The Big Heart
My longest journey ever as a human being! Though, I might have gone farther than this as an other creature in my previous life.
Image is mine
My friend and I fantasized about where we initially wished to serve, but thanks to NYSC(National Youth Service Corps), our fantasies didn't come to reality. We were thrown apart.
"Delta is still fair; it's okay; it's like this and that; the place is not far; the place is..." (You know all those types of indirect consoling statements, right?).
Well, even before I saw my call up letter, I've always told myself, "All things work together for my good." Anyways, thank God I wasn't thrown to Taraba.
Let's not talk about the transport fare because when I heard the price, the next thing I could just utter was "Jesus, please send me money."
The journey was pretty okay, just that I've never sat down that long for a journey. Well, there's always a first time to everything. I was beaten mercilessly by rain, though.
Welcome to Delta, The Big Heart.
Is Your Name In This Book of Life?
...Only those names I find written in this book of life will forever be in paradise.
Is your name in this book of life?
Think about it...
Who else remembers Book of Life by Nathaniel Bassey?
On reaching camp, one is to go for necessary registration and documentation. I went for my registration.
Registration is in stages; getting my NYSC Kit was part of my registration. I got my 'white and white' kit. (Scroll a little and see how fine I am!)
Fine readers, I got my khaki, also known as seven over seven. This khaki and me can be compared to a pin thrown inside a sack of beans when I got it.
Image is mine
Just like the way your name must be in the biblical Book of Life when we are all raptured is also the same way your name must be in the NYSC's Book of Life.
Participating in all church activities, even being a pastor, doesn't automatically make your name be in the book of life.
Exactly how NYSC works too. Participating in all NYSC activities without filling out your name in the Book of Life is just a waste of effort.
Out of the stages of registration, registering in the Book of Life was the most stressful part for me. It took me over 3 hours before I could get it done. At some point, I started queuing all over from the back again.
Image is mine
Glory be to Jesus, I was able to fill in my details in the Book of Life, although at some point I already gave up. I almost decided to just come back some other time for it, but later on, I used determination to wait it out.
It took me a lot of perseverance this blessed day to wait back and fill in my details in the book of life.
A Sack of Beans
Raise your hands if you dislike going through the stress of slim fitting and adjusting your clothes.
When I first got my Khaki and wore it, I was lost in it; I was like a pin thrown in a sack of beans. You remember I made mention of it, right?
Because of going through the stress of having to wear and re-wear for a perfect taste of size, I took one of my trousers along from home.
Image is mine
On reaching where I had adjusted my khaki trouser, I brought out my trouser and told the tailor to just use the exact measurements of the trouser I brought from home to adjust my khaki trouser, and here it is.
That reminds me that later, after swearing in, I realized one leg was longer than the other, but it wasn't that obvious.
Sun or Rain
Will you prefer to walk under the sun or under the rain? You can't use an umbrella, a sunscreen, a raincoat, or any protection just yourself or your body.
"Mayowa, when are you going for service? Mayowa, are you not going with this batch? I thought you were serving. Mayowa, did you have FNG (not stigmatizing this, please), Mayowa?"
I got a lot of questions or statements relating to this, I mean a lot.
I'm grateful to God for giving me this opportunity. I got sweared in as a Corper (can I hear you say chee? Thanks).
Image is mine
Just like the NYSC anthem is being sung, I obeyed the clarion call and will continue to lift the nation high, under the sun or in the rain, with dedication and selflessness. Nigeria is mine, Nigeria I serve. At last!
Celebrate Your Little Wins
Image credit: 6 platoon, NYSC, Delta(used with permission)
I lamented about my platoon and told a platoon member, "I'm close to saying I regret being in Platoon 6."
Lol, I must have said that because we've never gotten the first position and probably out of discouragement.
I must not have thought it well when I spoke about my regret because, looking back at competitions we've been participating in so far, we've never gotten the last position.
Fine readers, I was extremely excited! My platoon came in second in drama, third in football, and fourth in parade.
