Afro-hiking Internship

Living as an Afro-European has it's ups and downs, just like every other situation. In this Blog we try to document some highlights in our lives, telling our stories raw but with a touch of lemon.

So the day started with the wish for the rain to show its best sides and flood the streets so i won't be able to go to work and therefore not go hiking in the mountains with my Co-workers (i'm just an intern) ;-)

My Grandmama used to say to my father: Mmadu choro ihu eligwe, o ngboaha ka mmiri ga na ga nje -The only time you want to see the stars, the rain will show it's grace-. The rain showed it's grace, but in a fairly measured amount so it was a trekking day picked out by the gods of Amadioha themselves. Amadioha (the god of thunder and lightning) is one of the famous gods of the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria.

After what seemed like a two hours drive up to our destination, we were privileged to be given a grand tour of the house of a major artist and explorer of the 20th century Paul Kassecker. During the first world war, he had worked as a War illustrator and taken part in a lot of other creative press publishes. He also received a lot of accolades. Funny enough he had gone  to the same school I attend now. *____*

Paul Kassecker himself.... Source: http://www.st-ilgen.at/web/seiten/Hochschwabmuseum/ausstellung%202012.htm

http://www.bergfex.at/sommer/rund-um-den-hochschwab/highlights/1893-hochschwabmuseum-beim-bodenbauer-in-st-ilgen/

http://www.bergfex.at/sommer/rund-um-den-hochschwab/highlights/1893-hochschwabmuseum-beim-bodenbauer-in-st-ilgen/

Oh and the guy was also a stone collector. 

This place is basically where the water for the city I live in comes from. One just gotta love miniature works.

Kassecher's home which is now a museum called: Hochschwab museum

A miniature topography  and Kassecher's hiking equipments

Visiting goats before you start a journey this death defying is very much vital.

 I still can't believe I spent my afternoon surrounded by mountains and these splendid views.

 It was such a nice opportunity

This is a mountain goat

 And finally reaching our destination at the Häuslalm, we had a drink and got back our energy to walk back down, with each and everyone of us with a mesmerising awe of nature. Getting down, the network bars got their strengths back and took us to our digital worlds.
Afterwards, we had a colorful dessert and drove back to the city.


I am so grateful I got invited, and despite my being african and don't get all hikecited like the Austrians, I must say it was a very eyeopening experience and I do see myself doing it again in the nearest future. *____*

This is Georg. He likes hiking and obviously facial hair. Georg has misplaced a lot of his phones; What he said about that was: "It is because of people like me that smartphone companies are profiting". However many phones he has misplaced, he has no favorite music genre, he is open for news... Two years ago, Georg visited Lagos, Nigeria to research on his masters thesis, there he had a lot of life changing experiences, which we have on tape. We are so excited to have a great story as his and can't wait to share the outcome. 

Thanks Georg!







Nur im Krieg und in der Liebe ist alles erlaubt!

Living on One Dollar A Day

It probably sounds like an incredibly easy thing to do.

'Maybe the cereal box in the cupboard will last for three or four days, and then there's still some potatoes or yams somewhere in the store and there's probably some bread in the fridge too, I sighted a few cartons of milk and juice in the fridge the other day and I've always got some garri in reserve. So if I split up each food into respective days and save up the money, I could have enough money for other days that lack food. As easy as that!'

However, we forget about the simplest, but very essential things; like toilet paper, electricity, bus fares, soap and so on... But for over 1.1 BILLION PEOPLE, life as we know it doesn't just go without saying. I just watched the movie, or documentary rather, Living on One Dollar and caught myself wondering if I could ever manage this:

But just this morning, I watched a TV programme about the most popular 5-star hotel in Russia. I'm not going to go into the details, but in the end they showed a woman living in a suite there and she boasted about 2 "paintings" which hung on her wall, that consisted of Dollar notes and Russian Rubles I think and then she said she didn't have any other wishes than to be healthy and happy, so she better spend her money while she is still alive and kicking.

