Stella Dimoko Korkus.com: Service Year Boulevard 103

Advertisement

Advertisement - Mobile In-Article

Monday, June 05, 2017

Service Year Boulevard 103

An Interesting service Year Boulevard narrative with photo..How Nice!



Hi Stella, I enjoyed my service year and I've been meaning to send my story.. don't mind the length..


‎Like every eligible final year student of a tertiary institution in Nigeria, I couldn't wait to serve my fatherland; I remember how I used to look at corps members in awe like they were from another planet when I was still in secondary school. Infact the thing "shack" me Sotey I don sabi NYSC anthem (stanza 1) for SS2 (lmao). 


Speaking of which state I wanted, I was actually indifferent but later tried to influence my posting to Enugu... Infact after project defence, I started getting my stuffs ready but that was the year UNAAB decided to split us into 2. Kai, e pain me die but I got a teaching job to occupy myself as we learnt camp would open after Ramadan in August, that's how I was facing my work till I heard posting letter was out! 


Chei! I was so confident I was going to Enugu (thanks to how Chimamanda Adichie painted it in purple hibiscus) and I was already dreaming about how I'll be eating okpa like someone who has been okpa starved all her life among other plans I had in mind and so the journey started. 


I wasn't sure how many days it would take to finish clearance in school so I packed for two days. When I got to the bus stop where we take shuttle to the campus, I met other prospective corps members from my department and those of us who "worked" it were making mouth. I was even saying I pity those who'll be posted to Sokoto that I heard that place "no be am" not knowing what was in stock for me. 


Oya now, after the whole clearance and all, I was still overly confident when my friend suddenly said "you've been posted to Sokoto" what? Kilonjebe? Did you look at the name very well I asked, she said are you not Hundeyin again abi shey you get sister for UNAAB? Hay God!! But my daddy said he worked it nah, all my inside turned to jelly, my leg was weak, I couldn't think well! 


Infact the first thing I did when I could think was to google Sokoto (that period everything on Wikipedia about Sokoto was in my brain, line by line), next I checked airlines going to Sokoto, when I saw two, I was relieved. Finally, I called home and broke the news and told them I was coming back to Lagos that very day. 

On getting home, they were consoling me, ehn, no Boko Haram there, no xyz there, I was still forming bold face, Chei! That night I broke down and wept, I wept for the okpa I wouldn't eat, I wept for the fun I won't have in camp, I wept for the lack of civilisation I was going to meet and so on. After much talk because my mum said I must redeploy oh, I started preparing for camp with my medical report ready. 


I got to airport very early that fateful Thursday (7/8/14) with my big luggage that contained different kinds of edibles( I've heard a lot about camp food) and met others like me looking dejected; some were even going to Kebbi and Zamfara, Torr, in my mind all sorts was just going on, Infact I asked the guy next to me over 100 times if Sokoto had roads, light, etc as I was just blank as to what to expect. 


On our way to camp from the airport, I was surprised to see very good roads and well built houses and for the first time, I relaxed and called my people. We got to camp and I heard those soldiers usually ask otondos to carry their box on their head and jog and mine was the biggest box, I was just doing pity face, they just searched and passed us anyway. 

Immediately I entered the gate, I broke down and cried like a baby(guys that saw me made jest of me till the end of camp), I told my mum that I don't want to serve again, she just laughed and said you just got to Sokoto and you're complaining? Well, camp was fun to me even though Wamakko camp was boring but I had the right set of friends (no camp romance as I ruled it out completely)... I can write a whole page about camp.. 


eventually I didn't redeploy to the disappointment of my mother especially. As regards posting, I was already discovering lowkey that I'll end up an educationalist so I wanted to be posted to a school as against ministry, however I didn't lobby anything since the Enugu I did came out as Sokoto. 

Finally, posting came out and I saw Sokoto South, Hian, kilonjebe? Eventually people said it was the city centre, Torr, my friends and I left camp but I told them I was too tired from the whole activities and I needed at least 10 hours sleep,and so was going to lodge in a hotel and report to my PPA the next day, that's how we proceeded oh, as I couldn't speak Hausa, my friend was the one directing, we got to a good hotel and I changed to my white short and a top, went to look for food and came back to sleep. 

