving as if I was actually going to buy them….*I will arrive*
My aunty picks up a pair of shoes after much searching (it was surprising how they didn’t have any wow shoes…I agreed with my aunt,.. most of the shoes where plain ugly and if you were going to pay so much for a pair of shoes it has to be WOW! But eventually she found a pair of black heels that were stunning. At this point we were both tired and hungry and it was getting closer to the time for her departure…as we got to the train station we ate at a restaurant called “Buffalo Bull” across from the Station and the food was only tasty out of sheer hunger…mehn was it horrible!…and I recommended thinking it was good…never again!
But even after the labour of shopping a worker has his reward…let’s just say Aunty Mowunmi was very generous! And she expressed how deeply proud she was of me! *touching stuffs* as we exchange hugs and she queues for her train I slowly make it to my own metro and head home…my swag was different I was a few Euros richer….yes ke!
HILLSONG
I can’t stop going on about my church…please forgive me but…God is really doing something in that church! This Sunday that just passed I almost lost my mind in service…a number of things had challenged my faith and so on…I was in a semi state of depression and felt like…”hmm whatever” but by the time Pastor Brendan was done on and more importantly the Praise team…ahan!! See Joyful boys now! U go fear joy! I learnt that no matter the circumstance I should really just praise and worship God! I'm getting more involved with serving as well in church...I really want to be part of the happenings and not just a spectator in church!
My Weight Loss Journey
On my diet and weight loss issue…I have started swimming and I have a routine of running and swimming which is very good. My runs are getting better with each day! It s amazing! My speed is higher now and I can go round the garden without stopping…hmmm who would have thought?! Swimming funny enough is what is tougher for me…but I can do five laps with rests in between for now…and the first day I went swimming I was amazed to see small small pikin dem whey dey swim for ddep end..”ah! Oyibo sha! Na from pikin deir sheedren dey enta wota lyk diz!” chei! For Nigeria which mama go make eim pikin dey swim for deep end! Choi!” then me whey tink say I sabi swim come see as some small boys dey run for wota like say dem be shark!” but I dey do my own jejely
So yes..Story of my life….Generally I'm good…miss home like crazy but I'm good…. Big Bang Theory has really Kept me company so did 24..(i miss Jack Bauer!!!)
I'm seriously expecting more people and friends that can actually chill with me…looking forward to Dozie, Pastor Taiwo, Ada, Tair and Uka…
To my family and everyone fully Behind me….Love you all to bits!
A Bientot!!!
Wow, in another 3 days I would be 3 months old in Paris…jeez how time flies?! I still remember when we were saying happy New Year and I was hustling visa and so on….kai!
I would start by saying I'm very grateful to God for the weather…though it rained a bit and dulled the atmosphere for the budding summer season...however the Sun has resumed its rightful place in the sky and I hope it stays that way because I'm loving it!
In the last week a few good things have happened…I would like to point out that I have been bedridden most of the time though and eating some Nigerian food I made pretty well (mummy would be proud ) watching online TV…Big Bang Theory to be precise and yes….24!!!..Jack Bauer lives on to me! No matter what! Kiefer Sutherland is always going to be Jack to me…and one day he would eat my food la gbara Olorun!!!! Amii!!!
Hillsong United/1st June
As the night of the 31st of May slowly crept forward past 12 midnight, the 1st of June slowly dawned. My only excitement was the Hillsong United concert that was to take place later in the day…I looked forward to it with extreme eagerness because of the sole reason of extreme boredom! (Ok...i’m being extreme I wanted to actually see them)…The worship would be great (I considered) …
However on the note of boredom still, eating and watching online TV is not good for my lower belly and my desire to be slimmer!! However, the concert was at 7pm and I still had the whole day to wait and lounge before 7pm. So yes, the part of my bed I sleep on I'm sure hates my underbody! I stay like an anchored ocean liner (like those abandoned ones in CMS) and watch some show…Big Bang Theory in this case...(God bless fastpasstv.com, MegaVideo, WiseVid, zshare, freeonline-tv.com and all my internet entertainment providers..God bless u!) During my lounging I realize that I had no clue where the concert was taking place…so Google maps to the rescue…so I figure out where the place was…not far from me as such as I had discovered a faster way to move with the RER instead of the normal metro line….at 5:40pm my eyes meet the clock on my laptop and I jump up and jet round my box..sorry flat…bathing, looking for what to wear….eventually I finish and I head out…armed with my jacket as the skies where looking dark and unfriendly.
