So I am going to be writing this blog the only way I know how. That's in my Nigerian tone and slang and all...lol. If you are looking to read from an impeccable English writer, this blog is not for you. However I know some of my Nigerian American and "all" American friends may be reading so I'm gonna try real hard to explain some things and not sound too Nigerian/African.
Lets all establish that Nigeria is called Naija. Its a slang term given to her by its citizens. I'd rather type five words than seven words and if you are nit picky about these kind of things, again this blog is not for you. I tried to open a word press account but it looked way too complicated for me. Blogger is simple. I like Blogger. lol
It all started in my primary 5. Primary 5 in Naija is same as Grade 5. In Primary 5 most elementary/primary schools start preparing you for secondary schools. You start taking the entrance exams to schools and having the "which school to go" discussions with your parents. So it's basically like you are prepping to go to middle school and high school. Except in Naija we don't do district/zone/zip code stuff, you can go to any school you want to. Anywhere it's located. It Could be another state or city and most of the time they are boarding schools. Yup! Lots of us Naija kids go to boarding schools for Middle, Junior High and High school. Did i explain that alright? Are you with me? lol
I should point out that most kids in Nigeria skip the 6th grade. Actually some elementary schools don't even have the 6th grade. It ends in the 5th grade so you can jump to the 7th grade if you pass the admission exams for secondary school. Again 7th-12th grade are done in the same school and we call them secondary schools or colleges. In my last year of elementary/primary school (grade 5), my parents and I decided that i was going to a Federal Government boarding school. Well it's more like they decided and I just went along with the plan. That's what we could afford then anyway so yea...lol.
Every state in Nigeria has a Federal school. Actually they have two or sometimes three Federal Government schools in a state. I think Lagos has like 5 though...not sure. Some are only boys and they're called Federal Government College (FGC). Then some for boys and girls(unisex) also tagged the same(FGC) and some for just girls called Federal Govt Girls College(FGGC). There is also the Federal Technical schools called FTC. Anyway these Federal schools are run and mostly funded by the Federal government and they are free for the students. Well kinda... because you still gotta pay for the boarding house fees and PTA and other little things. The Federal government pays the teachers and provide the food and utilities. Do you understand? lol. It's kinda like the public schools in America and how it's free.
So I took the Federal entrance exams and passed. I still remember my score. I made almost 500 and I didn't even cheat! Plus I was like 9 so I'm a smart cookie :p *flips hair.lol
My mother and father were so proud of me! The next step was to pick which state I was going to go to school. There are 36 states in the country. I'm Igbo and I lived in the Eastern part of Naija. My state of origin is IMO state though. My parents knew I was gonna to get in for sure if I applied to the schools there. We had some of my aunts and uncles that were teachers at the FGGC in the state. Also the Vice Principal at that time was a very close family friend. They were very happy we had connections in the school because if I got in, I was gonna have adults to look out for me while I was in school. I was real excited about the schools there too because I had my cousins in both Federal Schools in the state. My older cousin was even the head girl/ senior prefect at FGC Okigwe. That was a unisex/mixed school though and my mum convinced me not to apply to any mixed school. She scared me sh*tless with rape and sexual molestation stories. lol. That made me set my heart on FGGC Owerri. FGGC Owerri was a done deal for me and I had no objections. I was ready to start my boarding school life. I couldn't wait to go for the interview/placement examinations so i can pass it and get in.
My three older brothers were in various Federal schools. They came home on their mid-term break vacation the week i was suppose to go for the interview stage of my exams. When they heard about the school I was applying to, they started doing what brothers do most. Taunting, "sand sand" pouring, laughing... They did any and every annoying thing you can think of to make me irritated and frustrated enough to second guess my decision on where to go to school. I always worshipped the ground they walked on and whatever they told me to do, I'd always do...lol. Being older I kinda thought they were wiser too. Wiser than my parents! Looking back now I feel so silly. How did I let a bunch of teenagers make a very big life changing decision for me?lol! Boys will be boys.
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