Around 4am, I woke up suddenly, I felt for my phone and didn't find it but in my mind I was like I remember my friend pressing it till I slept off so maybe it's with him, suddenly I felt something was off, I sat up and saw my box had been tampered with, my handbag with my flight ticket, NYSC ID card and my first 19,800 which I added 200 to make it 20,000 gone with my wallet and small cash too, hay God, the sleep cleared from my eyes fast and hot tears started pouring. 

I ran to the lobby and started yelling, I told them to wake the guys up(my other friends) that I've been robbed, I said we must go to the police station oh, that's how the first place I reported to was a police station (this is just an abridged version of the incidence anyway) Kai, thank God I had spare cash in my account too. I went to swear an affidavit blah blah blah and got another ID card and proceeded to Sultan Abubakar College, my place of primary assignment. 


It was that ebola period so school was yet to resume.. On entering, the compound was very big and beautiful, enough classrooms but I was seeing "Arabic and Islamic board", and I was like is this one Sharia school? I was accepted and shown to my lodge which was very ok, for the two or three days I was there before I proceeded on leave, I'd lock myself in my room and cry my eyes out that shey na me Lago
s girl them rob like this? What will I say when I get home? 


Well, I had high hopes about NYSC and giving my best so imagine my shock when school resumed and I saw boys (government schools in Sokoto are strictly single sex schools) coming to school bare-footed! I broke down and cried as I've never seen such! The next shocker was conducting assembly in Hausa, also we were expected to teach in Hausa! (I was teaching JSS3 basic technology so imagine how frustrated I'd be while teaching), I had to mobilise other sensible corps members and we went to the junior principal and told him yes, we are in the north but WAEC would be conducted in English language and that while one of the aims of NYSC is to make me learn a new culture, making Hausa the official language in school wouldn't help the students, eventually he accepted and we took over while training some students that joined the newly formed press club..

 Unfortunately, there was petty jealousy on part of some teachers who couldn't speak basic English(shamefully too they teach English language in Hausa!!)... it's really along way to educational emancipation for the north *sigh*. Anyway Hausa was banned in my class and each time any staff spoke Hausa to me, I'd act dumb. I knew it was a battle I couldn't win but I did my best and I'm happy it paid eventually. 


On socials, finding someone to hold an intelligent conversation with in Sokoto is like finding a needle in a haystack so the few I got were very dear to me... the only places people go to hangout is hotels(Shukura,Ginginya, etc), if you want alcohol, mammy market and that's on the way to Zamfara self so I busied myself with my CDS (editorial and publicity group) and my plenty Sidney Sheldon. Imagine my shock when I found books eventually but Chase was sold for 1,500 and Sheldon for 2,000. Made me appreciate Ikeja and Ojuelegba where I pick books for 500 the more. 


There was no tourist attraction either and I wasn't ready for frivolous parting so it's safe to say I had no social life. 


On economy
: I was shocked to find out their markets open from 10am and close by 6pm and the only women there are Igbos or Yorubas. Hausa women don't own stalls and the cosmetics and shoe section is mostly dominated by Igbo guys (Igbo kwenu). 


Also, food isn't as cheap as we were made to believe (like there's 50 naira meat, Infact the fear of camel meat made me stick to chicken) however, I made sure to speak the little Hausa I understood and I always whine about me being a "kofa" so I'd get jara..lol

Also, since I was in the state capital all the commercial banks were not far from my lodge and 90% of the staff are Yoruba/Igbo including staff of multinationals too. There were eager to mix with us as we reminded them of home.. ajo o le dabi ile 


On new dishes: I'm not adventurous food wise so I stuck to my ofe mmanu, thankfully there was plenty Ewedu and green in the market plus elubo self, however, I learnt how to eat dambu nama there and I can boldly say Sokoto makes the best kilishi and dambu nama. 

Let me also mention that I ran into a lady hawking okpa after my clearance one month like that, I bought and collected her number self because those kind of food while not scarce as such there given the high number of igbos there was like gold for me sha. 

