I'll be a year older tomorrow and so will Isi-Aki! HURRAAAHH! The blog was officially launched on the 12th of July 2011 but I've decided to let its anniversary coincide with my birthday. How time flies. We've both grown in the last year. Seems it was only a few days ago that I came up with the idea to chronicle my personality quirks to mark my third decade. Yep! I kid you not!
I've given some thought to why women hide the age. We are usually the first to say that "age is nothing but a number." I know I most certainly am of that school of thought. However, as one crossed the clear line demarcation of twenty-five and heads down the hill towards the the late twenties, the lips began to find it difficult to form a response to the question, "How old are you?"
Funny, if it makes any sense, age was never something I worried about Nigeria. Working and socialising among your peers, the question just never seemed to come up. I mean you are a working professional, a lawyer with a number of years post call- to-bar experience, a good job and calling your shots in life. Hey! It was a question of doing the maths. The attendant respect that comes with some medicum of success is something I've always taken for granted.
Fortunately or unfortunately, I'm in Buckingham! Hurrah! And surrounded by - to use a kinder word, "younger ones" and age is suddenly a huge issue. Being the petite little thing I am, it has not been easy. It's actually been quite interesting. I've actually had some funny things happen to me that have me thinking that I must be some character in a television series! Let me give you some scenarios and you tell me if I'm over-reacting.
Scenario 1: I have a class mate who has to heave me up or 'carry me up' when the mood takes her to show affection - or whatever, and yes, the classmate is a girl!
Scenario 2: Boy and I mean "boy" invites me out for drinks. After repeated evasion, I agree and we fix a date. That evening he calls to ask if I'm on my way. I'm flabbergasted! 'Are you on your way?' I ask in return. Long story short, "boy" asks me to walk to his house in the freezing cold because its not far! I'm sure you know what I did afterwards. I chucked him in the freezer that contains my "never happenings"! "Boy" sees me next day and totally ignores me. I heave a sigh of relief. I did not have the strength to deal with that level of immaturity twice.
Scenario 3: A classmate wanted to embroil me in an exchange of words because I was not in the mood for an early morning picture! I mean! What absolute rot! I don't think I've had a war of words with anyone in the last 10 years! And this girl was there about to start running her mouth - in public - at the blinking WTO (Yep on my last trip. The things I endure!) Well, I put a permanent stop to that one. I mean that was the most ridiculous scenario ever! Never! Ever! Me? Exchange of words? Nah!
The story of my life!
No, I 'm not a snob. I'm actually one of the nicest people I know. However, my senses have not been so eroded that I do not give respect where it is due. Qualifications, sophistication and exposure aside, "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" is a way of life I firmly believe. All I can say is that some of these kids are in for some huge eye-'popping' openers when they get back home. Some of them have clearly lost sight of where they are coming from.
Anyways, maybe I ponder on the whole age and respect thing a little too seriously. On a lighter note, to currently have friends that are 19, 20, 24 must mean that I am cheating nature in my looks, innit? Haha! I hope I'm not kidding myself! It's either that or there isn't a great variety of fish in the pond! Pick whichever. Lol! Let me delude myself a while longer.
Plans for tomorrow? Not really. Church, study and more study. Exams due in less than 3 weeks and I really don't give a sh**! After the Nigerian Law School, I swore nothing would rattle my cage. Buckingham is doing its best, but I'm hanging in there. In case you don't hear from me in the coming weeks, know that I'm busy preparing to scale the next career hurdle and remember me in your prayers.
Be good to yourselves.
Light and Love Always,
xxx
Isi-Aki.
