Every now and then, especially after eating a heavy lunch, I like to take a walk. I've been doing this since I was working in the UK. I can't spend all day at a desk. Now I am in Lagos, a walk is a bit more like taking your life into your own hands. And then you have the sun which means you have to hop from shade to shade or you start to sweat profusely.
Today, I forgot to wear an inner vest, so by the time I got back to the office, there were patches of sweat on my shirt. Not very nice, but sweating is something we all do. My colleague was looking at me as if I had just fallen from the sky. "Where are you coming from she said"? "I went for a walk" I said. "To where"? Obviously, you can't just go for a walk, you must be coming from somewhere, or going somewhere. Walking aimlessly is just not done. A banker might get run over by the crazy motorcycle taxis or get his blackberry politely taken off him.
Even getting into the building with my sweat marks proved a problem. "Sorry, Oga, who are you looking for"? "I work here now". "Oga, sorry, I no realise sey na you" I was obviously looking like somebody who had just walked off the street. I'm sure I'll wake up one night screaming after a nightmare where I can no longer get into my bank because I am sweating profusely after a walk round the block "BUT IT'S ME!!!" I scream. "Let me in to my airconditioned bank, don't leave me here on the street in the real world of Nigeria. I wont be able to cope!" "Oga, stop screaming or we will bundle you, we no no you Oga, Oga bye bye (foolish man)"...
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5 comments:
I had a good laugh reading about your walk.On a trip to Naija we learned that if we did not act the part (ie like big man/VIP) cops stopped us more often.For example which self respecting big man will be chewing on roast corn on cob in the owner's corner of a nice car?Big men just don't do that!Beware of activities like afternoon walks which get you confused with the common man.
oga oga oga is your name oga? lol
you wonder why the old big men have big bellies? they don't walk!!
Ha-ha, that is funny; I guess no more walks for a while. Walking on the streets of Naija terrifies me, especially those okadas.
I nice to know your having fun!!
I have been away for only 6 years and am not sure if walking on the streets of Lagos was terribly bad. Definitely, I will not recommend doing it in the evening.
Drax...that made me laff out loud in the office, but if i recollect we had this discussion: jay-walking is still a crime in Gidi!
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