Travel: What Happens in Vegas!
Secret: Whenever I plan to drink any amount of alcohol I usually eat a fine, piping hot meal of Eba and whatever soup. Laugh if you will, it's the truth. Lol. I've found that it keeps me from getting easily tipsy. Well, guess who didn't have Eba in Vegas. Yours truly.
Next thing you know, you wake up and one person is missing
Therefore the drinking was kept to the minimum, the starkest minimum. The point of Vegas was to celebrate our amazing friend's birthday and it was so much fun, it also coinsided with the 4th of July weekend last summer. It's definitely a city worth visiting, complete with torrid weather conditions, all the souvenirs a tourist could dream of, bubbly traditional cabbies (no uber, take note), too much food, way too much and first time opportunities to try and discover new things.
There were many instances that I'd say to myself, "hmm, that was a first!" Vegas was a great bundle of new experiences for me. Here's to new experiences, Eba and the birthday boy!
FIRST GAMBLE
Gambling is pretty addictive.
My friends and I were stuck on some titanic-themed slot machine clearly targeted at women and Leonardo Di's fans in general (there were some men there too *blank stare*). I won $10, then lost it and more. Everytime you win something the machine bursts out singing the bridge/chorus of My Heart Will Go On "Near, far, wherever you are......" and the clanking of coins overwhelm you, causing so much euphoria. Then in two minutes you plug your winnings back in and it's all gone!
Conclusion: Last time gambling ever
Making Hugh Hefner rich. Tsk
FIRST CIRQUE DU SOLEIL
Cirque du soleil is special. They create stage performances inspired by circus activities, street entertainment and some other mysterious (very very mysterious) elements. I had no idea what was going on most of the time. Lol. All in all, the experience is the value added. When I was done though, I felt like I had experienced a different aspect of life. The bizarre aspect and it was quite sensational.
Conclusion: Maybe I'd see another cirque show, one less abstract. Good luck to me finding that.
FIRST SINGING TAXI DRIVER
Imagine it's 3am, you are in a taxi and your extremely chatty taxi driver decides to break into a song at the top of his voice-then he sings another-then another-then another. Half way through, he pulls out his harmonica (mouth organ) and it's now a full-fledged concert! It was quite entertaining, maybe not suitable at 3am. At the end he demanded a fee for his performance! Lol!
Conclusion: Everyone is Elvis in Vegas.
HIT ON BY A GIRL FOR THE FIRST TIME
Words failed me indeed. I was at a pool party so we were all minimally clad. She begins to chat me up. I just always imagined I'd be off limits to lesbians. Why? I don't know. Maybe because they say they can tell if you are straight. Maybe she's a beginner, still getting that sensor tuned.
Conclusion: *blink*
FIRST TIME WEARING A CROP TOP
Crop tops make you very ab-conscious, i think it's a good piece as long as you wear it to appropriate places. Definitely not to meet his parents.
Also, maybe more suited for others than some of us though. (Tip: if you are self-conscious, try them with a pair of high waist bottoms)
Conclusion: Haven't worn it since. I'll try again next summer
FIRST KARAOKE
While I have a video of considerable length showing this extraordinary incident, I will be unable to put it up because there were other participants involved. Lol! It's safe to say we were the backstreet boys and girls for the night and everyone thought we were awesome!
Conclusion: karaoke is best served sober. Then you have no excuse for your behavior. Nope, no blaming it on alcohol, all your innate issues spew forth lol! And forth they did spew that night.
Have any fun Vegas experiences; karaoke experiences, fun taxi driver experiences? Share below!
Aridly beautiful
Ed, Demi, Me!
Weeeeeeeeee!
Dancing in the colonnades
World's largest chocolate fountain- The Bellagio
Photo II with flowers; Vegas turned me into a flower-backdrop kinda gal
All you need for fun in Vegas, this fab lot
All God.
Big Win for the birthday boy! ......which we proceeded to spend on a good(bad), greasy dinner
Chances you'd be married by night fall with a chapel in the hotel basement
Brides dressing room (Photo credit: Demi Eni-Olorunda)
Groom room (Photo credit: Demi Eni-Olorunda)
Shot down the aisle! (Photo credit: Demi Eni-Olorunda)
Proposal- And she said 'No'
So you are in a restaurant, having dinner with him and the waiter has brought in dessert. You are mildly distracted by a message on your phone. In a moment, your boyfriend is on his knees with an open ring box.
