NYSC Orientation Camp - Updates and Random Thoughts

I have been away from here for so long, and there is so much to talk about... I will build it up slowly, a little here and a little there... I will use sections to arrange my thoughts... I will paint a mosaic, and hopefully convey meaning... It might be quite long, but I wrote this for you - as much as it is for me - please read on.

I have spent the past 15 days (give or take one or two days) in the NYSC camp, and no two days have been entirely the same. I have met foreign-trained Corps members who share an undying love for the Fatherland and domestic-trained Corps members who couldn't be bothered to build Nigeria; I have met Corps members who would engage Soyinka in conversation and not miss a beat and I have met Corps members who cannot speak a sentence in complete English.

I fear for Nigerian education, but then I get ahead of myself.

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My arguments about the relevance of the NYSC scheme have varied in the past. I have gone from supporting the scheme and propounding its merits to condemning it and arguing that it be scraped. On many of these occasions, critics of my thoughts and writing have argued that I should go through the scheme before setting forth such arguments... Enter this section:

While it may be too early to form definitive opinions, and conscious as I am that a great deal of money is spent on the NYSC under its present form - sitting on the parade ground right now with my new Moslem acquaintance from Gombe and an avowed Sango worshiper from Oyo - I would shoot anyone who suggests that the NYSC be scrapped.

Did I feel that way when I spent 13 hours on a queue trying to complete my registration? No. Did I feel that way when I received my Kit and experienced firsthand its poor quality? No. Do I feel that way in the mornings when I brave the filth of the bathrooms to scrub my body? No. Do I feel that way when I skip meals and make up my energy requirements from Energy drinks in order to avoid using the toilets? No.

Will I still feel this way about the NYSC in another 11 months? I don't know.

What I know is that the Camp Officials here have been nice and friendly. In many ways, they have proved themselves different from your average Nigerian Civil Servant. The State Coordinator of the NYSC has proved to be a natural leader, an imposing figure, a larger-than-life madam... She inspires even me.

It is difficult to impress me.

I have been impressed.

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"Eh eh eh eh, yahwa go gas (2ce), if allawee no dey, yahwa go gas; if allawee no dey, yahwa go gas"...

I enjoy the morning drills. While I have temporarily ceased to wake at 2am, my ears have become finely attuned to the sound of the bugle. The sleep clears from my eyes and my heart thumps as I make my way to the grounds. Unlike my friends in other camps, our morning drills are done in step to music blasting from loudspeakers. I have discovered new music such as "Ihe Neme" by Tu Face, "Your Waist" by Iyanya, etc etc... I have found a new and fun way to exercise.

I participate in ALL the drills, savoring the almost-taste of being in the military. I love the military. I love my RSM. I love the 21 year old female soldier attached to my platoon. In the past few days, I have asked myself severally what would change about my life if I chose a career in the army. I like order and regimentation, but then at this stage - the price to pay would be too great. I'll pass on that choice...

I enjoy the Man-O-War gyrations. Blood races through my body when I hear the sounds of their songs, and my limbs move of their own accord...

"Hold something, hold something... Grab something, grab something".

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Temilolu Kumapayi once told me point-blank that she reckons relationships somewhat more serious after the concerned parties have survived NYSC postings to separate states.

I have always wondered what exactly about the 3 weeks of camp turns peoples' heads and triggers break-ups and make-ups. I have always wondered how guys can fall head-over-heels in love with a girl they have spent only 21 days with. Now I no longer wonder; I know.

I am tempted to expound on my findings, but I will not. I have decided it is best expressed in a fictional account, and I will get to work on that when I leave camp. I am excited about that story already. Be sure to read it when I post it. :)

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Nigerian graduates are an interesting sort. One of my primary objectives when coming into camp was to meet new people, and I have made lots of friends. Enter Lola who studied Human Resource Management at Manchester, Omolayo from Redeemers, Vicar from Imo State University, Barrister Bukola from OOU, Fisayo and Ronke from Babcock, Zulfah from some Moslem University in Ilorin, Ibrahim and Sarah from Gombe State University, Lekan Adebesin from UNAAB, Ore from Imperial College... The list could go on for pages.

These are all people that I would never have met in my day-day life... People that ordinarily do not run in the same social circles as I do... All of us brought together under the same roof, wearing the same clothes, and eating the same food - thanks to the NYSC.

It is just 15 days gone, but there is a lot more diversity in my life, thinking, and appreciation of Nigeria's varied cultures than there was before I stepped into this camp. If nothing else, the NYSC does very well at this!

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Did I mention that I can now roll perfect spring-rolls and make Samosa? Oooo yes! I was told the lectures were boring, which has been largely true - but I totally enjoy the Skill Acquisition Program powered by SAED. I don't know if it is a Lagos thing (Corps members in other camps can jump in here), but mehn - it works!

I look forward to feeding my daughters fat on small chops when their mother goes for a night with the "girls"... *doing asko*

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Is this all? No. Will I continue in a separate post? Yes. Is this representative of my writing? I leave you to judge. Was it worth your time? Well, yes.

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Thank you for stopping by. You make it a joy to type out such long articles on my tiny phone keyboard. I love you, yes you.

Koye.