Hello peepuuu,
I had a déjà vu moment while I was writing my exam today. It made me feel happy. I think of déjà vu as an assurance that what is currently happening is supposed to be.
You’re getting part two today! Enjoy ?
. . . The POP
The POP commenced unceremoniously. Corps members who were not involved in the parade were loitering around, and when I saw the Quarter Guards doing their ‘thang’. I was so sure it was just a rehearsal that I even voiced it out. Someone heard this and told me they had started the parade. Wawu. At that time, we were still doing our man o’ war martial arts (don’t ask) rehearsal. Anyway, the parade had been going on for quite a while, and it was almost our time to present. We filed to our selected point of entry and waited to be called in.
I felt thrilled to be a part of this presentation, and even more so because it went better than expected… way better than expected. As at that morning, I was so sure we were going to flop because we had not mastered the most important part of the presentation. I thought of opting out a billion times. Anyway, when I heard the ‘female punchers out’ command, everything became almost mechanical for me. I guess I was nervous, but fought the nervousness so hard that I shut everything out. I still felt so ‘focused on’, and that awareness made my adrenaline pump and I broke my plank successfully. I also had another part to play in our presentation; a fight. The hilarity! After the ‘fight’, the way I made my way back to my initial position would haunt me forever, and I hope that moment is wiped out of the memories of anyone who saw it.
I felt a bit self-conscious after the man o’ war martial arts (don’t ask) presentation, so, I was a bit confused about where to go and even hesitant to go ‘where people were’. I could be a bit (a lot) shy at the oddest moments. People were everywhere, so that didn’t work out well. I followed two friends of mine who were also part of the presentation to where Platoon 1 members were gathered and chatted for a while. The parade ended while we were chatting, and I missed a very important moment (I am too heartbroken to share).
The parade ended a little bit more ceremoniously than when it began. The next step was to collect our posting letters. My ‘hurry’ increased and I just really really wanted to be done with everything. The situation didn’t help, however. We were told that as OBS members, we would be given out posting letters separately. Before we got our letters, we had to clear out the parade ground of any OBS equipment. Up the hill again, I went, carrying the lightest thingy I could find. At the studio, we were given our posting letters after a while that seemed long to me.
Quick Talk: My decision to stay in Benue State was very impulsive. I didn’t think about it. I just decided, and I was certain I made the right decision. My list of very very good reasons (trust me) came later. So, I stopped planning to resume my Lagos life, and I started thinking of my life in Benue. People probably thought I was crazy. I did too, but I simply couldn’t change my mind, even though I was really close to doing so MANY times. I consciously rebuked myself from having any sort of expectations about where I would be posted to because I didn’t want to be disappointed, and I really wanted the ‘unexpectedness’. So, for about three weeks, I made a conscious effort to keep an open mind. I didn’t want to lobby for a favourable posting because it would have short-changed me of the surprise I really really wanted to have. A clean opportunity came at a point for me to work in a radio station. I was thrilled at that time but didn’t want to show it. I didn’t follow up. Why? I guess I know now.
…Moving on…
I became a bit apprehensive when the posting letters were being shared out. The norm is for OBS members to be posted to radio stations, or other ‘good slots’. I received mine and saw that I was posted to Royal Academy Secondary School in Obi LGA. Say wah?? I became fully apprehensive. What did I expect? Well, nothing, but not this. I suddenly wished I had followed up on that radio station opportunity at that time. I probably hyperventilated a little. I was so confused, that I started asking people where they were posted. Some had primary schools, others, secondary schools. Only one person (that I know of) was posted to Radio Benue, Makurdi. We were all really shocked.
Before I was given my letter, I saw a lady who had a cardboard with the name of a school on it… “something Academy”. “Academy” is the key word here. She asked me if I knew anyone who was posted there, and I said I didn’t. LOL. I had heard that some corps members were lucky to be picked up by someone from their PPA, so, I was kinda happy that I was one of the lucky few. I went outside the studio to meet her, but she wasn’t there any more.
These are 500 words (or more ?)! Talk to you tomorrow!