Africa, my Africa

This is one of my favourite poems. I came across it again today and it brought back memories. Memories of learning it and not quite understanding it. The author's David Diop. Enjoy!

*p.s i know i said my next post will be on contraception, but i just had to share this first :)*

Africa, my Africa
Africa of proud warriors in ancestral savannahs
Africa of whom my grandmother sings
On the banks of the distant river
I have never known you
But your blood flows in my veins
Your beautiful black blood that irrigates the fields
The blood of your sweat
The sweat of your work
The work of your slavery
The slavery of your children

Africa, tell me Africa
Is this you, this back that is bent
This back that breaks
Under the weight of humiliation
This back trembling with red scars
And saying yes to the whip under the midday sun
But a grave voice answers me
Impetuous child that tree, young and strong
That tree over there
Splendidly alone amidst white and faded flowers
That is Africa your Africa springing up anew
Springing up patiently, obstinately
Whose fruit bit by bit acquires
The bitter taste of liberty.

Graduation, life and fuckwits!

*Grooaannnn* I'm desperately in need of a long hot soak and a long massage after that! Oh my days! *more groaning*...........

It's been a long 48 hours; graduation, travel, and retarded fuckwits *yes i said it!* Rant alert later

Graduation was great! It was amazing and i would never have been able to get through it without my amazing, wonderful friend her royal poshness. Graduation was early morning, and she arrived jetlagged straight from NYC to take photos, keep my demanding family at bay whilst maintaining a smile on my face all day..and best of all she came bearing my favourite flowers! Aren't they gorgeous!

lillies for moi!

£140 pounds, (Grad in brighton's expensive! tickets, gown and hat are ALL paid for) 2 hours sleep and impending family induced migraine later, grad started at 8.15am. I was so suprised i was excited, seeing as i was so blah about it the night before. Gown worn, mortar board donned and picture taken the family arrived..then the extended family my mother invited against my will arrived! you know those kind that proclaim they 'love' you but turn their backs on you when you're in need, only to turn up and celebrate with 'their' sister! eish! Thank God, all was fine. I was sooo nervous backstage! Last time i was that nervous was at my medical finals OSCE! So scared i was gonna fall on the red carpet hehe..but all went well. *i know it looks orange, trust me it was bright red*

Moi in my woodin dress and bright yellow heels

Jollof rice, wings, champangne, prayers and jokes later it was time for the swearing of the oath ceremony and a hour and a half after wards, everyone was on their way home. It was a lovely day, i'm glad i was able to graduate 5 years later *moment of silence for those who couldn't make it*.

And that was the end of Brighton. 71/2 years in b'ton murdered by a ridiculously tiring 6hr train journey and here i am in Leeds! I'm really going to miss Brighton, it's been my second home since i left Naij. *Interesting fact: i've never lived in a city without a body of water , Brighton's by the sea side, so this is going to be an experience and a half!* Oh well, Leeds it is.
*note to peeps in leeds: don't fall ill in august y'all! lol *

The fuckwits at my employing hospital have been testing my patience! I was actually visibly shaking with anger and worry today! My first panic attack *comming on the heels of my dreaming that i worsened a hospital fire!* It's all immigration ish, these people are so bloody closet racist it's not even funny! Basically, the immigration rules changed last year, and because i got my visa 5 years ago, it doesn't bother me, i'm good to start work on my current visa and just renew it before it expires. The ukfpo and the homeoffice agree with me, but HR disagree. They've been harrasing me for months for a letter from the homeoffice that says i can do this. Homeoffice have been disagreeing for months, saying because my visa is so old, they're not gonna issue one. I should just tell boss lady it's fine for me to work. Boss lady says no. here's an excerpt:

Me: Okay, so let me get this straight. You want me to produce a letter from the homeoffice saying that i can work on my visa even though you've seen the guidelines

Boss lady: yes

Me: you agree with me that the guidelines say i can work?

Boss lady: yes

Me: you agree with me that the home office refuses to write you a letter because they don't issue letters on old visas

Boss lady: yes

Me: so where am i supposed to get this letter from then?

