AUGUST: THE CORPER

I opened the call up letter – “Imo”!!!

My friends were not lying nor exaggerating. I was actually posted to the east. My cycle was complete. I was born in the North, I’m from the South, I schooled in the West and now I have to serve in the East. I went to the camp, Umudi camp. It had just rained. I got out of the cab when the soldier stopped me and my feet landed in the black muddy soil, I knew my fancy pair of slippers was gone forever. It couldn’t get any worse, My period had surprised me with its monthly visit and now this! The soil had its way of welcoming you, it just stuck on you.

I joined OBS (Orientation Broadcasting Service). We were the life of the camp. I carried the mat that they disguised as a mattress and went into the hall that they called a room. The roof was leaking, it looked like it was going to give way any minute and water will just come pouring down on us. There were 36 bunks, meaning 72 people would be in the room. There was a smell that just never left. Everyone just had a way of making you buy things you don’t need. The part that trips me is the paparazzi you get for just being a corper. All the photographers are all up in your face taking pictures you don’t need, especially on Man ‘O’ War days and it’s crazy because they’ll make you pay for them or feel bad if you don’t. *Reducing voice to a whisper* I know a secret tho. If you wait till the last day before meeting the photographers, you can pay half the original price. I paid 1k for 25 pictures which would have been 2500 naira.

I did not take plenty pictures with my phone and all and most of my NYSC pictures are in hard copy, so I can’t show you all the Man ‘O’ War activities.

The highlight of my stay there was when we were to have our pre-welcome party that Friday night, it rained and ruined the event but not our spirits. The music was already rocking the camp. 2 of my friends and other guy were dancing. I passed to go to the OBS stand where the DJ was making it all happen, everyone else gathered to watch them dance. As I passed, they pulled me to join them, I escaped. They didn’t give up. They kept cajoling and I kept resisting until I could resist no more. I was trying to protect my butt-long, pinky-finger-thick braids but it was already wet. I just danced and let go. I didn’t know officials were watching me. The next day, they selected m e to represent my platoon, I was the only person that was selected, everyone else came at will. Long story short, I won… I was crowned “BEST DANCER”. I was also selected to give the closing remark when the DG of NYSC visited.

I’m ready to serve… can’t wait to see what Imo holds for me. I’d miss Nonso’s vegetable and Oha soup in camp tho.

Otondo days are over… I’m now a corper!!!!