Getting to the metro stop that was closest to the venue I realized it wasn’t something too obvious to locate…and as I couldn’t ask anyone now...what could I do? Yes! Google Maps on my BlackBerry…so I type in the address on my Google map application and slowly but surely the directions come through and in another 5mins I was at the hall….(kai!! Oyinbo sha!!! Tech-i-nology!!! chei! *snapsfingers!*)
As I approached the venue I noticed most people from church were viciously on the queue…(”na wa o!!!---my mind”) so I meet up with Jon(my Austrialian Pastry Chef Friend) how was just arriving about the same time as me…so we find a spot on the growing queue…in the midst of our chatter the unbelievable but none-surprising thing happens….I feel drops on my head…RAIN!!!!! Thank God for the jacket! It became my umbrella! As if the rain was not enough I started feeling very very hungry! So after much indecision to go and grab a bite I decide to find a supermarket to buy a drink at least and a sandwich…after much budget checking I go for a baguette and sliced chicken and make a sandwich enough for Jon and I….by the time I rush back I realize the queue had moved and Jon was in the front!!!
By the time I even got in…I noticed a sigh that said pay 2 Euros to keep your items…
“hmmm...pay two Euros to keep my food of 5 Euros!!! I go chop for house! Mcheww!”
Omo I gave the food out to two girls from church that could not get in at first but later did…
Anyways….getting in to the venue….I was first happy to get in…then I see this small black space…and before my mind’s displeasure could gush through my mouth my friend Jon spoke in his crisp Aussie accent ‘oh its kinda small ya know? (“ah bros how u take sabi wetin ah bin wan tok!”) “yeah I was thinking the same thing” I answer him the educated version of my minds backward expression! But oh well we chill…and even seat on the floor and wait for the concert to start….it was a standing somtin! At this point I was still thinking the following to myself….
1. Ok the only gospel concert I have been to is Experience and it was definitely MAHD! BIGGER AND JUST CRAZY! So Jesus...how dis wan go kom bi na? only wan tason (one thousand) people!!! Hmmm…
2. I still dey ves for the chop whey I no fit chop! Ah!!! My 5 Euros gone! But at least na woman chop am….e no bad *sigh*
3. Oya make dis Hillsong United people komot sing jare….how dem go be?
While all this was going on in my head….I decided to let it go and allow whatever was going to happen take its course…so I handed the concert over to God and a blank mind slate….
3 1/2hours later…..on my way to metro with a guy from church all I could say was “WOW THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!” AND TO RECAP….IT WAS AAAAWWEWEEEESSOOMMMEEE!
When they came up…United that is… “so na dem bi dat abi?” ok na…ki lo ma korin?”
Then they started with a small speech and did a song I didn’t know…and I was first shy to rock out…but after another song…I dey jump pass Kobe Bryant! Of course when they switched into Worship songs I almost died! When they did Songs like Hossana and All I Need is You I almost wanted to faint! Wow! The worship was powerful…and what I loved about the night was…all their songs where so pure, genuine and really searched for the heart of God…they all had this desperation for the heart of God and the recognition of the sacrifice of the Cross…I felt new after..I felt forgiven, free like never before! Really you can’t place God in a box! It mustn’t be all Komole-ing and giving jesus a wiper! And you can’t dictate too Him where he goes to! He can arrive at a small 1000 standing black space and still show His Glory! Please I won’t forget to mention the lights and all the efizi the band pulled! Eewwwoo!! U go fear! When the crowd got to sing nko….wow!! So yeah it was a great night out….and I know my God is Mighty to Save!!!
Basic Graduation
The 3rd of June was the graduation ceremony for Basic Cuisine.....and sadly I arrived like an hour late!!! Ok my reasons are as follows
1. I had been nonchalant about going because since I was doing the whole diploma it wasn’t a big deal….
2. I couldn’t remember the time…
Oh well I get to school an hour late and meet the winter garden filled with everyone and their lovely clothes….and each student receiving their certificate…my name had been called but it was called again and I felt celebrity like as my ovation was warm and resounding and when I received my certificate I actually felt proud and quickly took pictures and straight to Facebook and Twitter….