You freeze, other customers are smiling, some are applauding, the waiter is beaming, (probably because he's up for a big tip after you say "Yes".) You look at him(your bf, not the waiter), as in, really look at him....it just doesn't feel right AT ALL. You don't see yourself with him in 50 years or even in 7 months. The answer is a definite "No", but how do you say "No" with all these people watching?
Whoever heard of the girl who said "No?!!!"
Fear not. We have. Well, we are about to; a study shows 1 in every 4 women turn down a marriage proposal. Less than 25% of those women end up regretting that decision. I guess the other 75% were right on the money when they said "No can do, bro."
The study reports that the women just didn't think it felt right; the proposal, the guy...everything. The famous feminine intuition kicked in! These girls were able to see past the unexpected proposal with the glitz, glam and serenading waiter; the glimmering ring and the crowd and say "No."
It's admirable making such a solid decision under so much pressure, understanding that the course of your life hangs on to whether you are "too nice to say No" or "too shy to say Nah-ahn in front of a crowd".
To be honest though, it's awkward saying "No" in public; the guy would probably be traumatized eternally. I guess you could say "Maybe", then a "No" later. Right?
Could you ever say "No" in public to a proposal?
PGI's November Girl: Laju
One toasty warm Saturday afternoon in Lagos and by contrast a windy fall day in Madison, i had the awesome pleasure of chatting with the beautiful and talented Utseoritselaju Omagbitse Joanne (popularly known as Laju) via FaceTime. We have no photos from this event because we both were in Saturday-chill-mode. Pardon us.
Laju is a successful Lagos-based artist who has been sketching and painting for as long as she can remember. Last September, she had her first art exhibition themed: "Woman in Bloom" along with other artists who were involved in this event, which sought to contribute to the discussion on the process of self-actualization for the woman in a typically patriarchal society. It's wonderful knowing people who use their talent and passion to develop and improve their community. It's what we all strive to do. It's what we are all made for.
Let's meet Laju!
Hey, Laju! What's "Laju" short for and what does it mean?
Utseoritselaju which means the work of the Lord is too great
Where are you from?
Warri, Delta State, Nigeria
What is your morning app sequence?
Hmm… Instagram, WhatsApp or iMessage…. Instagram…again.. *laughs*
What do you do?
I'm a banker with Heritage Bank
Describe your art?
My art is mostly acrylics on canvas. I started with charcoal but then again, i love color! Right now though, i paint acrylics on canvas.
Acrylic paintings dry fast and that works for me. Oil paint is beautiful but I'm not that patient. *laughs* I'm thinking about working with charcoal and acrylics.
I work with female subjects, i find them easy to relate to and for now, African females because the color of our skin is just beautiful in real life and on canvas!
How and when did you start painting?
I actually started very young. I remember in primary school, I’d draw match-stick people, then they evolved into box-like images. I was always fascinated by the cartoon images I saw on TV, and wondered why I couldn’t make my drawings look like the cartoons, so i'd trace directly from the TV or from Archie comic books. That really helped. And of course, my art teacher in college, class mates and even family recognized my talent and kept urging me to do better. Over time, I’ve nurtured this skill and improved on my style and techniques
Most interesting muse?
I’d say female mannequins. I fell in love with them recently; the fragility of their posture amazes me. They've opened my mind up to a thousand ideas. Hopefully you’ll get to see what I come up with in my future artworks
What does your creative work space look like?
*laughs* That’s funny because my work space is my bed and the floor of my room…. That’s where the magic happens. Haha. To answer your question, Newpapers on the floor of my bedroom.
What do you do when you have a creative block?
I just stay away from trying to paint or sketch, because the more I try, the more I end up making everything worse…which is deeply depressing, although, sometimes I go online and view thousands of images related to the ideas I had in my head, to come up with something unique. *laughs*. Apart from these two, I just lay in my bed and stare at my ceiling.
But on a more serious note though , what works most times is staying away completely, it helps me cool off and also gives me a different perspective on my work
Art-crushing on this John Madu painting
What are your creative work must-haves?
