My body is still operating Nigerian time, which means I'm having a bit of trouble getting quality sleep. Also it's still bright by 8pm but by 9.30pm it gets dark. Anyways I usually wait till 12am or so before going to bed but I'm usually up by 4am (which translates to about 9am Nigerian time) and I find it difficult resuming sleep as it gets bright pretty early. All this will change when winter comes.

Anyhoo, yesterday I decided to stroll around early in the morning and on returning, I saw one neighbor outside smoking. He waved at me, I waved back and decided to approach him.
Turns out he's a Nigerian (either born there or came in as a child). We got talking and it struck me how different people's perspectives can be.

This guy was longing to move to Nigeria. He had this romantic (and unrealistic) notion of Nigeria. Believe me when I say I was quite attentive but at some point, I had to puncture his bubble. We talked a lot about government, he has a white baby Mama and two kids but he says he's not impressed with their women, rather he likes African women.

He felt the system was unfair to him, cheating him and depriving him etc. I had to tell him a few stories about Nigeria. He literally has no idea apart from one or two anecdotes. He said he likes Davido, Wizkid, PSquare (he doesn't know Tuface), but said Sunny Ade is not his thing (and he actually sang some lines). He's yoruba but doesn't speak, not even pidgin.

Anyway, I encouraged him to get a Nigerian passport as the first step and travel down and look around. He's into construction, has two cars, a truck and a nice Chrysler. Said he had his own construction company and offered me a job on the spot. A roofing job at 15/h.
I told him I'd think about it but I'm not likely to take it. It however reinforced the things I'd read online about networking. I mean this was someone casually offering me a job.

Now, he told me he grew up on the streets of Toronto and that between 17-25 he had been in and out of jail. He said he's trying to straighten his life out now and he's in college making straight A's.
In his mind, when he finishes he will come to Nigeria and start to make a difference in the country. I didn't know where to start from. I simply told him that many people in Nigeria wish to leave the country for a number of reasons which I tried to outline.

It's easy to take something for granted if you do not have another perspective. I wish him luck and I hope he's able to visit so he can decide what he really wants.

Oh and he asked me at some point where I was from in Nigeria. I told him and then my people, he did it. He actually asked me if I knew this person, and that person, and that person. He was sure I'd know this one because he's a chief. How about that one. I got tired of telling him that there are hundreds or thousands of people with that same name. Finally I gave him an idea of the population size by states. I think he got the picture after that but I believe he'll do it again.

Sirmuel1:



Is this the new trend or something?

It's actually years old but trust us to pick up garbage and run with it.

ahmedio2017:





U mean this is the kind of socket they are using

Yes.

ahmedio2017:





I'm using tecno camon 11 pro. I hope I'll be able to use it in Canada bro

I should think so. I'm using my Nigerian phone, a Fero Pace 2. Just make sure you have them test the Sim.

You should be good to go. Good luck bro.

Remicynt:
Hello everyone, I am still on my PPR journey but I really enjoy reading this page as it gives me inspiration to move ahead with this canny plan. I have some questions to ask.
1) I normally read where pple say immigration in Canada checked for PoF. How is this done do they ask u to open ur account or just ur bank Statement. Also is the POf goin to be in CAD.
2) How did u decide which area to stay. What are the different advantages of every province or state.
I have more questions o but please help me answer this one first. Thanks

I can't answer question 1.

Question 2 is subjective. Go where works for you ie where there are job prospects or where you know someone who can help you take your first steps. As a last resort, go to a place where cost of living isn't so high and where the weather is fine.
If all these factors combine, so much the better.

If anyone is making the trip, please don't forget to bring basic medicine, painkillers, cold medicine, malaria medicine (at least two doses) etc and any other medication you regularly use in Nigeria.

Also the sockets are different so for your phones and laptops, buy the proper heads. I got mine at Saka Tinubu. Save yourself the trouble.

Flight/Landing Gist

So I last flew in 2013, I'd forgotten most of the protocol but my sister who is a frequent (and I mean FREQUENT) traveler came with me and was very helpful. Thanks Sis!

Prior to the day, she insisted I shave my beard (something that broke my heart ). I told her it would make me look different from my passport and she said I didn't have to remove everything but she wanted it extremely low (which is practically everything).