After the ceremony we move upstairs to have champagne and hor’ d’ourves aka finger food, everyone was looking great in their respective outfits and in smiles as most people where only doing this stage so it was filled with smiles and hugs of goodbyes. For me it was really emotional when I had to say goodbye to Juan Jose….he had been a real inspiration in the sense that he was real gentleman, he was successful and he had focus and he always wore a smile….he had this admirable character that I dream of having when I'm his age...he’s not married and I pray he gets married to his present girlfriend…she won’t regret it! And there was Kristen…I met her Husband...he’s quite a huge man and she looked even more tiny next to him...it was sad saying bye to Kristen as well. We hugged really tight as we said our final goodbyes but promised to stay in touch via email…(I really hope we hold up) she was really great to me especially when she took me out….and I was really happy she gained confidence with her cooking skills…Basic was really hell for her at first but she conquered at the end of the day!
I also had to say bye to some of the Japanese crew...Kanayo and Naomi I miss them actually because at the end we were starting to at least understanding each other….
Oh before I forget….in my school top 5 students are announced….Leonardo came 3rd…on one hand I was happy for him on the other..i was fired up to be in that group…if I never made Top Student in normal education…this is my field I gast to shine!! so intermediate be ready for me!!
Aunty Mowunmi’s Visit
Now this had to be the most thrilling thing that happened to me all week!!!! One of my Aunty Toyin’s closet friend Mowuni Majekudomi came to Paris...my aunt had sent me her schedule ,she arrived at 10am and left at 9pm in the night…I had already figured out she was coming to shop and not see Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower! I was excited to see someone from home! I needed it! Plus my uncle had said he would send “something” *bank-smiley-face*
However when the morning of the 2nd came…on my way to get her…which I was running a little late I must confess… I get to the station and the train ride that should have taken me 5mins took me 20mins!! Because the train was delayed and I did not have any number to reach her on! Of course I had missed her at Gare Du Nord…so even after I waited for the second train to arrive and dint see her…I knew I had missed her..so in painfully I go back home…but like a miracle my aunty send me her Nigerian number that she was roaming…and not caring what it was going to cost me on my landline and cellphone I call her and hook up with her…when we hooked up we hugged and she expressed her shock that she didn’t know I was in Paris…which was a bigger shock to me because I was so sure my aunty had given her my information etc…oh well we had finally seen…and the shopping began… at this point I would like to point out to all men that shopping with a woman is one of the difficult things you can ever do!! That is the one sport women can beat any man hands down!!! Mehn aunty Mowunmi dey waka! But it was fun..we gisted as we shopped exchanged ideas on tastes and choices of clothes..I felt like Jay Manuel or one of those guys from E…but I just picked what thought when her husband carries her out he can beat his chest and say “na my wife bi dat!”
After much walking and purchasing we head to galleries Lafayette and it was my first time in 3 months going to the popular mall and why is that? You may ask?….let me put it like this…when all that is sold their ranges from 300 Euros up per item…really what I'm I finding there? What’s wrong with H&M and Delaveine?!!! But oh well…it was great seeing my aunty purchase Million-Euro Christian Lacroix shirts for her husband and generally soaking in the beauty and the grandeur of the compacture of designer labels together…it was inspiring to see the structure and design of labels and how everything looked so luxurious and neat…I mean why else would you pay 200 Euros for one shirt! Even now that my pepper has not arrived…I didn’t hold back from looking at clothes that were one month’s rent for my flat and behaving as if I was actually going to buy them….*I will arrive*
My aunty picks up a pair of shoes after much searching (it was surprising how they didn’t have any wow shoes…I agreed with my aunt,.. most of the shoes where plain ugly and if you were going to pay so much for a pair of shoes it has to be WOW! But eventually she found a pair of black heels that were stunning. At this point we were both tired and hungry and it was getting closer to the time for her departure…as we got to the train station we ate at a restaurant called “Buffalo Bull” across from the Station and the food was only tasty out of sheer hunger…mehn was it horrible!…and I recommended thinking it was good…never again!