On religion/dressing: well, I was in the state capital so we were free to wear even shorts to the market, no restrictions that I knew of except that my principal once suggested that I'd be more beautiful if I cover my hair, I just swallowed my spit and said ok sir. 

Churches are also clustered around where non indigenes (Yor/igbos) live eg old airport and in other places, you'd see the churches on one line, however I didn't experience any form of discrimination though those in the interior complained of such.


On security
: Hmmmmmm, I was robbed again during the campaign period and it was with weapon self.. I kept having nightmare for months oh. The scar from the injury is still on my leg.
Election period was like walking on eggshell, my curiosity led me to register as an adhoc staff (my mum almost fainted) and I was posted to a LG bordering Niger republic oh. Chai! thank God for the police (police is your friend esp the educated ones oh) and army, after the elections, we were low-key praying for GEJ to lose make them no go use us do sacrifice.. thank God all ended well 


On road/electricity/water:
I was in the state capital and the road network was good, electricity very ok but water? esp during the dry season.. I was buying at the rate of 120 naira for that big yellow jerry can oh *sob sob*


Weather: hay God! I was still balling during harmattan (fresh skin even though the cold na die) but when the heat started and even the fan was blowing hot air, I started crying that I wanted to redeploy. At a point we were sleeping outside the lodge but the fear that we could be raped would keep me awake. Thank God for the few times it rained too anyway. It's in Sokoto the original NE trade wind blows, direct from the Sahara! 


There was meningitis fear too especially from my mum who was crying that I refused to get vaccinated. Lol.
Hmmmmmm, I have a lot to write about my service year oh, everything is still fresh in my head (I reminisce about it everyday even though it'll be 2 years this July) and I couldn't believe it when I cried uncontrollably on the day of POP. 

The summary of it all sha is I learnt, I taught, I was taught, I experience life in a different dimension from what I've been exposed to and Sokoto really shaped how I react to situations now as I came back cool headed thanks to the lodge mates I lived with. 

NYSC should not be scrapped as I'm of the opinion that if you're focused and have a goal, you'd pass out a better person with even better ideals with which you'll face the world you're entering.



62 comments:

  1. Awwww u a darling! Thanks for d details, love d fact that there was no man&woman matter in ur narrative.
    U seem like a smart, adventurous gyal + a cry baby too! Lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amaka, weldone 👊👏👏

      Delete
    2. There was no man matter because her picture is clearly displayed for all. Are you a learner?

      Delete
    3. Dear anonymous, we should try to reason intelligently once in a while even if it's not our forte.
      I've been on this blog since 2012 and if I need a man, I'd do so via SnM and not subtly. Be guided and yes, I'm taking this personal.

      Delete
    4. Seyon ma bebe........
      Lovely narrative.
      Thanks for shutting that anonymous by the way.

      Nice pix by the way!

      Delete
    5. Anon 16:19

      It will shock you to know that not minding majority of you have turned sex to handshake, there are still some GOOD people out there who know their worth and still respect themselves.

      Amaka you is* a WRITER and a very good one!

      Kudos*

      Delete
  2. Congrats girl. Hope no chuki chuki

    ReplyDelete
  3. Kofa Amy...I sight you.

    E long sha but Nice one

    ReplyDelete
  4. You spent your nysc yr crying.. I'd only encourage other people to send in their boulevard

    ReplyDelete
  5. I enjoyed your write-up, thanks dear




    *Larry was here*

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nice story kai that camel meat sha they welcomed me in Kano too I can never forget choi!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I swear this people will not kill somebody even donkey too so I heard
      You really trued Amaka!