Anyway I did so and I look horrible now

At the entrance they almost didn't allow my sister enter with me but she talked to me and the man turned to me and said "Can I pay for you?" My sister said yes, but the man wanted to hear it from me. I was perplexed, so I didn't answer. He asked again a couple of times and my sister was like "tell him yes". Na so I dey look from my sister to the man and finally I said yes. The man was like "it's not from your mind". Till now, I still don't understand why he phrased it that way and what he meant. I didn't give him anything but he let us pass.

The bags were around 20kg give or take so no issues. I didn't carry any food, so no issues there either. By the time I checked the bags in and went to look for sis, her eyes were blood red, she was already crying. Me that was struggling to control myself. It would be rude not to join in so I obliged by permitting a tear or two roll down my cheeks (maybe a bit more than that). Anyway, I hugged her and all but she finally controlled it enough to take a pic with me.


IMMIGRATION:
First immigration officer asked for money, I gave him 500. He let me pass.
Second officer I met was polite, noticed my name and asked about it, we discussed a little. I had to fill a form at his desk and when I finished he was like "anything for the boys? I was like "I'm sorry", he said "it's ok". I decided bribing them wasn't sustainable

Third officer was a lady, she too asked but I didn't give. I got to the waiting area quite early and started reading Inferno by Dan Brown.

BOARDING

When it was time to board we did so without hassle. It was a Boeing 777 from Ethiopian Airways. The route was Lagos to Adis Ababa, Adis Ababa to Dublin (we refueled there and spend almost an hour then continued on the same plane but with a different crew) Dublin - Toronto. That was a really long journey, I barely slept.

At Adis Ababa, the guy checking my passport scrutinized me properly, even asking me to remove my glasses. I'm surprised that happened only once through all the checks I experienced. I look "one kind" now

I don't watch TV or movies in general so I can't comment on in-flight entertainment quality. I watched some movies and read some of Dan Brown. As for the food, airline food is never great and it's deliberately done that way. I can say very sincerely that I've had worse (KLM I hope you have improved).

Some uncultured Philistine on the plane decided to avail us of the contents of his/her intestinal bubbles. Needless to say I felt quite upset about the intermittent assault on my olfactory receptors.

There was adequate leg room, even for the taller passengers. I hardly had to get up during the flight.

Landed in Toronto and the kiosk refused to read my passport so I had to do it the manual way. The lady didn't even look at me properly she just took the form I filled on the plane and said welcome and waved me through.
I bought a Chatr sim at the airport. That's what I'm still using but I'll probably change it soon.


That's my story. I'm going to skip some details and jump right to where my friend came to get me. He took me to another friends house where I was welcomed with a Budweiser, cold water and poundo, accompanied by bitterleaf soup. Though I was hungry, I couldn't eat more than a wrap, I was tired but couldn't sleep.
After the meal, we met up with a guy from the North, then a Yoruba man who seems to be an immigration consultant and booked an appointment for later this week. Finally, I was taken to my place.

I'm sharing a house with some Nigerian postgraduate students.

If I remember anything else, I'll edit and add. The trip was relatively uneventful.

A couple of random sky pics

Pic One Toronto Airport
Pic Two Baggage claim (one of my boxes was slightly damaged. Two wheels were off. Still better than having the luggage stolen as once happened to me)

My landing gist coming in a bit. It's nowhere as exciting as others I've read but I'll share
Pic One Emirates crew passing
Pic Two Arik plane besides ours
Pic Three We had power outlets
Pic Four Aerial view leaving Lagos

Perra:
Wait how are you a citizen when you havent even started living there yet? ... Or you mean a Permanent residence?

If its citizen then u were born there? .... And if yes, then why say things like "dreams do come true when you are a Canadian citizen normal normal"?

I'm a citizen from birth.

When I say dreams do come true, it refers to a personal situation. I agree it sounds odd but I'm the one wearing the shoes so I know what I'm talking about.

Arrived Lagos safely. Set to port soon.