But even after the labour of shopping a worker has his reward…let’s just say Aunty Mowunmi was very generous! And she expressed how deeply proud she was of me! *touching stuffs* as we exchange hugs and she queues for her train I slowly make it to my own metro and head home…my swag was different I was a few Euros richer….yes ke!
HILLSONG
I can’t stop going on about my church…please forgive me but…God is really doing something in that church! This Sunday that just passed I almost lost my mind in service…a number of things had challenged my faith and so on…I was in a semi state of depression and felt like…”hmm whatever” but by the time Pastor Brendan was done on and more importantly the Praise team…ahan!! See Joyful boys now! U go fear joy! I learnt that no matter the circumstance I should really just praise and worship God! I'm getting more involved with serving as well in church...I really want to be part of the happenings and not just a spectator in church!
My Weight Loss Journey
On my diet and weight loss issue…I have started swimming and I have a routine of running and swimming which is very good. My runs are getting better with each day! It s amazing! My speed is higher now and I can go round the garden without stopping…hmmm who would have thought?! Swimming funny enough is what is tougher for me…but I can do five laps with rests in between for now…and the first day I went swimming I was amazed to see small small pikin dem whey dey swim for ddep end..”ah! Oyibo sha! Na from pikin deir sheedren dey enta wota lyk diz!” chei! For Nigeria which mama go make eim pikin dey swim for deep end! Choi!” then me whey tink say I sabi swim come see as some small boys dey run for wota like say dem be shark!” but I dey do my own jejely
So yes..Story of my life….Generally I'm good…miss home like crazy but I'm good…. Big Bang Theory has really Kept me company so did 24..(i miss Jack Bauer!!!)
I'm seriously expecting more people and friends that can actually chill with me…looking forward to Dozie, Pastor Taiwo, Ada, Tair and Uka…
To my family and everyone fully Behind me….Love you all to bits!
A Bientot!!!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
The May Finale
May 29, 2010
NOW THAT I HAVE A SMALL HOLIDAY…..
As I type this…I literally just coming from buying a blender that I have been doing serious ijebu to buy….so after even calling my mum to consult whether I should buy it or not at 9am in the morning(she had to ask if there was a problem) she just verified that If I could afford it…well its 30 Euros it’s not overtly pricey but not cheap at the same time…then I lamented over the billions I had spent in the last week over my exams..I had to get some new utensils, pay for a concert ticket, bought new earphones (that were freaking 20 Euros!!!!) and so much I can’t even remember now and I have my utility bills to pay!!!! CHEI!!! CHINEKE BIKO!!! ABASI MBOK!!! *DEEP HEAVY SIGHS*
Anyway I have bought the blender…stew making and sundry would not be an uphill task anymore…with me cutting all my veg with a steak knife!!!!! (Student life na suffa!!)
My week has been great!! Like absolutely!! I'm seeing the promises of God coming to pass daily even though sometimes it’s hard to believe I still tell Him I trust Him and He should guide me…but the highlights of this week has to be the build up to my exam and the exam itself and my trip to Chateau Rouge..(its always a story right?!)