An old piece of cloth to clean my brushes, my iPad/phone to refer to my saved ideas or the internet for clarification (when I get stuck)
Longest & Shortest time taken to complete a work
Longest, 1 month; Shortest, 4 hours
I am in love with this sketch
Default nail polish color
I usually don’t paint my nails *covers face* but if i had to choose, nude or purple
Who is(are) your greatest support system?
Family and close friends. They make me believe in myself
What song describes you at 5.30am?
Don’t wake me up by Chris Brown
I'm more of a 6am person
Quirkiest thing about you?
I like to sleep with the lights on. When I wake up in the middle of the night and there isn't power, I turn on the flashlight of my phone and fall asleep
Favorite cake flavor?
Red velvet
Favorite artist
Joseph Eze, Sara Golish, Nelson Makamo
Most frequent Lagos-traffic purchase?
Plantain chips, Super Yogo! *laughs*
Most random Lagos-traffic purchase?
A paint brush which wasn't really made for art but I used it anyway!
Do you love Lagos?
Yes! I love the people, they are lively and it's modern
What would you say to anyone considering painting your form of art?
Go for it!
*************
Thank you, Laju, for being our first PGI Girl! Love you Loads!
Get your bespoke acrylics on canvas paintings by Laju this Christmas!
Email: laluch.art@gmail.com
Phone: +2348170789192
Instagram: @laluch_
A shot from the September "Woman in Bloom" exhibition
Fear Hack: Post Paris-Mali Attacks
I don't run alone
The plan is to remain active all winter long. God and I are aiming for 20 miles/week. We will be indoors, of course; at the gym, no point testing the elements, when just one of us is immortal.
The other day we were out for a run and imagined that if we, dad and daughter, were out for a run, chances were that we had angels running with us, like a security attaché thing. They probably had on jog pants and trainers and ran in stride, with sunglasses, ear pieces and guns gold swords....I guess.
After the Paris and Mali attacks, I guess it's only natural that we all find ways to deal with the fear that creeps into our minds as we walk briskly past crowded places and avoided sustained glares. For me, I've chosen the Father. I've chosen to believe the fact that he walks (and runs) with me and the unseen fact that he has set his security attaché over us.
Don't be spooked.
We do not walk alone.
xx
Forget "Love After War", Try This!
Spats, brouhahas, quarrels, disputes, rhubarbs; why do words synonymous with misunderstandings sound so unattractive? Especially brouhaha! It just doesn't sound like something you want to do every night.
The great thing about brouhahas for most people is the "love after war" i.e make-up sex.
Leading to the "love after war", of course, is the fight itself, which primarily consists of extended hours of pouting, frowning, sizzling retorts (which you may later come to regret), frozen-cold shoulders, silent treatments, sulking, well-thought-out speeches, pretend-laughs at memes (smh), calling up random friends to fill the silence, crying (women .......and men alike), cutting remarks etc.
I often wonder, what's the point spending all the time crying and being malicious? What's the point calling friends you don't really want to talk to at the time? No point sulking and doling out hurtful remarks and laughing at memes intentionally till your jaw hurts. One thing I learnt from Lily and Marshal on the show, How I Met your Mother, was, talk and relate during your quarrels, hold hands! Make plans, kiss, even if you are mad at each other! It's the same person you'll be kissing in an hour, so what difference does it make? Honestly, everyone should try it; kissing while upset. It's so weird and probably healthy, like Greek yogurt!
Make-up sex/ "Love After War" has had its day. Love DURING war is in! It's just so much more unnatural and fun. Every bit of you your pride kicks against the idea. It takes ALOT of will-power. It takes a lot of humility and probably a little psychosis, just maybe.
Don't get me wrong, makeup sex is great! What's even more interesting is love during war. I haven't made my point but you get it anyway! Greek yogurt.
Anyone into Love During War? Ever tried kissing while upset? Comment below!
xx
How I Hacked Winter Studying
Yet again I find myself studying in the winter, a girl who grew up knowing two seasons; the humidly hot rainy season and the dry, even-hotter harmattan season.
I foresee many more scholarly winters in my future. Winter, if you ask me should be a season where we all hibernate like bears; cuddle up in caves, metabolism low as heck, drink tea (or whatever bears drink) and file our nails....but again no one has asked me.
