₦airaland Forum

I grew up in a lower middle class South Nigeria family. A well educated mom and a not so well educated but hard working dad. And there is my little sister who is 6 years younger to me.

While growing up I have seen my mom working her guts off to make both ends meet. I particularly remember this because whenever the Principal of our school walked in to take names of students who are yet to pay the fees, my name was there by default. The memory is so stark that I clearly remember the only time my name wasn't called out. That day, I had a grin on my face. It felt as if I was set free after being caged for years.

Then came a high. My mom, while working as an Accountant started an HR consultancy firm which flourished and she made good money. But since she had an eternal spender as a life partner, she couldn't save much. Instead, the money made the wine sellers rich (If you know what I mean).

Let me give you an example of how much she made during that period - She gifted me a TVS Scooty when I made it out of school. Mind you, this is year 2001.

During this period nobody would have foreseen a low. But it was around the corner. Year 2003, a tsunami in the disguise of my mom's deteriorating Health hit our family and what followed were the darkest days of our lives.

My dad took a decision. He decided to send us to our home town(while he stayed back), where he expected to receive financial and moral support from our relatives for my ailing mother. I had just finished my 12th and my sister had finished 6th grade. In a matter of few days, our lives had taken a U-turn.

Palakkad, Kerala. That's our home town.
My sister joined school and I couldn't continue my studies. It came as a rude shock to me. Within no time I went from an effervescent kid to a silent gape addict. Looking at the financial and our mental situation my mother went in to depression. She also had lost 20 kgs by then. Day in and day out we were praying for her recovery. Before the situation could sink in, life took another blow at us. A massive one at that.

My dad could not manage his finances and became more aggressive than usual. He took decisions in a jiffy, one after another. Slowly there came a time where he could not send us a single rupee for our survival. In a short while we were asked to vacate our two room(one room and a kitchen) rented house because we couldn't pay the rent for 3 months straight.

We then moved in to a small hut ​It could not hold the rain. Sitting inside this house during the rains was like sitting under a tree. You don't get drenched but you are also not sitting inside closed doors and enjoying the rain.

The house didn't have electricity, no water connection, no well, no compound wall and no proper BATHROOM. With two women in the house, not having a proper bathroom was horrible. We stayed in this house for close to 4 months. These four months taught me the value of every single breath of life.

We ran out of money and food. One morning we woke up at about 5am and nothing for us to eat, that's when my mom looked at my sis and me and said, "We don't have anything to eat for today". After a few minutes of pin-drop silence we looked at each other and burst out crying. We got in to a group hug and cried for almost an hour. Then, I went in to the room and picked up the Dish Drops (Utensil cleaner), Car Wash and Shampoo sachets that we had purchased from a Distributors few months ago. I had 20 of these sachets, each costing 20 naira-. I saw an opportunity, I waited for the sun to rise.

As soon as it was early enough to go door to door, I started my journey. I went door to door selling these sachets. Where ever I saw a car I got in and spoke about the Car Wash. Where I saw women, I spoke to them about Dish Drops and Shampoos. I turned in to a determined 17yr old who wanted to feed his mom and sis. I was asked to leave at most places as they were not used to door to door salesmen. One man hurled a shoe at me for entering his gate. The shoe whistled past my ear. I think it must have kissed me on the way because I still remember how the shoe felt. It looked like a journey that would not end. I wiped many a tear off my face during this journey. But I did manage to sell a few sachets by noon, by which time I was so hungry that I felt I would faint.

I stopped at a road side hotel which looked affordable to me. I sat there among masons & Carpenters who were working nearby, to eat. I had never been with such people. This was my first, tears started flowing and I ate my food with tears in my eyes. My first meal of the day was awesome. Its the best meal I have ever had. After that day who am sitting with never bothered me. My meal cost me 120/-.

I continued my walk until 4:30pm before I felt I had earned enough to buy rice. I took a bus back home and purchased 2kgs rice on the way. I paid 70 per kg. While I was walking back home I held the rice close to my chest as if hugging a little baby. It was dear to me. My mom and my sis were waiting. When I reached home my mom and sis were elated. We burst in to tears again, which lasted a while.

After some time, I asked my mom, "What did you both eat?". Mom didn't respond. My cute little sister told me, "We went to our neighbour's and asked for some Papayas from their papaya tree, mom told aunty that I like Papayas. I dont like them but I ate it because I was hungry."

Hearing this I just couldn't control myself. I cried and my sis said, "Don't worry brother, I won't ask for chocolates". The group hug was back again. We cried inconsolably for a very long time.

After this day, we never looked back. We somehow made it out of that hut. I found a job as a door to door salesman. My first pay cheque was for .500/-. I remember packing it neatly in an envelope and handing it over to my mom.

I joined another company as salesman and one of my prospective clients made me realize that my english is good and I should be doing something else. I asked him to suggest. He said, "Call Centers".
Copied!

What's the food you cannot do without eating?
Pounded yam and Egusi
How about you?

oluwatobi954:
Just call my name to this post. Credit Officer role is hectic. A lots to think 🤔 about; the ridiculous target, PAR management recovery etc.

I'm equally tired 😴

Send job plug 🔌 Biko.

Tundex911:
Set Awon womanizer skills


Lol

Brunosamel:
I just got a message for my first job interview it's a four star hotel I applied for an accounting position I'm not even prepared and I feel anxious. Please guru's in the house how did you handle your first interview enlighten me

Virus20:
Hi,I am a graduate of English and Literary studies,I can teach English and Literature flawlessly,i have several years of teaching English and Literature,i am available for relocation if the pay is good and accommodation available. ,I am presently in Warri ,Delta State.You can reach me on my WhatsApp (08145848829).Best regards.

Charpell:
Hello, I see you have vast experience in programming. Do you think I should use an api to verify the user's details and an api for creating wallets. Or I should do them manually. I know paystack and flutterwave is on the high cost, thats why I am bycotting payments for now

Ajibade123:
hmmm
I am honestly tired of school to be honest

tizteezy:
Werey 🤣🤣

Hahaha 😂

sonssyo:
Sure

Rockyrascal:
wow! you envisaged this to happen and it happened

kenedyx:
@Hamachi

I normally get these before marriage sef.

Infact without these from a lady, I can't say we're in a relationship of any sorts.

Dshocker:
Leg chain is not an African culture...

Besides it signifies she is a lesbian or open to have sex with any random man.

tizteezy:
Why pls?

XAUBulls:
Nicely put.

sonssyo:
imagine the MD carrying herself as a goddess, that's how they make some staff to be engaging in diabolic act in order to get favour.
I will sure become an employer of labour this quarter but my staffs will be my friends, you will hardly know who is who

INDUSTRIALFAN:
Self worth… love this. No matter the circumstance, never give in to a pr!ck.

Juliearth:
What an experience! What if the delay and toxicity meted at you were deliberate to test your patience?

Oluwainnie:
Woooooooww... I admire your zeal. After the first 2 attempts I doubt if I'll have had the desire to still return back there.

Toxic environment is definitely a No-No

ahnie:
Reasons why sex education at tender age is encouraged.
Be friendly with your kids,so they will be free to cue to with happenings happening to them.

I always check my girl child most nights,my boy child included,I asked questions concerning everything and anything.