Exam build up/Exam
I had my exams on the 26th of may before the day before that is was our last demonstration and during the class I just kept on staring at the clock for the class to be over…because I needed to get out to do my laundry (I had to be squeaky clean for my exam) get some utensils for my exams like my sponges and spatulas and so on, so I'm more organized during my cooking and not running around like a frazzled waiter!…on my way out of the demo its starts raining seriously and it’s a nightmare as I got into a bigger mess by trying to locate a food store I had never been to in Chatelet then travelling to Place D’Italie to get the stuff I needed and I got them for cheap…but however…I missed connect group meeting from church because of the shopping I had to do…*sighs* I was soo burnt! But oh well…arriving home I rush to the Laundromat and gracefully they were still opened so I set my uniforms to wash…when it was time to dry I could not as the time for the last drying time was over! Shooott!! And my exam was at 8:30am the next day!!!yeh! But someone at the laundry tells me to try another one close to the metro…like Usain Bolt…I jet to the place and thankfully I could dry my clothes! While I was ironing my clothes against the next day…all that ran thru my mind was
“omo make I iron shap shap…I wan sleep!” I even felt bad…should I not have been praying silently in tongues or something…I'm here thinking of how to sleep…well I had to be up at 6am to get to school early enough to sharpen my knives before the exam…
Before my alarm went off at 6:01am precisely I had beaten it by at least 5mins…I was already up…I swear in my sleep I heard my name…and my eyes popped open! Off course I snoozed for like 10mins but the thought of arriving late wasn’t settling enough for my snooze to be relished so I get up and look at the Word as I open my Open heaven devotional to the scripture of the day its Psalm 3:3..”for thou o Lord Art a Shield for me” I won’t lie I was in tears…how could God be so mindful of me perfect word for the day! When that was over I briskly shower and so on…and by 7:10 I was en route to school…as I arrived school I felt like an efiko…I was the first person to arrive! I felt forward!!! But what could I care…I hadn’t sharpened my knives!!! So dressed in my complete uniform, sharpened knives,, new kitchen accessories I go through my recipes one last time…silently praying I get a fish dish…no time to truss and roast any chicken abeg!
So when 8:25 beckoned, up to the class my class mates and I went and we were called in one after the other and we randomly picked from the bag and Voila I got the fish dish!!! So excitedly I get in to work trying not to be intimidated by anyone…Naomi a Japanese lady next to me was doing Fish as well so was Leonardo and Juan…hmmm good cooks mehn…I had to calm down and not be oppressed because Naomi was cooking at the speed of Light! And Leo was doing his thing as usual but…my confidence stood…as I remembered what I read in the my Bible….
My cooking went well…but I forgot to season!!!! But thankfully it was fish so…the butter and the wine had given it enough flavour so I wasn’t too bothered….I almost forgot to serve my potatoes but did so at the end and I finished in good time and voila it was over!
After our exam a bunch of us excluding Ana!!! the forward woman!!! I(n fact her story I won’t even waste my time to write it…she’s CRAZY finish!!!! )We sit to have some drinks.. I had some hot chocolate as it was raining…then the others had beer and the Japanese girls in my class sat and also planned a party that we are having on the 31st or 1st of June…I offered to bring Jollof and Dodo…yes! Dey gast taste some pepper!!!!
As we leave the rain is still pouring but I remember I had promised some new friends of mine Lara and Noor that I would call them back and hook up. Lara and Noor by the way are two lovely beautiful Arab girls. And if you have been following and following religiously like my Aunty Rosalind (whom I love soo much by the way for doing so) you would recall I met Lara during the promotional video. They are in intermediate and in a few days now superior since we are all changing levels! So I ditch my friend Inigo for the babes…kai see me bad friend! Butit was the best decision made ever!!!
Meeting up at Noor’s place was great!!! They really entertained me!! Noor danced; which was hilarious!!! When we realized we were all starving Marvin (even after my 6 chicken wing meal I gorged down my belly while on my way and when I was there ) We went out and they got stuff for Risotto and they got butter to practice their Béarnaise sauce for their exam the following day. After our market trip in the rain and resorting to buy lamb from a supermarket instead of a butcher we head back to Noor’s place and start cooking, Lara was in charge of the Risotto and mehn can she cook!!! It was a mushroom risotto she made with red bell peppers….trust me it was delicious!!! During the cooking she talked with me and was really cool, we chatted about our passion for food, our lives before now, people at school, and generally stuff all over some good chardonnay…*sigh…the life* so yeah it was a great afternoon but I had to head home….
I won’t lie I have been in lazy mode again….I always seem to settle for the easier way out by sitting in front of my laptop!!! I should have blogged since but oh well….I was so lazy I cleaned my apartment and eventually cooked at midnight!!!! I made Egusi which failed woefully…I have no clue why but tit did…not sure what I didn’t do right! As my pot heated and realised the near wildfire fumes from my bleaching oil palm at midnight in the bid to cook Egusi… I could only help but wonder what my neighbours would have thought of me?
1. This boy tu es malade?
2. Is he committing suicide?
3. Or is he trying to kill us all?
As I pondered on those thoughts I could help but laugh to myself and still venture to cook this food….