Boss lady: that's not my problem. Just know that you can't resume work on wednesday without the letter or a new visa

Me: i cannot get a new visa cuz my current one hasn't expired and i can work on it legally

Boss lady: not my problem

That's where i got mad! not your problem eh? So i ring up the ukba, get a number that she can ring on to verify what i told her, rang the manager of the foundation school and the head of HR (annoyingly both weren't at work today) AND rang the bma legal dept! Not your problem eh? Watch ur ass fry in court! Yes, i was that mad! So boss lady rings up immigration (after i called her 4 hours later to do it! I should have just gone to her office and sat on her neck..my mistake) and calls me back like

'Dr Enitan, so the homeoffice seems to think that you can work on your visa (was she deaf the last 2 months i've been tellin her that?), but unfortunately your file was in my managers office so i couldn't give him the details'

Me: well do you want them now? I can give them to you right now

Boss lady: no, it's okay i'll do it first thing monday morning

Me: alright fine. If your manager's late on monday morning, i'll be at your office at 9am with the details 

Boss lady: not to worry, i'll pencil it in my diary. i'll do it first thing on monday morning


But of course i'm worried! I'm trying my best to not be anxious. I can't fathom the idea of comming this far and then being denied starting work because some body somewhere is power drunk! It's been such a rough day, i'm just praying constantly, that God sees me through this and monday comes and i'm all clear to work. Please pray for me, heaven knows i can't afford to forfeit my job or a year because of this woman!

On a completely unrelated side, i've been getting A LOT of messages from ladies back home, crying that they think they may be pregnant and what can they do! I know for a fact that contraception ..of all kinds..are freely available, so what's the problem? Are people just so careless? stupid? Ignorant? Or all of the above! One lady asked me if she can get pregnant if she has sex while on her period! Eish..My next post will be on contraception..so i'll be glad to render my services and answer ANY question you may have

And my mum's comming to bunk with me for months tomorrow! *sigh* but that's story for another day. I've written enough for one blog!

*Groan...i need a hot soak and a massage!*

Class of 2010

arrgghh, i'm sooo excited! Got home a little while ago from my graduation ball; i had such a wonderful time! It was a blast! Which is really ironic since i was reluctant to go, babes had to drag herself there seeing as £50 had already been paid! tee hehe..

In all seriousness though, i'm soooo glad i went. You know the ubiquitous quote 'you don't miss your water till the well runs dry' is so true. I didn't realise i'd missed everyone so much until I saw them again. Really, the last time we were together was in 4th year med school because in fifth year, we're all posted to seperate regions. So it was well worth it, especially as graduation is in two days, and what with family around, we really won't have time for proper goodbyes.

Pictures were taken, food was eaten, wine was drunk, hatchets were buried *i'll blog about this later* and we danced the rest of the night away! The DJ was on point! Such a good night! It was even more special as the dean and a few lovely consultants were there too. I got a chance to speak to my consultant tutor and really thank her in private for all her help and support through med school. I got a picture too! *squeals* I honestly believe, and i told her this, that i wouldn't be graduating on wednesday if not for her. I strongly believe that people ought to be told that they are appreciated and loved whilst they are still here, no use saying it when they're dead! We must strive to live a life of no regrets!

It's still difficult to believe that this is it! We're never going to have the present relationships we have with each other now again, especially as we're all working in different hospital trusts. It's still difficult to believe it's Dr Enitan and friends now. It's still difficult to believe that this is it! I'm so relieved and above all, so grateful!

It's graduation on wednesday, i say that and heave a sigh of trepidation! Nigerian family and graduations don't go together, well not mine anyway. I'm sure i'll have lots to tell *oh dear!*

It's been a long five/six years, but we made it through! I'll truly miss the graduating class of 2010 *sniff sniff*

Enitan x

I'm here...finally!

I'm well excited, finally created a blog! woohoo!! I've been stalking so many fantastic blogs for so many months now, dare i say a year or two, and i've thoroughly enjoyed it! I've toyed with the idea of creating my own blog for a while, but i've been so busy becomming a medic, but i figured that now that i'm done and starting a new chapter in my life aka work hehe, very soon, what better time than now?

I'd do my best to be disciplined and not let blogging slide *places flat of hand on left side of chest* so help me God (brings back memories of reciting the Nigerian pledge everyday on assembly! I can still recite it in my sleep!)

Anyhoo, i'm well excited! and shall be back soon.