Hello people!
Sorry I’ve been out of touch for a bit. I recently took a plunge into the deep. Figuratively speaking only, and, regrettably, not radically so. (Regrettably, because when you consider people like Zora Neale Hurston and Iman [forgive the contrast], this is nothing new). I quit my job and moved 5 states away from home to take a course in Performing Arts! It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but till now, I’d neither the courage nor chance to do it.
A year ago, I’d the opportunity to do a stage performance with two pillars in the movie industry. Both of them were good to me and strengthened my confidence in my abilities, so I did my bit to keep in touch. On one of these occasions, the lady one tells me that her school is open and in a week, I was in the excellent city of Lagos. I quit my dead end job, left my monotonous lifestyle and my wonderfully beautiful home for the hustle and bustle of Lagos. I’m currently in the guest room at my cousin’s children friendly home and constantly striving to get to Lekki/Ajah before 9.pm from my P.A. job in Ikoyi where the staff is so territorial, it’s a shame. I now know places like Obalende and Igbu-Efon, buses that rip your clothes, bus conductors that “wu-tang” and cabs that cost an arm. I’ve experienced traffic that keeps you out longer than a trip to Warri and sights that could make you weep for our nation! I’m tired in the evenings and long for more sleep in the mornings, but nothing beats my Saturdays!
I wake up tired as usual, because we start in the morning, but I get to “school” revived from the 20-minute “okada” ride, 40-minute bus ride or 30-minute cab ride (all depending on a combination of the state of my hurry, wellbeing and buoyancy). Two hours of dance and Movements, where I’ve learned mimetic movements, salsa, bata and the electric slide, are followed by a break and another two hours of speech and voice trainings. The second break introduces acting for stage, where this “petite piece of pepper” displays so many so many facial expressions and gestures, you wonder when you’ll get there. I spend the whole day there, but hardly notice it. I’m neither hungry nor tired and I want to continue… but I’ll have to wait wait another week to get my “high”. It’s a combination of my passion, the people who feed it and what they have to offer.
Sunday: I have to wake up at 5.am (earlier than a weekday) to get to church before 7.am if I wish to attend the first service and avoid the overflow halls. The message is so uplifting that I plan to stay for the second, but by the second service, I'm fighting sleep like a maniac from hell! Leaving the place, I wonder why, but know, deep down that those very Sundays are my best days of the week. (Not the part where I have to iron for the week ahead!!)
Nothing extraordinary happens in my life now; my dreams aren’t coming true in a radical way, but I’m on the path and I’m in a happy place in my life. I miss my parents, my boo and my room, but I’m doing just fine.
Love, Diva…