At 3 in the morning when the residue of the smoke that was now burning my chest was leaving the room I finally lay down to rest….as I woke up….I start to cook again! Grs ofosh! So a semibukka style stew was made after a few hours of blending, frying, stirring and normal kitchen action….the stew was on check!
On the internet though one interesting thing I have been doing is reading Joke Ladoja’s column on NEXT24 website…she writes in their fashion column élan and I think she is FABULOUS!!! Pls check it out or buy NEXT ON SUNDAY to read élan…check out Rukky’s Frocks then my recent addiction has been Twitter and Big Bang Theory(….that has contributed greatly to my laziness) and honestly I still don’t understand Twitter…I mean any small thing you have said something..sorry “TWEETED” gosh!! I still prefer my Facebook but I'm getting a hang of it….
As I finish this I hope I post on time…my laziness is always getting the best of me.. i ahve to stop this......but when I do it I do it….
I love my family member to bits…and everyone who is solidly behind me…
God bless you all!
A Bientot!
NOW THAT I HAVE A SMALL HOLIDAY…..
As I type this…I literally just coming from buying a blender that I have been doing serious ijebu to buy….so after even calling my mum to consult whether I should buy it or not at 9am in the morning(she had to ask if there was a problem) she just verified that If I could afford it…well its 30 Euros it’s not overtly pricey but not cheap at the same time…then I lamented over the billions I had spent in the last week over my exams..I had to get some new utensils, pay for a concert ticket, bought new earphones (that were freaking 20 Euros!!!!) and so much I can’t even remember now and I have my utility bills to pay!!!! CHEI!!! CHINEKE BIKO!!! ABASI MBOK!!! *DEEP HEAVY SIGHS*
Anyway I have bought the blender…stew making and sundry would not be an uphill task anymore…with me cutting all my veg with a steak knife!!!!! (Student life na suffa!!)
My week has been great!! Like absolutely!! I'm seeing the promises of God coming to pass daily even though sometimes it’s hard to believe I still tell Him I trust Him and He should guide me…but the highlights of this week has to be the build up to my exam and the exam itself and my trip to Chateau Rouge..(its always a story right?!)
Exam build up/Exam
I had my exams on the 26th of may before the day before that is was our last demonstration and during the class I just kept on staring at the clock for the class to be over…because I needed to get out to do my laundry (I had to be squeaky clean for my exam) get some utensils for my exams like my sponges and spatulas and so on, so I'm more organized during my cooking and not running around like a frazzled waiter!…on my way out of the demo its starts raining seriously and it’s a nightmare as I got into a bigger mess by trying to locate a food store I had never been to in Chatelet then travelling to Place D’Italie to get the stuff I needed and I got them for cheap…but however…I missed connect group meeting from church because of the shopping I had to do…*sighs* I was soo burnt! But oh well…arriving home I rush to the Laundromat and gracefully they were still opened so I set my uniforms to wash…when it was time to dry I could not as the time for the last drying time was over! Shooott!! And my exam was at 8:30am the next day!!!yeh! But someone at the laundry tells me to try another one close to the metro…like Usain Bolt…I jet to the place and thankfully I could dry my clothes! While I was ironing my clothes against the next day…all that ran thru my mind was
“omo make I iron shap shap…I wan sleep!” I even felt bad…should I not have been praying silently in tongues or something…I'm here thinking of how to sleep…well I had to be up at 6am to get to school early enough to sharpen my knives before the exam…
Before my alarm went off at 6:01am precisely I had beaten it by at least 5mins…I was already up…I swear in my sleep I heard my name…and my eyes popped open! Off course I snoozed for like 10mins but the thought of arriving late wasn’t settling enough for my snooze to be relished so I get up and look at the Word as I open my Open heaven devotional to the scripture of the day its Psalm 3:3..”for thou o Lord Art a Shield for me” I won’t lie I was in tears…how could God be so mindful of me perfect word for the day! When that was over I briskly shower and so on…and by 7:10 I was en route to school…as I arrived school I felt like an efiko…I was the first person to arrive! I felt forward!!! But what could I care…I hadn’t sharpened my knives!!! So dressed in my complete uniform, sharpened knives,, new kitchen accessories I go through my recipes one last time…silently praying I get a fish dish…no time to truss and roast any chicken abeg!