I still wonder how those kind of people can look up to you, chin high and say, "I'm drinking a €24 000 wine and it tastes exquisitely ". I mean, if you don't know what to spend your money on, why don't you give it to people who really need it ??!

With my mere 15 years of age, I was once given the honor to attend a seminar called "TOUCH-STREETWISE: Responding to Street Violence", even though I was just there as a Radio-presenter. I just thought all I would do was interview a few people there, get free lunch and a CD and be on my way, but I never did expect to be moved by anything I would see, hear or feel while I was there.

I came back home and informed my dad that I wanted to be a youth-street worker, thinking that he was going to be as enthusiastic about my sudden change of plans as I was. All he said was, "This is not your fatherland", I stood there waiting to hear more but didn't get the approval I wanted, although I promised myself to do just that when I felt the time had come.

The interviews that changed my life for good ;)

Somehow, after that seminar, there were countless brochures and advertisements of help organisations and programmes for exchange students to help researches and things like that everywhere, or maybe I just suddenly became aware of them, and that only fueled my growing fire even more to want to help!! 

This is just one of the countless brochures I mentioned above ;)

And so with all that said, Obum and I have decided to no longer look away. We have resoluted to take part in one of these programmes and help in any way possible after our final exams in two years time :( 

It is surely going to be a time to remember, I know that already!!

I'm not urging anyone to join in, I'm just saying it doesn't hurt to try, and besides, it's not so bad a way of losing weight ;)

Nur im Krieg und in der Liebe ist alles erlaubt!

Reminiscing The Old Days

Mama Akpos asked her son Akpos to wash some fresh vegetables. Akpos did as his mother asked him to. At the dining table, Mama Akpos asked her son Akpos:

Mama Akpos: Ah Ah! Why this vegetables kon dey taste like this naa?

Akpos: Mama I wash am like you tell me naa, I even put extra soap join!

Speaking of vegetables, my father just returned from a one month visit to our village in Nigeria today -after almost 10 years of Europe- bringing with him the pleasant scent of fresh Africa: olugbu (bitter leave), utazi, ugu (Pumpkin leaves), nchowu (scent leave) and other varieties  leaves and herbs. Now the jolly was not only in the seeing, tasting or smelling, rather in the washing and chopping! 4 HOURS ON THE GO!! 

Ugu leaves *-* (good for the blood ;D) 

The jolly is still there, with extra emphasis on the loudspeaker in the corner ;) 

Scent leaves (the name really does justice to the wonderful scent)

Oha (I'm not aware of the english name O.O )

I am now going to take this opportunity to boast to my African readers about the goodies my dad brought us from Nigeria, because I tell you, 6 years without any sign of Africa is not easy oo !

We finally have abundant egusi (melon seed)

Ukwa (African bread fruit) my all time favourite

Ever wondered how african hair grows overnight? Then we have that cool-puffy-teddybear-like hair? Well, this is all that is needed for the magic, except maybe someone, who is willing and ready to sit for hours braiding your hair. 

ATTACHMENTS (synthetic hair) !!!

Up next: My cultural pride...ANKARA! I soo cannot wait to rock them in church on sunday, though I still have to do some mending on practically EVERYTHING... (speaking of church; Happy Easther to y'all)!

Who's feeling my "Kiri kiri Star" too?

Surprisingly, all of that was cocooned into this Bag aka "Ghana must go"...don't mind the Ikea bag.

Before I forget, which of you have ever eaten termite aka "Aku"? It is one thing you would want to look for when it's stormng in Africa. This reminds me of the raining season in Nigeria :")

It may look irritating, but it is one of the best snack ever!
In courtesy of Nairaland Forum

Nur im Krieg und in der Liebe ist alles erlaubt!

Seeing a Fellow African on the Street [Part 1]

Scenario 1: Was that your uncle ??

I.    So before/after school you are waiting at the bus stop with a non-African friend-obviously waiting for the bus-, talking about random stuff like the end of the world, what old folks food taste like, how long you could watch fan blades turn... you know what I mean don't you ?