While we all wait for me to be asked, I have tried to make my winter studying as conducive for success as possible. My winter study kit includes (and I want you to picture as I list them): a cup of tea, a blanket, my socks, huge sweater, lounge pants, hot water bottle, my books/laptop, my bed and a pillow. If you have envisioned this study-kit properly, you'll conclude that chances are that I'm going to study for 5 minutes and then fall asleep until 6 AM, then I'd wake up angrily and start study again.....and you are right. Winter studying is a pain.
So how did I hack it? It was pretty easy. It was through the unintentional help of two of my friends.
I had told these two on separate occasions about my 5 minute study and snooze situation. They jokingly advised me with the best study hack ever, winter or not. The interesting thing was hearing the same suggestion from two different minds. They said the next time I snoozed 5 mins into studying, I should tape my tuition receipt to my desk....as a friendly-ish reminder. It cracked me up, still does whenever I think about it but they had a very valid point. A reminder that tuition has been paid for your endeavors either by a parent, guardian or yourself does give you a kick in the bum. It gives even a harder kick when it's a loan. I taped my tuition receipt to my desk and it helped me through a cold, windy winter. Bet i'd do it again soon. So thank you guys, you helped me hack winter studying!
What's in your study kit? Have you hacked winter studying? Tell us how!
The "Let it Burn" Post
“You are a light.
I am a light.
So why is the world so dark?”
Ever since I was a child, I was convinced that everyone could see into my bedroom, whenever the light of my room was on. Later on, I believed people could see into my room whether or not the light was on.
The latter was caused by paranoia and by watching too many stalker-outside-your-window movies. Lol! So let's stick with the first. The first conviction has proven itself time and time again. It is the reason why on one very dark night, as i did the dishes at the kitchen sink, looking out the huge kitchen window into the neighbors' living room (unintentionally), i saw too much. Way too much. Way, way, way too much. So much that I had to suspend my chore, all because their lights were on! If you leave your light on, people WILL look into your home, hence the invention of window curtains. Use your curtains, neighbor.
The first is also the reason why i now live on the second floor surrounded by tons and tons of trees and I'm also a bit more careful with looking into lit-up homes....all that trauma. Cringe.
So what's this thing about light? Why is it so attractive?
Why does it attract so much attention?
Well, first, it attracts the observer probably because he/she is in the dark or in a less lit room;
Second, because the observer's interest is piqued by the illumination;
Third, because illumination promotes visibility and direction.
What if I told you that you were light; that there's someone in the dark that needs some of your light; that someone needs hope, needs to see what's going on in their lives and have a sense of direction; that you are a flare and that someone, people, even a whole community could be sprinting to your light?
So if you are a light, why is it so dark where you are? Why are people broken apart, staring hopelessly into space and defeated? I asked myself the same question and i figured it's probably because i'm right beneath my bushel, knitting and singing Taylor swift songs and way too self-absorbed.
It may also be because I'm operating on "low current" and giving off a flickering beam. I might not be consistently connected to the source of my light (God), not beaming as brightly as I should.
Today, I've decided to burn my bushel (good thing it's made out of wicker!)
It's all gone and encourage you to do the same. If you look around you, no matter what part of this great and magnificent planet you are, you will see darkness. It's time to burn that bushel, come on out. It's time to beam and give light, time to be a beacon of hope and love.
Let it burn, then let it shine.
xx
This is so me. Smh. Burn that Bushel ❤️
Do you know someone who needs your light?
12 Ways to Hack Culture Shock
Culture shock is an absolute waste of time. Time, which should be spent discovering the wonders and thrills of a new location; time that should be spent mispronouncing street names and getting lost; time that should be spent eating amazing street-food, discovering local art, observing culture; time that should be spent expanding your mind; time that should be spent meeting the locals, who then offer you illegal gifts.............we'll get to that in a moment.
Culture shock robs us of all that awesomeness and the next thing we know it's time to leave! It's even worse if it's a long-term stay, in which case, we just stay within our circles, adhere to the familiar and refuse to burst out to our full social potential! I have been very guilty of this and a part of me thinks ruefully of how much i could have learnt with all the country-hopping opportunities i have had.
