Thursday, September 29, 2011

Grandpa's Gone

Left to right: unknown aunty, Uncle, Aunty and cousin, Grandma, Grandpa
When my mom got the news last week that her father had died, she was devastated. She didn't know that he was sick and was still expecting to see him when she finally traveled home. It had been 19 years since she saw him last.

I was very sad too.  Though I don't really remember that much about my grandfather from when I visited Naija years and years ago, I remember talking to him on the phone over the years. He was always expressed his eagerness to see us... Now that will have to wait until we all meet in heaven. Chei....

You see, it's very easy for people to forget the original intent of coming to this country, America. No one plans to lose loved ones in their quest for a better life. But the reality of the situation is that it happens. People in Nigeria and other parts of the world dream of coming to America so they can just drink from the sweet waters that they believe are flowing here; but when they come, they are met with a bittersweet taste.

True, life in America affords us many things considered luxuries around the world: general security and safety; a somewhat reasonable justice system; the ability to go to school and get an education without the fear of strikes interrupting courses; constant light and internet. But life here can be difficult. Debt seems to be the way of life and as bills stack up, it seems many live to work instead of work to live.

The constant fight to keep from complete financial ruin can make it hard to live up to the expectations of those back home. They expect their lives to be transformed from grass to grace because they have a relative in America. But it's not always that easy. And as time goes on, people forget what's important. They don't want to go home because they are ashamed that they haven't achieved what they had hoped. They don't want to be ridiculed. And even if they wanted to, they couldn't afford the trip. Heck, it's hard enough scraping together funds to send home every pay period. So time passes and whole generations grow up hardly knowing their family overseas. What a painful existence. And when it comes down to it, it's all because of money.

I have decided, so help me God, that I will not perpetuate this cycle. As soon as I'm able, when I finish my program, I'm going to Naija to see my family. At the end of the day, the love for family surpasses anything that could deter harm.

This situation also spurs me on to excel in my field so that I can make a difference in my family's life. I refuse to accept life like this.

An excerpt from my poem,  Ada: Statement of Responsibility

Before I was born the prayers of my grandmothers
were going forth on my behalf,
beseeching God to do something new:
Now, here I am.

I am Ada:
First daughter of my family’s
Nigerian dream
to cross the ocean and fulfill the
American dream
and carry it back home.

I’m not here to live for myself
or just to have fun;
I’m on mission to improve the lives of my family,
both here and there.

Too many sacrifices have been made
Too many prayers have been prayed
Too many tears have been cried
Too many have longed to see, but died
waiting for the dream to be fulfilled;
And too many yearn for it still for me to forget them.




Excerpt, Ada: Statement of Responsibility by Chidinma Ogbuaku

Thursday, September 22, 2011

What a way to get a job!

I saw this story on TV today and it just blew my mind. This 24-year old guy, Matthew Epstein wanted to work for Google as his dream job. So he made this video:




And guess what? Gooogle called him! So did Microsoft, Amazon, and a few other companies. In the end, he landed his dream job with a company called SigFig.

So creative, isn't it? Talk about creating opportunities for yourself, huh?

Friday, September 16, 2011

High-quality Nigerian Movies

Usually when I watch Naija movies, I gravitate toward ones that have Osita Iheme, Chinedu Ikedieze, Nkem Owoh, and/or John Okafor in them because I like funny Naija movies the best. Those ones wey sombody dey do juju and all that kind of stuff.... I no like am. But I've just been awakened to some really high-quality Nigerian movies, in terms of video picture, acting and plot. My only problem is that they're not yet available to me to watch or buy.

While browsing Nollywood Forever I came across a movie called Anchor baby that really caught my interest.  I guess it's showing in the UK.



Then I stumbled across Black Gold, which is showing in Nigeria and at a few film festivals in the US, according to the IMBD website


Now that's what I call a movie! Does anyone know how I can get a hold of any of these?

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Boaz

A friend on Facebook posted this... Thought it was so funny, but true :)
To all the girls who are in a hurry to have a boyfriend or get married, a piece of Biblical advice: Ruth patiently waited for her mate Boaz." While you are waiting on YOUR Boaz, don't settle for any of his relatives; Broke-az, Po-az, Lyin-az, Cheatin-az, Dumb-az, Drunk-az, Cheap-az, Lockedup-az, , Goodfornothing-az, Lazy-az, and especially his third cousin Beatinyou-az. Wait on your Boaz and make sure he respects Yoaz.... Repost if this made you smile

Monday, September 5, 2011

ACFYA Detroit

Designed by moi :)
This weekend was madly busy, full of multiple trips to the grocery store, cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring my sisters around, trying to do some homework, doing my hair, church, guests at the house, and such. Yesterday though, my friend Emily and I did a video announcing the start of African Christian Fellowship Young Adult Chapter, Detroit. To find out more about ACF, here's the national website.

And here's the video:



Hahaha... We had fun making it. We played the music out of Emily's car and turned it up, dancing on the sidewalk. Some of the neighbors must have thought we were crazy..... Shout out to my awesome friend Shavar who shot and directed the video for us. I'm looking forward to what God is doing. :)