      Delete
    2. I was born in Sokoto.Primary school,secondary school and university all in Sokoto.Sokoto has always been a peaceful town.Growing up was at Ahmadu Bello way ,from 11 years was At old Airport where my late dad built his house.You served at a school mostly attended by indigenes! in the 90's i would kill myself if i was forced to go those schools.They were purely northern schools.There were about 6 of them within the state capital.But that your school was BIG & always neat! I remember playing football on their pitch on several occasions as a boy.By The wall around sarkin Bendel ,my father had a 'hotel' there in the 80's that was burnt in the only religious riot that ever occured in that state in 91'.The state government compensated my family by paying for a new building. That area was near where I grew up if you cross the road opposite the Catholic church.It's all become a slum now.It used to be decent,neat & tidy. NEVER saw camel/donkey meat not to mention eating them.Those animals are their prized beasts of burden and they will tell you what it is cos there is a section behind sokoto central market where Camels are slaughtered ,but I think for the hide.Sokoto is fun! If you know your way around.I chased girls from one end to anorher end as a teenager & undergraduate.The northerners minded their business.There was no hatred. I have been in Lagos for 6 years now, besides drinking joints & beaches,well,lately cinemas & malls. I don't see any fun except the everyday drama by the bus stops, the fear of traffic robbery & the sheer madness all over.Except,the large water bodies around fascinates me.I love Takwa Bay & whispering palms I was shocked to read that you were robed.That was very rare. but i learnt it's become a problem.In fact my mum told me a thief scaled our fence tobenter the house at night.We really don't lock our doors- stealing was never a problem.Hungry ,drug using,Hausa boys can petty steal for Africa though.
      Sokoto would have been fun if you met 'someone.' Maybe if you had lived at old airport,Mabera,Kalambaina,Arkilla,you would have felt the 'southern' presence. Did you go to the Sokoto river water rapids? The forest at Amanawa,lots of real colonial presence in the villages

      Delete
    3. Maybe I didn't want to meet "someone" so I made a conscious effort to build walls so high.
      My CDS was at Kalambaina and I also visited those areas you mentioned but when I was looking for accommodation, I didn't get quickly so I settled for the lodge.
      What rapids? I'm hearing about it for the first time and I'm sad I missed out on a potential "sanctuary".
      Hey, I think I want you in my small circle...if you don't mind

      Delete
  7. Very intelligent write up. At least av learnt one or two things about sokoto. Hope other sex marauders can learn from this. I give it to you here, keep it up. Everything must not be about sex, sex, sex. Haaaaaaaaaaa! I tire for this generation

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps with proper guidance, we would learn sex isn't the ultimate during NYSC

      Delete
  8. Very intelligent write up. At least av learnt one or two things about sokoto. Hope other sex marauders can learn from this. I give it to you here, keep it up. Everything must not be about sex, sex, sex. Haaaaaaaaaaa! I tire for this generation

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh! What a refreshing read!

    ReplyDelete
  10. That's good my senior. I love ur write up. I pride in you. #proudlyfunaabite#
    AGBE ENDOWED........ OSHEEEEEY.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Amaka Hundeyin, so I deduced from this narrative, you are from both tribes(your mum is Igbo, dad us Yoruba) 😉😉😘😘😘😘

    Mehn, the robbery part, that was so scary, a, thief in your room while you slept? Omg! I would run mad. Thank God, he was just a thief and nothing more

    ReplyDelete
  12. Well articulated write up. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Lmao, I enjoyed your story
    Lmao at "kofa"

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your post is surprisingly good as lengthy as it is. I followed it word for word and I'm happy to say money was not wasted on you. The best I have read so far.👍

    ReplyDelete
  15. Is worth reading sis, kudos

    ReplyDelete
  16. This is very refreshing, not the usual sex sex rubbish we read here...

    You are very intelligent (from your write-up), greater heights dear

    ReplyDelete
  17. Ah see my IG's frnd
    Hello from the other side

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm trying to get your IG name from your moniker but it's not booting. Unfortunately, I'd be off IG till God knows when.

      Delete
    2. Off instagram??? U dey fear digging? Lol

      Delete
    3. The way some of you reason makes me ashamed on your behalf. How many hoes do you need to dig?

      Delete
  18. Now am really scared.... I'll be going to camp in a few weeks time. i'm not a social person and i've never been away from home.... dis thing has been giving me sleepless nights, God help me pls before I will die of heart-attack before that time comes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sweetheart, many of us had worse fears and we did just fine. Remember that adaptation is one of our survival instincts as social animals.
      You'll be fine.

