When life surprises you

After a very long break from my personal blog, apparently my holy spirit whispers to me something. it says, " Marvin, write your blog......." and here I come.... lol

Where should I start? hmmm... okay, lets come to this way. I am stuck in Nigeria. How does it sound? Does it sound miserable enough? Not really? Then, let me add more cue. I am stuck in Nigeria, whereas my friends and family are enjoying their vacation everywhere they have been wishing for. What should I call it? MISERY to the death? 😜

I am trying to kaleidoscope my 2017 into a word.. and I say it... AWESOME!

Back to the beginning of this year. I was enjoying myself in the Summer in Adelaide, Australia, waiting for Australia Open to come, drinking much wine (much in my term is actually 1-2 glasses, lol), having fun with my friends, going to the beach and getting tanned! life was SO GOOD back then.

Then the fun came to an end. My study has finished and I must go back to my country (even though I was still hoping to stay little bit longer in Australia). Oh, I miss all the hypes and the air and the accent..... More than two years I was adjusting myself into an advanced country. Never mind, I am MOVING ON though.. lol

And you know what? another surprise coming up. If you read my previous blog, you might know what kind of surprise it is.. lol. I got a job that assigns me to Africa. I mean, like.. WOW! Who ever dream about that? I had wished but never thought it would be sooooo true..

Tadaa... Six months I have been living in Nigeria. I was SHOCKED (not really shocked actually, but it is kind of in between shocked and speechless. lol). I am saying to myself: How should I adjust my life when I came from a technology-based country to a traditional country. I am not trying to compare one to another, but the life is actually up side down. From easy-to-go-and-feel-safe country to hard-to-go-and-feel-unsafe country. From driving politely to driving crazily. From five-hours-black-out-in-one-year-due-to-storm to five-hours-black-out-every-day-due-to-I-don't-know-why. From fast internet everywhere to cannot-get-signal-in-the-house. Now, I am comparing.... sorry!! ✌

But I learn something.. Life is still good whenever I stay. I am making new friends, saying goodbye, moving on, and making new friends again. Do you know how RICH am I? I am rich of having experience of life upon my under-30 age. And I never paid even a penny!!

I am still YOUNG, DUMB, and BROKE though.. lol but I am proud that I can come through this far.

So.... I am BLESSED and I don't regret for every decision that I made. It enriches me... And I will not write down some targets, resolutions, or whatever it is called because you know what ?!? life is more interesting when it comes to surprise you..

I cannot wait what future will bring. But thing for sure, TRY ME! I am ready...

HAPPY New Year guys.....

Nigeria, My First Gate To Africa Continent

First! Do not underestimate your childhood dream.

Second! watch your mouth out when you speak of everything you are thinking about (by that time, an angel may pass through you and over-hear you then tell it to God what you have said)

Last! Believe in your dream (ahhh.. classic yet cheesy.. lol. But Hey! Believing is a pole to hold onto, isn't?)

Almost a year I ain't really write something on my blog. It is not because there was nothing interesting in my life, but actually I was too lazy to open up my laptop, start my first sentence, and can't be bothered to pour out my thought. lol 😝😝😝. However, miracle happened! my childhood dream becomes true... I am touching down AFRICA! 

First thing first, let me start how Africa becomes my childhood dream. as far as I remember myself (I am not good at remembering good thing though, haha), I have read a memoir book titled "A Long Way Gone: Memoir of a boy soldier" when I was in my first grade of high school. It was like.. hm.. 13 years ago. The book told about a kid named Ishmael Beah who became a boy soldier in Sierra Leone during a civil war (https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/l/a-long-way-gone/book-summary). If you don't familiar with this country, Sierra Leone is in Western side of Africa (www.savesierraleonefoundation.org). 

 

And BANG! I was thrilled reading this book. How come a child is forced to be an unwilling boy soldier by regularly giving them drugs so that he won't be scared to shoot people and bury them alive (I do remember this one). I was like... Wow! I am grateful to have only read this book without experiencing myself. Yet, my curiosity came to surface about Africa. Since then, I have been into Africa and its culture. And since then too, I stop reading fiction books and start striving non-fiction books from Africa, middle east, or wherever they are from which able to enrich my thought about hard life. 

