MY CAMPING EXPERENCE IN RIVERS (NOWA)

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My camping experience in Port Hacourt.

After much persuasions from Oge about going for NYSC.

She motivated me to do so if not we can't date. She always sang it as song in my ears at every slightest opportunity , saying a grown man like me that's been through with school should get a grip of himself and go for service.

I had to go back to UNIZIK again, Psychology department to know what's really up with my results.

Of course I had a carryover course to write, PSYCHOLOGY OF UNION MANAGEMENT and had to pay my fees. I can say that from the look of things I started using my mum's Camry to be going for lectures since I had no car then because the mean lecturer told me that I can't just fill the course form and come on examination day to write, that I will have to go get a set of blue school uniform and wear and will participate fully in his lectures else I'll fail again.

I went to school with school uniform for a semester, and finally took his examination and which earned me a B in his course.

To the camping experience...

Fast-forward to after doing school clearance, I filled out 4 states I have visited for NYSC, but Oge was in PHC, so I wanted to go there, I told my Mum, she smiled and called one of her relatives.

Boom I got my call up letter and it was PHC.....

My joy knew no bounds.

As at then I had a Toyota corolla but few days to camp I had and accident at Roban Axis Awka. I left the car there and traveled to Port Harcourt. Oge picked me up at Waterline and she drove me all the way to NONWA GBAM TAI, TAI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, RIVERS STATE.

I only had my nap sack and some cash on me and Oge gifted me LV Designer Clutch Wallet.

She bought me a bucket , sponge and a bailer. Hahahaha

We hugged, waved, and I watched her reverse and drive off.

I didn't know my life was about to change. As I approached the gate, the female Civil defense officer asked for tip to avoid screening which I turned down, there and then she asked I empty my bag for search. Ewoooo! it wasn't funny ooo! if I know I for pay.

In the process she saw my international passport and asked if I'm an international student. Who dash me naa? I said No, that is the only means of identification I have.

She cleared me and I moved to another that gave me a tag number 876, I went to a hostel dropped my belongings and came out for further screening.

I was told to bring my fitness report, damn it was a hot afternoon sweat dripping down, at the open field.

In the process they said doctors and health related courses one side others one side. Brethren, NA WE BE THE OTHERS OOOOOOO. So one of the little doctors that just left the line was to examine me. Imakwa! what an insult. He sat down, said I should bring my results and he wrote on it NOT FIT FOR CAMP!!!!!!!

I looked at him, but its not his fault. It's the inadequate structuring of workers in the camp, else a staff would have attended to me and not a fellow camper. I thought within myself, what will be doing for 21 days? Where will I stay? My family knows I have left for orientation camp!!!

The naija in me came out.

I started shouting, " Is it because my left arm is FU.CKED UP, AND I HAVE SCARS ON MY FACE, IS THAT WHAT MADE ME UNFIT? I NEED TO SEE THE CAMP MANAGER."

The woman came out and said, "good day Sir" I responded calmly at least she knows I'm here as an ADULT CAMPER AND BESIDES I WAS OVER AGE FOR NYSC, She asked what the problem was and I explained, she apologized and she rewrote 'fit'.

I was then given another number 0193.

I moved there to collect my over sized everything NYSC gives except boot, my size wasn't available, I wear 45.

I was assigned to a male hostel, with bun, I took the down because I was early.

That night I couldn't shower because I was shy to show my body and besides I have never ever lived or shared room with anyone in my adulthood, not even my siblings.

The Following day, I woke up by 2am, went to the corner to bath with sachet water 1 bag. That was how I rolled the first week.

Camping experiences...........

Daily routine of the wake up call by 3:30am or 4:00am few times.

The first day was exciting till it started wearing me out with Man O War, Drilling and march past.

One day at the Pavilion I misplaced my wallet with money, Food card, ATM, and passport. It was my worse time. A friend of mine, HOLLY took care of me. We did share his food card, I did announcements at the OBS no way.

Better gist........

The first day I had my bath in the bathroom at normal time, I wore my whole clothes to the bathroom as per shyness naa but Ebuka, a guy in bed one would proudly move around with his white pants every time no shyness. So, I was inside the bathroom that day, door closed, pulled my clothes, lo and behold, Musa intentionally opened the door, na so everybody see me o! Some said, 'not so bad sha." Well planned I must say.

Lastly, the gist I wanted to give oo. You know that moment you'll be in your own house dey form odogwu till you find yourself in a bathroom filled with naked men and you see lots of pipes down and mostly northerners and you try to see yours too and ................ figure it out.

I was hurt that D-day cos I didn't plan letting people see me, but that said day the camp manager was warning people bathing outside.

The next day, wee hours of the morning I went to bath at my window, na so female soldier flash torch myside, I took off and never went back for that my pure water bag. hahaha see what shyness can cause and you can imagine the scene.

On my birthday April 7th.

It was on a Sunday yes I was on my bed ooo, Oge called me and said I should come out, she's at the gate, I laughed and told her, 'na lie" Kudodi(her little nephew) said over the phone, "Uncle Kay we are here." I was shocked, I ran out and there they were at the gate with cooler of food. Na so I call my bunkies to come ooo there's FOOD, I WAS A DEMIGOD that day.

Even people passing ran to me to eat too.

My gist went round the whole camp that i shared food ooooo.

That's my most memorable birthday in my life now, I always remember it.

We came out of camp that Easter weekend. Posting letters were shared and some that were posted to Bonny Island fainted ooo

Me I was posted to GGSS(UBE) RUMUEME .

OGE CAME IN THAT DAY PICKED ME UP FROM NONWA GBAM TAI TO A HOTEL TO REST AND I HAD A REFRESHING HOT BATH

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From Kay Obum real lifes stories.........