      Delete
  19. #If they don’t respect you, respect yourself and leave that situation*

    ReplyDelete
  20. What a refreshing read.
    I enjoyed ur story. Didn't want it to end.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Thanks for telling us sister!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Nice write up, i love your story line and you seems to be very smart

    ReplyDelete
  23. Nice one Amaka. To think I just asked on IHN for airlines flying to sokoto from Lagos. Let me mail u sef 😁😁😁

    ReplyDelete
  24. I don't read SYB. It's always one sex story to another.

    When I opened and saw it was Amaka, I told myself that "this would be worth my time".

    ReplyDelete
  25. Nice report
    Well organized

    ReplyDelete
  26. BasedOnLogistics5 June 2017 at 15:42

    Great,intelligent read!
    Good stuff.
    Almost didn't click on this because it's usually rubbish people send.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Nice one girl.I enjoyed every bit of your write-up.kudos.

    ReplyDelete
  28. I stopped reading SYB after the first few, always effing in camp and POP, such rubbish.
    For some reason, I opened this one, and i'm glad I did. It's a wonderful write-up, read till the very end (me sef like long essays before sef, lol). Nice one dear, makes for a refreshing change.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Very detailed write up
    Bcoz of your write up I go vex write mine almost 9yrs ago

    Tiwa

    ReplyDelete
  30. 👏👏

    Worth the read
    Haven't read syb in a long time

    ReplyDelete
  31. I found it interesting and cracked up a few times.
    Good upbringing, good write up.
    I read it to the end.
    You might just have a future in writing, explore it and work on it.
    Congratulations.
    Signed by a Mother.

    ReplyDelete
  32. What an interesting write up! I wasn't looking forward to nysc as a final year brethren o my dear, as a matter of fact I was praying and hoping it would be scrapped before my turn. Here I am now, not enjoying this nysc Sam Sam, can't wait for it to be over.

    ReplyDelete
  33. Awwww, it was obvious you really enjoyed your service year....

    ReplyDelete
  34. Princess Scheherazade5 June 2017 at 19:51

    A welcome change from all the shallow stories of illicit, cheap sexual encounters, bad grammar and general intellectual mediocrity.
    At last a recent graduate who gives me some hope for the upcoming generation.
    Well done, Amaka.
    If you're going into education, that's great!
    Do consider writing too, you have serious potential.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks ma'am, you know exposure and the kind of circle one keeps matters too. I ruled out any form of relationship immediately I got my call up letter and did I have guys on my neck? Yes; did I give them green light? No way! Yes I crushed on my fellow sapios but that's how far it went as I was busy preparing myself for the real world by reevaluating my goals and career path and I'm glad I'm going to be a certified educationalist soon by the grace of God.
      As for writing, let me just sing "I'm scared" by Celine Dion! Lol

      Delete
  35. Nice write up amaka#proudly funaab alumni#i rep colanim

    ReplyDelete
  36. Liar....there is no where a gallon of water is sold for 120 abeg, and security is not that bad as u painted it

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome, what took you so long? You should try to read and comprehend before you proceed to type trash. Now scroll up and read slowly. And no, I won't insult you but I wonder what kind of parent you'll turn out to be.

      Delete
  37. Hmmm very interesting and beautiful write up...Not at all these rubbish how I gbensh James, John, Peter, Sandra, Sarah and Nana..Very mature write-up..Great great

    ReplyDelete
  38. First comment here. Very intelligent and well articulated write up. I enjoyed reading it.

    ReplyDelete

Disclaimer: Comments And Opinions On Any Part Of This Website Are Opinions Of The Blog Commenters Or Anonymous Persons And They Do Not Represent The Opinion Of StellaDimokoKorkus.com

Pictures and culled stories posted on this site are given credit and if a story is yours but credited to the wrong source,Please contact Stelladimokokorkus.com and corrections will be made..

If you have a complaint or a story,Please Contact StellaDimokoKorkus.com Via

Sdimokokorkus@gmail.com
Mobile Phone +4915210724141