True, culture shock is a natural human response to a change and the human mind has never been known to be unresponsive to change, but then again, it doesn't have to rule your relocation process. Right below are 12 ways to own culture shock! Enjoy!
Before you leave for your new destination....
Read! (1)
Wikipedia is my best friend before I travel. It prevents a good amount of culture shock. Reading and getting familiar with pop culture and cultural characteristics helps to figure the new environment. Be careful with media's portrayal though, believe just 25% of what you see on TV and don't make the mistake of classifying people based on a stereotype.
Anticipate Homesickness (2)
While it's true that we're trying to get in on all the fun at our new location, nostalgia almost always creeps in. Homesickness makes culture shock a bit more unbearable, so before you get on your journey, get things that will help you manage home sickness. Get your favorite chips, teas, coffee blend, books, what makes it easier for you to get comfortable in your new space.
Now you are here!.....
Be open (3)
If you've always had prejudice towards the locals, I'd suggest you let go. People are not what you see on TV. For example, the Russians are not always villains! One of my best friends is part Russian. The Germans don't all drink beer. Not all Americans work in the CIA and not all Nigerians have a babalawo on speed dial. Try new stuff and hang out with the locals. Get in on all the street food, ok maybe not all, but good street food that is reputed for not causing diarrhea.
Set fire to your comfort zone (4)
Yup, set it ablaze. You have to get into the crazy street called "experience". It's fun getting to know new things and new cultures. I've come to realize that locals love to tell you about their culture and get you in on it. I remember this very friendly local who I met somewhere who wanted to give me a gift of marijuana! That was some friendly neighborhood.
Be observant (5)
Watch how stuff is done. Ask questions and don't be ashamed of your ignorance. In fact that's a great way to be rid of it. They know just as little about your culture too, so tell them about your culture, don't think they don't care, unless they explicitly tell you they don't. If they don't care, ask them about theirs and then tell them about yours anyway.
Don't overwhelm with your own culture (6)
My tribe generally has no chill, we are loud, bubbly and just off-the-hat theatrical, so I usually have to keep that side of me under wraps in places more tranquil....until I know they can handle it. I am currently learning to appreciate foreign culture by respecting them enough to respond with just enough naija-ness.
Get a steady dose of your supplies (7)
Find ways to get your favorite supplies coming; food, movies, music, books. Listen to music from home. Watch movies and videos. Call family and friends in your home country.
Try one new thing every week (8)
The new thing i did last week and this week was to try new recipes. As a naija babe, i have struggled with eating broccoli and mushrooms. We all know vegetable without leaves would naturally be eyed suspiciously by Nigerians. Surprisingly, they are fast becoming a staple.Try something fun, new and of course, outside your comfort zone!
Don't be awkward because you are different (9)
Different is great! Everything about you just got 1000% unique, embrace everything you are, including your accent. You are a little sprinkle of diversity and everyone loves that. Well not everyone but some people, hopefully you run into "some people".
Document experiences (10)
Write your memories down. Scribble them, tweet them, put them on instagram, blog about them. Social media is great for documenting experiences. Gone are the days we'd document using feather stalks and coarse paper or chisels and rocks. Think about it, if the early men and Eygptians took so much trouble to document their experiences and stories with supposedly primitive tools, what excuse do we have? Preserving experiences keeps a part of our memories alive.
Choose not to see only the negatives about your new location (11)
It's completely normal to see negatives, because subconsciously you might be comparing it to home but every place has its issues. Every place also has its beauty and the ability to evoke wonder. Embrace the privilege of seeing the other side of the pond and focus on the good.
Take it in your stride (12)
If you have huge strides and you like to jump head-first in new stuff, then do, by all means but if easy does it for you, then take in the changes in bits.
If you ever have the opportunity to live among different people, cherish it, usually it might be you are supposed to learn stuff from them. For example, the British taught me to say thank you to bus drivers, danfoo or not. The Americans make me chatty. The Swiss made me observant and made me quite confused with the valuation of currency but that's another post. The Italians made me realize that pasta rocks and dressing up is non-negotiable.
Have you had culture shock experiences? Any new things you've learnt abroad?Please share with us below.
Don't forget to enter for the give-away, ends today!