Image credit: 6 platoon, NYSC, Delta(used with permission)
It was just like a spirit of zeal came upon us, and we started acting extraordinarily.
I took my regretful words back. Even though camp's ended, I love my platoon, and I'm proud to be a platoon 6 member!
Platoon 6, winning forever!
The Fulani Culture
Image credit: 6 platoon, NYSC, Delta(used with permission)
I'll never forget the experiences I had on carnival day at NYSC camp.
This day started with a heavy rainfall, it rained for hours before it eventually stopped.
Before the carnival day, my platoon chose Fulani/Hausa culture, which means we were meant to portray how the culture is.
Image credit: 6 platoon, NYSC, Delta(used with permission)
In preparation for the carnival, we practiced and rehearsed. I was among the Fulani ladies.
On the carnival day, we were all given our costumes to wear. You should see me in my costume that day.
Image is mine
I typically looked like a Fulani lady—a beautiful one! Oh, by the way, call me Fatima, because I'm filled with abundance!
Hahaha, I laughed so hard when I saw two of my platoon members were used to act a cow; it almost looked so real.
Image credit: 6 platoon, NYSC, Delta(used with permission)
Other platoons had different cultures with different costumes too, and this made the day colorful.
There were games like fill in the bottle, egg race, and so on. I so much enjoyed the excitement, joy, and energy shared that day.
Image credit: 6 platoon, NYSC, Delta(used with permission)
Out of Camp.
If you ask me if I miss camp, I'll say yasssss!
Not gonna lie, I enjoyed camp. I met and interacted with people, people from different tribes.
Image is mine
Did I meet my levelmate? Nah, but I met my schoolmates.
I never missed morning meditations, but my platoon leader marked me absent one day. I must have been so little for him not to see that I was present that day.
I was punished by soldiers. I did walking with one leg, then up and down.
I had a crush on someone, but the crush feeling wasn't too solid; the feeling didn't stay; I maintained my composure!
Fine readers, I slept in Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) lectures; don't bother to negotiate the price of bread.
I actively participated in activities. I wrote my platoon morning meditation titled: Endurance, the Power to Persist.
I was among the paraders. Also, for the carnival, I was among the Fulani/Hausa dancers.
I misplaced my water bottle; tell me sorry.
Image is mine
On the last day at camp, I was served breakfast. I was heartbroken. I wasn't heartbroken by a guy this time around; it was NYSC.
I applied for my relocation, but it didn't work out. After getting my Primary Place of Assignment (PPA) letter, I tried holding my tears back.
The tears struggled to remain in my eyeballs' sockets, but it reached a particular point; they couldn't hold it in again. They burst and flowed out of my eyes.
On the last day of camp, everyone is to leave the camp. The Nigeria Christian Corper Fellowship (NCCF) had already made arrangements for any Corper who wished to go through them.
The arrangements covered transport fares and accommodation. One just has to pay a token.
I went through NCCF that day. Oh God, the journey was too long for an intra-state journey. I learned that the driver had to pass a longer route because of bad roads.
We were taken to the NCCF family's house. There were laid down rules and regulations of the house; they are mandatory only if you don't want to stay in the house. These rules are actually made to keep everyone in check.
Image is mine
To be honest, being in the family house was like "camp pro max" to me at first, but I just had to adapt. Along the line, I started getting used to the system. I am used to it now. The people here are lovely to live with.
Ready to Serve!
Remember, PPA means Primary Place of Assignment. My PPA is a school. When I saw my letter, I was devastated. I do not want to teach.
The fact that my PPA's located in a far place was displeasing to my heart, although my PPA provided conducive accommodation. That was consolation for me.
Image is mine
I accepted my fate of serving as a teacher. I'm ready to serve my country; it's just for a year, and I'm hoping to make the best part of it.
Fine readers, wish me good luck on this ongoing journey.
Thanks for taking out of your dear time to read this, thanks for stopping by🌹.
All images are mine except stated otherwise.