By the time goes by, I jokingly did tell my friends about the amazing Africa and how I am obsessed with this continent. They might have thought that I am crazy enough to adore Africa, while others prefer either Europe or USA. People have their own preference, haven't they? I do like experiencing new thought and culture. For example, I desperately want to go to Rome, Italy and watch AS Roma (my all time favorite football club) and watch Francesco Totti at Olimpico Stadium. However, this Africa thing.. hm.. I don't know.. I want to witness it myself. I didn't know yet how to get there, but I wanted to go there someday.... 

Long story short, After graduating my master from Adelaide University in Australia, I did come back home to Indonesia to continue my life. Struggling of looking for a PROPER job which I wish for isn't still yet to come. What is the job actually I wish for? a good job with a good salary and can alter me to travel wherever I want (classic.. lol). During the applying job and recruitment processes, I found a job offered at Kalbe International. This company is an Indonesian pharmaceutical company who is already established more than 50 years. The good thing about this offer is... They are looking for a candidate who wants to be assigned overseas. first, checked! I can travel again. lol. Then, I looked up on the website and it was stated that one of its branches is in Nigeria. I am like..... I MUST GET THIS JOB WHATEVER IT TAKES. hahahaha... 😝😝😝😝😝😝😝. I gave my full effort to impress the interviewers and my future boss. I confidently put a statement on my presentation to the users (Kalbe big bosses) "I am willing to be put in Africa". They were actually surprised though.. like.. how come a white fair-skin man graduated from a developed country like Australia wants to stay in Africa by purpose. It is totally upside down. They tried to show the reality about living in Africa to (maybe) scare me. Ahaaaaa... guys, they don't know my dream is bigger than my fear. lol

After more than ten year later, OH MY GOODNESS! I am actually in Africa... 

It is already a month staying in Nigeria. I was a bit scared with my decision. However, my excitement conquers everything. I do still survive though.. lol

This country.. hm.. a country that is actually rich of natural resources but still a lot of things to fix. Okay, I don't want to involve with Nigeria' politic, but I do see a good future if they can manage the country well. People are lovely (Some are not, but most of them are..) and sincere. Am I too naive? hm.. I don't know.. because as far as I am concerned, I do not get any trouble with local people here (hopefully it remains good for me). They like staring at me and waving at me and calling me "Oyibo" means white. Okay, maybe I am too white and it is obvious to detect in the crowd. hahaha.. However. I don't mind. The kids are even more lovely.. lol. They keep coming and waving at me like they have just seen a creature from outer space. 

The food? Hm.. That is hard to discuss. lol. Actually, I am fine with the local foods but I am not a big fan of them. Okay, I do like porridge yum, pepe soup, and beef stew. For some foods, hmm, I still can't accept its smell and flavor. I think I still need time to adjust. However, I have my super favorite food in Nigeria called "Suya". Jesus Christ, I cannot stop eating it. Once in a week, I must buy it. And it is sooooooo good! I swear to God.. It is like 9 out of 10! 

Lastly, Lets talk about church!!! I have sometimes watched Hollywood movies about Africa or Afro-America or whatever related. Please watch "Sister Act" or "The Help" or whatever you can find a church scene, then you can see the vibe. on the movie, they were singing, dancing, crying, shouting, jumping, and clapping like they are not burden with problems. Okay, you can't really believe Hollywood, they most of the time are too much and exaggerating. Then, I visited one of the churches in Nigeria named Daystar Church. It was AMAH-ZING! hahaha. Those are REAL, even wilder (in a good way).. The choir, Jesus! I am speechless. 

I will be staying in Nigeria for at least one year, then let my fate pick another story of life. For me personally, I still want to visit Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and MAURITIUS (As a bonus hahaha). To conclude my first month in Nigeria, I will walk without fear. Lol