My NYSC chronicles (part 2)

 

The trip was stressful I was paranoid and uneasy. It lasted about 10 hours as to then 6/7 I was told. I couldn't sleep because I was not sure that the driver heard me clearly when i said where I was to drop. There's a door that keeps him from the rest of the bus like some kind of Sedan. So I couldn't be sure despite saying severally to the staff at pack. Couldn't take chances. I'd wake up every 45 mins or so to say driver 'Asaba dey' and peep out the window like I'd know Asaba even if it wasn't pitch black. At some point the road got narrower and quieter just bush standing too close to the road, dried up trees and a chilling ominous feeling.

Frequent road blocks only reiterated the fact that one of my friends told me that the roads weren't safe at night. She didn't do it to unhinge me but yea it did. 

At some point I was in my feelings. I suddenly thought of my dad and how stuff like this made him so proud. The man would have called everyone he knew and found a way to chip in 'one of my Boys is going for his service'. lol I miss that man. The Adele music blasting in my ears wasn't helping at all. One minute I was staring blankly another I was fighting tears. 

Anyhoooo. I finally got to Issele-uku around to 8am. I was hit by a wave cultural shock. I saw women riding motorcycles and it was weird to me. I was still processing it then I saw others pushing carts. Lol I've always heard women worked harder here but someone's mom as an okada woman? phew. However I don't think the motorcycle was for commercial purpose. I think it's just a means of transportation. Moving on, Delta was more foggy all the scanty fog we get in Lagos had long disappeared and the cold too I was soon to learn the place was inexplicably hot for what in envisaged the south to feel like. I really didn't expect it at all.

Moving forward  I eventually got to camp by around past 8am, I was sparingly searched and sent over to the stand for a very unpleasant covid test. I had arrived very early and so had enough bad 'mattresses' and bunks to pick from, I also had the privilege to pick a spot in where I feel is bunk prime real estate (by the window). 

I went on to complete my registration which was hitch free, the name 'Pereira' also gets people to be a bit more friendly with you. My first meal was lunch. Eba barely the size of my first and 'egusi' lumps hiding beneath water and fish head. A lot of fish head was served that I was convinced they either went to the market to buy just fish head or they bought some type of mutant fish that is just all head.

I think they offered eba again the next day. Twice. I just stayed on my corn flakes diet cause no be me they go use eba kill. 

Over the first 2 days I grew to quickly hate the parades. They last hours and happen thrice a day.  A typical day here. You're out on the field by 4:30am for devotion and some exercise then the parade by which time it'd be almost 8am. You get to eat by 8am then back out by 9am. You're in the sun till 2pm. You get lunch and then back out again for one more round by 3:30pm till 6pm. Then dinner around 7pm. Then they fix another program for 8pm to 10pm.

By which time you are meant to be fast asleep. Haha crazy. So far all these are useless to me. I cannot see a point to it.