The Weaver Bird
BY KOFI AWOONOR
The weaver bird built in our house
And laid its eggs on our only tree.
We did not want to send it away.
We watched the building of the nest
And supervised the egg-laying.
And the weaver returned in the guise of the owner.
Preaching salvation to us that owned the house.
They say it came from the west
Where the storms at sea had felled the gulls
And the fishers dried their nets by lantern light.
Its sermon is the divination of ourselves
And our new horizon limits at its nest.
But we cannot join the prayers and answers of the communicants.
We look for new homes every day,
For new altars we strive to rebuild
The old shrines defiled by the weaver's excrement.

Road trip to Lagos.

I won't lie, with herdsmen this and that, I was worried. We got to Ore without incident but Murphy's law states that if something can go wrong, eventually it will.

After Ore, our fuel tank got punctured by jagged rocks on the road. I bought an extra seat for my load and my luggage was positioned behind the leaking tank. Recipe for disaster!

Luckily we were able to turn and locate a garage. The fuel was fetched into a pail and the tank was patched with gum. Some dude walked past the pail of fuel smoking weed, opposite one woman was roasting corn. Na so I shift oh. Temptation. We were lucky because the place was breezy so the vapors couldn't accumulate otherwise we'd have been toast.

The bus was being fixed under a tree with Weaver birds and I was watching them build their nests. It was amazing.


Pic One at the park before take off,
Pic Two, at Ore
Pic Three, fixing the tank.

Earthquake1:
Maradona and Pele and Johann Cruyff are not even in your list

Last 25 years.

Ayaboyo:
I am a Nigerian qualified lawyer and live in Australia. Believe me there are lot of options even for overseas qualified lawyers as we are reffered to. Compliance, corporate governance, whistleblowing analyst, Corrections, social work, legal assistant or you can also apply to work with the various ombudsmen.

It not law as you see it in Naija but it draws on your legal knowledge which help you excel.

If however you are interested in litigation, then you have to go back to school for the priestly 11 which is divided into 14 or 15 units depending on the University and law school for 6 months.

Gold.

lorenzos1:


Guy, it might still be possible u still have about 5 semesters to go... But u would need to sacrifice. I was in a similar situation while in Uni a long time ago, I made the decision and I ended up with a 2.1 and that 2.1 took me out of poverty.
Firstly u need to calculate the minimum GP u have to make each semester to make the 2.1.
Then have a written plan.
U might need to change your social circle start walking with d First Class students and follow their ways.
Think of it as a chance to better your life.

Solid.

Please I need advice.

Between WES, IQAS and CES from University of Toronto, which is better for ECA (for a law degree)?

Thanks.

ademoladeji:
This interesting. A friend of mine got a Kuwait job via LinkedIn

A friend of mine, a Consultant Doctor got a job in Jeddah through LinkedIn.

LordReed:


I became an atheist because I realised that there really isn't evidence for any of the things I believed, I simply believed.

Good enough for me.

Takes a lot of strength to reevaluate ones beliefs.

daveobasi1:
Good day friends, trust you are doing good. Today let us discuss about the blues scale,. we will take key C as an example. so what is a blues scale?

This step shows the C blues scale on the piano, treble clef and bass clef. There are 6 blues scale notes plus the octave of the tonic note - a total of 7 notes.
The C blues scale has 3 flats.
C blues scale note names
Note no. Note name
1 The 1st note of the C blues scale is C
2 The 2nd note of the C blues scale is Eb
3 The 3rd note of the C blues scale is F
4 The 4th note of the C blues scale is Gb
5 The 5th note of the C blues scale is G
6 The 6th note of the C blues scale is Bb
7 The 7th note of the C blues scale is C
So how do we use the blues scale? The blues scale is mainly used for improvisation i.e. soloing. mostly in jazz, neo soul, funk or any genre of music. For you to be able to solo or improvise properly used scales, and one of them is the blues scale. Practicing this scale at least one hour everyday, helps increase your speed, and improve your improvisation skills.

for more lessons: https://dkeyzblog..com/2019/01/the-blues-scale-exercise.html

The blues scale has only 6 notes regardless of key. It's basically your minor Pentatonic scale with an added b5. You added the root twice.

Please, edit your post.

One more thing, in your examples of it's uses, you failed to mention the blues, which is the number one thing it's used for.

cc Jakumo

LordReed:


They must have declined your brand of intelligence.

LMFAO! Oya na, come and sacrifice me to your god because I don't have peace of mind.