So when 8:25 beckoned, up to the class my class mates and I went and we were called in one after the other and we randomly picked from the bag and Voila I got the fish dish!!! So excitedly I get in to work trying not to be intimidated by anyone…Naomi a Japanese lady next to me was doing Fish as well so was Leonardo and Juan…hmmm good cooks mehn…I had to calm down and not be oppressed because Naomi was cooking at the speed of Light! And Leo was doing his thing as usual but…my confidence stood…as I remembered what I read in the my Bible….
My cooking went well…but I forgot to season!!!! But thankfully it was fish so…the butter and the wine had given it enough flavour so I wasn’t too bothered….I almost forgot to serve my potatoes but did so at the end and I finished in good time and voila it was over!
After our exam a bunch of us excluding Ana!!! the forward woman!!! I(n fact her story I won’t even waste my time to write it…she’s CRAZY finish!!!! )We sit to have some drinks.. I had some hot chocolate as it was raining…then the others had beer and the Japanese girls in my class sat and also planned a party that we are having on the 31st or 1st of June…I offered to bring Jollof and Dodo…yes! Dey gast taste some pepper!!!!
As we leave the rain is still pouring but I remember I had promised some new friends of mine Lara and Noor that I would call them back and hook up. Lara and Noor by the way are two lovely beautiful Arab girls. And if you have been following and following religiously like my Aunty Rosalind (whom I love soo much by the way for doing so) you would recall I met Lara during the promotional video. They are in intermediate and in a few days now superior since we are all changing levels! So I ditch my friend Inigo for the babes…kai see me bad friend! Butit was the best decision made ever!!!
Meeting up at Noor’s place was great!!! They really entertained me!! Noor danced; which was hilarious!!! When we realized we were all starving Marvin (even after my 6 chicken wing meal I gorged down my belly while on my way and when I was there ) We went out and they got stuff for Risotto and they got butter to practice their Béarnaise sauce for their exam the following day. After our market trip in the rain and resorting to buy lamb from a supermarket instead of a butcher we head back to Noor’s place and start cooking, Lara was in charge of the Risotto and mehn can she cook!!! It was a mushroom risotto she made with red bell peppers….trust me it was delicious!!! During the cooking she talked with me and was really cool, we chatted about our passion for food, our lives before now, people at school, and generally stuff all over some good chardonnay…*sigh…the life* so yeah it was a great afternoon but I had to head home….
I won’t lie I have been in lazy mode again….I always seem to settle for the easier way out by sitting in front of my laptop!!! I should have blogged since but oh well….I was so lazy I cleaned my apartment and eventually cooked at midnight!!!! I made Egusi which failed woefully…I have no clue why but tit did…not sure what I didn’t do right! As my pot heated and realised the near wildfire fumes from my bleaching oil palm at midnight in the bid to cook Egusi… I could only help but wonder what my neighbours would have thought of me?
1. This boy tu es malade?
2. Is he committing suicide?
3. Or is he trying to kill us all?
As I pondered on those thoughts I could help but laugh to myself and still venture to cook this food….
At 3 in the morning when the residue of the smoke that was now burning my chest was leaving the room I finally lay down to rest….as I woke up….I start to cook again! Grs ofosh! So a semibukka style stew was made after a few hours of blending, frying, stirring and normal kitchen action….the stew was on check!
On the internet though one interesting thing I have been doing is reading Joke Ladoja’s column on NEXT24 website…she writes in their fashion column élan and I think she is FABULOUS!!! Pls check it out or buy NEXT ON SUNDAY to read élan…check out Rukky’s Frocks then my recent addiction has been Twitter and Big Bang Theory(….that has contributed greatly to my laziness) and honestly I still don’t understand Twitter…I mean any small thing you have said something..sorry “TWEETED” gosh!! I still prefer my Facebook but I'm getting a hang of it….
As I finish this I hope I post on time…my laziness is always getting the best of me.. i ahve to stop this......but when I do it I do it….
I love my family member to bits…and everyone who is solidly behind me…
God bless you all!
A Bientot!
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