MEMOIRS OF A YOUNG NIGERIAN GIRL

My new little world

I left for school two weeks after my parents had the conversation about me going to a boarding school, thankfully a truce was reached between my parents. Even at that time, I was still unhappy about the news and refused to come to terms with it. I imagined leaving the comfort of my house to somewhere I don't know if I'm going to fit in. I just hoped something would happen. You know something that will make my parents especially my father forfeit this ridiculous idea of sending me out to study. Lol, that was my own little wish anyways. I knew nothing was going to happen and I definitely had no say in whatever going on in my life at that time. Playing the obedient loyal cat was the only solulu to my delulu.

I entered the flood gates of purgatory. Flood gates of purgatory was the only name that came into mind which I could use to personify the school gate. The school was filled with people who were bigger, more organized and articulated and of course more brainy than I was. We were all going to be in the same hostel room and probably in the same class, so I thought. To be factual, everything was spinning round and round in my presence. But of a truth, if I had never left my "comfort zone" and the protective arms of my parents, I wouldn't have known I was lacking in many aspects.

As soon as my father left me to myself, because it was he who dropped me off in school, the initial grief and dysphoria I felt when I was told I was going to go to a boarding house enveloped me, but at the same time it dawned on me that this was definitely what it is. As if the heavens were binding to my emotions, it began raining that I had to take shelter in the security house because I was unsure of where next to go.
I was the true definition of the lost child, a child who got lost in her own little world. I stood there for an hour and quarter before a girl, Anne by name approached me and volunteered to help me find my way to the hostel.

On the way to the hostel, I found out she was from the same tribe as me. For my personality, tribe has got nothing to do with one's personality. Anne was a chatterbox and she indulged me on how she resumed the previous day and how she was getting accustomed to the environment.
I wasn't really interested in all what she was saying. I was just interested in her showing me the way to where I was going to live in the coming years.We got to the hostel and I had to look for my bunk space, while she helped me carry my belongings. I found it a while later and coincidentally, I ended up as Anne's Dolly. "dolly" ( a loan word for someone who is your bed side mate).

“This is your bunk space babe”, Anne said with her rolling her eyelids playfully and surprisingly you are ending up as my dolly, so we are going to be stuck together for a long time.
Nice to meet you once again, she extended her hand for a handshake. Bewildered and bemused, I extended my hand back to receive the handshake. But wait, did she just call me babe?. I made a mental note to correct that before it gets out of hand and begin to spark rumors. Once bitten, twice shy. Experience will definitely make you learn the hard way, I have been there before.

And my name is Martha, not babe, I corrected. Anne looked at me amused, but she apologized immediately.
“Sorry my bad, I'm not used to calling my friends by their names. So you gotta learn to deal with it".
She said and left the dormitory. She just  called me her friend, just like that. It's not even been  up to thirty minutes we met each other. She's definitely one of those extreme social bird who takes it upon themselves to break boundaries. I shook my head and concluded that this social thing was most definitely not for everybody.

I decided to take in my surroundings, and believe you me, it was appalling. The hostel dormitory was a mess and it was highly disappointing that I had to scream the mighty name of Jesus inwardly for the next thirty seconds. As if that wasn't enough, a strong pungent smell took me by surprise that was when I found out my bunk space was located close to the toilet. I mentally face palmed, How was I going to survive in this hellhole?

As dirty as the dormitory was, some students were eating, others chatting away and others doing one or two personal things, they probably must have gotten used to it. At a corner of the hostel, a junior was been punished for reasons I don't know of. To be candid, the punishment given meted out to the junior was glorified bullying. I settled down eventually. Social bird came back and began engaging me in different topics. I was not just tired, I was exhausted.
Ignoring courtesy, I dozed off, while Anne chatted away.