I know you from the phone section in the days of old (Think back to when Gionee e3 was still a thing and Elijahdre was the main vendor).

You used to be a Christian then if I remember right, even attacking some atheists once in a while.

What happened?

@jesujnr, when last did you treat malaria?

Kingpee2:
If you were making it big in the industry you won’t be saying this sir..

That's exactly what he said na. Did you read the article?

See how u just want to buy wahala!I was using an iphone 5 I got as a gift which I had to sell!I laugh at you in greek if after all I wil say,you still decide to get the 5s!.I'll start with the pros-1.it is a small cute phone.I love the design and size.
2.It is an overhyped and annoyingly overpriced phone which makes it command respect.You can't see jst anyone using it.when u are out and people will be like 'wow,you use an iphone?' And u say 'yep'( with u smiling internally),that's as good as it gets!
Cons-
1.You can't use bluetooth.you hear a nice song playing or u intend getting a picture.brother,you can't use bluetooth o!except its a transfer from iphone to iphone.now how many people wwud own an iphone where u work or sch?
2.You can't download songs,videos,pdf files...in fact anything from d internet.yes..so if u love free music don't bother!I remember I had to buy ed sheeran's bloodstream and thinking out loud songs from itunes for like 400 naira after d naira got devalued.the frustration I felt that day eh!
3.when u buy it,u can't just add your favourite songs o..u need the itunes app on ur pc to sync the songs into ur phone..if u r foolish enough to give it to slot guys to add songs for u,that's ur doom.The day u get your own itunes app on ur pc,all the previous songs and videos not synced with ur apple I'd will be wiped!
4.The appstore is the crappiest av seen after that of windows os..for files over 100mb,you wud need wifi or no download!you must upgrade to the latest ios 8 or you can't download some apps!once you are on ios 8,you can't downgrade it or jailbreak ur iphone!you see?
5.Many of the fun stuffs on it are better enjoyed in u.s eg hv u seen someone using imessage in nigeria?nada!
There are many more cons in buying an iphone..bt let me stop here!now the decision is yours to make.

Man, you killed it. This is 2019 so what I say may come off as ignorant, but here goes.

I got an iPad 4 from an auction. It was OS8, 12gb storage.
Now, I've set up iPads before, played games on them before but I've never owned one. I've used symbian phones (smart nokias) and my first Android was a techno N3 (which I eventually gave my brother and is still bloody working to this day).

Anyway, owning the iPad 4, I tried to tinker with it the way I am used to with my other operating systems. I found the app store to be really clumsy (and I remind you, I've set these things up for other people).
It seemed to me that Apple has a philosophy to force users to upgrade. I say this because many of the apps I wanted were not compatible with the OS. On an Android system, backwards compatibility is quite reliable. You hardly worry about your phone literally becoming outdated.

I don't know how things are different in 2019, but I know I will never voluntarily get an apple product. It's a fine device as a status symbol, but it's not practical for a power user.

Tehila07:


Does that mean I will wake up one day and become a pastor without me planning it? Or should we say I have no calling?

Moses didn't think he could do it either.

You're in good company.

Duggedised12:
get your head in check cos you assumed I was the churhcy type,so in the end I was right ,you did assume,but then I know it is not the forte of people like you to admit they were in the wrong.

And by the way ,you don't need to show me what is happening in coza ,amebor ,radio without wire,I am on nairaland and can read,you must like to gossip a lot ,nonsense and bye.

I didn't assume you were churchy or anything, I corrected your assumptions about atheists.

Not sure why that offends you so much.

roundman:
Op fani kayode a celebrated lawyer kei?

My thoughts exactly.

Duggedised12:
I see you lost your brain when you typed coza .

And how many atheist do you know their history? Gtoh, am done with you ignorance.

I typed COZA to show you what is happening in Christiandom.

Not surprised it flew over your head.

Duggedised12:
hahahaha,I am not even a fan of churches, you do know that a person can believe in God and not go to church right? I can't even remember the last time I stepped into a church, but that will never make me denounce the existence of the One who created me, and that is the difference between me and atheists .

Assumptions is for fools,I do hope going forward you will stop assuming and be more rational

Atheists aren't denouncing, they don't believe.

Your quote about assumptions applies only to you because I made none. You did, and you still are. Your own words judge you.