Explorer of Experiences

View of the Marina from the 52nd floor of the Dubai Marriott Harbour Hotel So I have crossed the two month milestone of living in Dubai. While time seems to have passed by rather quickly, I also feel like I have been in Dubai for a long time. I settled into living by myself much easily than I thought and my studio apartment has now taken shape of home; it's clean, spic and span actually, and looks 'lived in'. I have created a comfortable routine for myself and have been able to navigate my way through initial hiccups of settling in a new city. The cockroaches are gone, Work has turned out to be great. Thank God. After all, that was the reason for stepping out of my familiar. Less than two weeks back, Marriott International announced the successful merger with Starwood. This integration was a long 11 month process that finally came to a close - and courtesy being part of the Marriott Middle East and Africa team, I was lucky to be part of the gathering addressed by Arn...

  You were not mine to have. But you did not whine to be with me. You were not liked and called ugly by many. But you were a happy sight for me.  You were always ready and on time. Even though we were often early. You got stuffed. You got crushed. Yet you signified freedom to me. You were heavy for me, my shoulders ached. But you knew we were in this together. You accompanied me on my solitary journeys. Even though not a word was uttered from you to me. You played my comfy pillow on the bus. And a blanket in freezing air-conditioning for me. You got wet in the rain and mucky from the mud. But kept all my things spotless clean for me. You got sewn and zipped back up in repair. And still you never gave up on me. You haven't been carried in a while by me. Dusty, in my cupboard you lie patiently. You are always ready to be picked up. For that, I owe you so very much. 

I wrote this post in 2010. It's just me reminiscing about growing up in Nigeria. My attempt is to take you on this journey with me... It has been only a few years since I moved to the Indian subcontinent. Before this, I spent over fifteen years of my life on the other side of the globe, and it is the memories of the times spent there that I cherish most! The country I was born and brought up in is one that I find most intriguing and peculiar at the same time and I always thought it to be an interesting subject to write upon. I shall do so in two parts and here goes the first...  Just a little over two decades ago, a baby girl was born in First Consultancy Hospital located in the coastal land of lagoons, sandy beaches, palm trees and…petroleum reserves. The baby was me and the hospital was in Nigeria - Lagos city, to be precise. Yes, I hail from this busy and overcrowded African city reputed to be one of the most expensive in the world. Marred by stories centered mostly on ...