The old and the new.

It always puzzles me when bloggers who do not update regularly ask me to update. Headandaround, take your timeooo.Like comrade, I too do not like to do an I woke up on the wrong side of bed post.(nothing wrong with such postsooo.) Anyway I decided to cite a few differences in the past and in today's as a Nigerian. Hopefully the bad will not surpass the good.

Previously, Nigerian men were very brave. Once, when I was younger, there was loud knocking on our gate and my father went out with his matchete asking who they were.No fears. It turned out to be some long lost uncles looking for a place to sleep.
Last year, armed robbers visited our compound, one of my neighbours, the ony man actually present, offered them his laptop and the only money he had(2k) even before they asked.Inspite of his kind gesture, he still received a butt from the gun on his cheek and still shakes like a leaf if you sneak up behind him today. His wife still teases him(I know guys will attack me for this one).

Most Nigerians studying here paid their own fees themselves. Most of them I know from home-colleagues, school mates etc. We worked hard, we invested hard, and we saved hard and here we are most of us less than 30. Previously, you had to be a military personnel's kid or your parents were in oil or they used their entire or half of their gratuity to sponsor you.Rarely were young ones able to finance their own postgraduate education. There was no booming bank industry, or insurance or telecoms,or advertising, or entertainment. But today, thanks to the emerging middle class, now we can.

I vaguely remember generators growing up. From my life in Ikot Ekpene till I moved in with my sister in the 90's, it wasn't so important to have one. Either it wasn't as hot as it is now, or NEPA was much better but now it's a must have. What with the advent of I better pass my neighbor(the small ones that cost less than 10k).Where did we go wrong?

All you had to do was say you were a christian in the past, and it meant you had integrity, now the devil seems to me living in the church. To say you are a pastor arouses even more suspicion.

Women are so much bolder now. A friend of mine visited the galleria recently, left her boyfriend to use the bathroom, when she returned, a young girl was chatting him up. Shuooo. The good side is that this boldness extends beyond relationships, women are speaking up and demanding better recognitions for their roles at home, and at work.

Children are so sharp these days. Asking very intelligent questions. At a 4 year old's party, a girl asked the boy why he was dancing with another girl, and he asked why she was late for his party. Now, I don't know if that is a good thing, and that is not what I meant by intelligent question.

Thanks to the new media-blogs, saharareporters(where do those guys get their pictures from?),social networking sites etc most Nigerians now have a voice. Change is coming.

Noticed any changes? please do share.