ToniVerse: Chronicles of an IJGB: That time in camp.

My 6 week hiatus is explainable. I was in Camp. An yes, I could've used my phone, but really, phone battery life is more valuable than that. Lol.

So, many people have asked, why exactly I'm in Nigeria, and well the truth? I'm here to do NYSC. For those of you that don't know, explore and understand. Anyways, the first hurdle of this programme is 'camp'.

I could go on forever with tales of what happened, I could go on urging you all to go, and make those of you who chickened out feel like weaklings and that, but i won't. There's better recounts and more interesting tales on Culture Custodian.

But I'll share a couple interesting things I learnt/observed:

1. Ladies, don't pay for your food.
It seems Nigerian men enjoy spending their money and take offence when you offer to pay for yourself.

2. HG vs. F.
Homegrown vs. Foreign. Wether this is offensive or not, I'm not sure, but there exists a rivalry especially when make up is involved. Most HG babes came looking for men. Make up, full face everyday. It seems foreign babes had the wrong idea... or their fathers wouldn't let them miss camp.

3. It's a Lagos thing...
Camp is pretty dope. Once you look passed the unsanitary living conditions, passed the odors, passed the early rising times and so on, camp is dope. The sponsored events, the concerts, the absence of punishment, no fire drill, no stress, and the extremely lenient soldiers. However, apparently it's a Lagos thing. Compared to most other camps, Lagos had a lot to offer.

4. Camp is a lesson ground...
You may not know it, but in those three weeks, you learn A LOT. You learn not everyone is as fortunate as you. You learn that not every situation favours you. You learn to integrate with people from different backgrounds. You learn that people look down on you regardless on not knowing ANYTHING about you. You learn that it's not by accent. You learn that feminism is a cause that needs to be stood for in Nigeria. You learn that marriage is more than bella naija and instagram. You learn that married women take of their rings too. You learn that a hijab is just an accessory to some muslim girls. You learn that church is really a cotton field and some girls be picking bae, like they back in the 50's in America. You learn so much in camp, because you're surrounded by wives, husbands, mothers, young ones, old men/women, fiancés, fiancees and so much more, and by integrating with them, you have the MAXIMUM experience.