Anyhow, you guys are just standing there disturbing no one but molecules you could be standing on, when a car containing Africans drives by. You as an African will automatically stop talking and will glance at the car, trying not to act too noticeable and the occupants of the car will stare you down until you there is nothing of you to be seen again. 

The second the car is no longer in sight, your non-African friend will ask you about these occupants, and one of the first questions will be: "Who was that ?" or " Did you know that person ?" or "Was that your uncle ?" At that time you will begin to wonder what significance this information  has to your non-African friend, but of course you will not dare to ask.

I can't believe I drew this myself!!  PICASSO WATCH YOUR BACK!! :'D

II.    [...]You as an African will automatically stop talking and will glance at the car, trying not to act too noticeable until you actually recognize the occupant as your uncle/aunt- because frankly everyone you, your siblings or your parents know is your uncle/aunt and you call them that without thinking twice- and become aware of the fact that you are obligated to greet this person.

Immediately you will smile, whether you are in the mood to or not, you will smile and will have to answer: "I'm fine, thank you", whether you are or not, you will be fine, because that  is what they want to hear when they ask you: "How are you my dear?" 
Next they will ask about your parents: "How is your father? And your mother?", and then you will wonder for a second, but just a second, DOES THIS PERSON REALLY KNOW MY MOM AND DAD?? But then you will answer, "They are also fine, thank you".

Lastly, you will be asked to: "Greet your parents for me ooh", and you will try to remember if they had mentioned their name through the whole conversation, or rather, interrogation, but give up in the end and say: "Okay I will". While driving off, the words "Stay in school ooh", will be called out and then you will think: "Really nice thing to say when going home after school".

The second the car is no longer in sight, your friend will ask you about these occupants, and one of the first questions will be: "Who was that ?" or " Did you know that person ?" or "Was that your uncle ?"

TO BE CONTINUED... 

Eating African Food With Your Fingers

When I was back home in Nigeria, it was pretty normal to eat with your fingers. It was actually advised to be done, because, and I quote "If you eat with your fingers you will taste the delicious taste better", and I believed every word. Maybe because I was about seven or eight years old then? It even got to an extent where I started eating, or better yet, shovelling rice and akamu (pudding) into my mouth all in the name of "tasting the delicious taste better!"

Courtesy of marcwoons.com

  So anyhow, I watched this movie 'The Last King of  Scotland' with Forest Whitaker today and there was a scene where he was eating some kind of African food with his fingers. After seeing that, I was like, "Why would you not want to use a spoon or something, you are the president of Uganda afterall". I don't know if I was disgusted by the act then or if I was embarrassed that he would want to do something like that in a movie and make everyone believe that Africans don't have any manners or if I just missed the feeling myself.

After having thought that, I felt angry and disappointed at myself for being ashamed of my continent and culture. I had forgotten how to "taste the delicious taste" and turned to salt and spices to fill in the gaps.
And so I promised myself that I would eat my next meal with my fingers and get in touch with my African side even more.

 About an hour later, I found myself eating French fries... with my fingers!

On the whole, all I'm trying to point out is that you should never forget or be ashamed of where you come from, no matter what!



Nur im Krieg und in der Liebe ist alles erlaubt!

Mathophobia

So trying to learn some math for this super-important test as my teacher calls it.

Why do the teachers always choose the simplest and most logical equation to explain in class? They just make you feel like the topic is soo much simpler than the forerunner and then you get home, trying to revise looking like this:

"I thought algebra was my bro!

I thought we had that connection! 

I thought I was the chosen one to find your long lost "x" O'Maths :O"

Yeaaaah...NO! Maths teachers lie through every tooth in their mouth! Just wait till it's time for exams to start. Divine intervention is all I'll say. 

For instance:

This is what you do in class with your teacher:

-5y + 3 = 2 (4y+12)                                             y=?

This is what you get as a homework:

|x-a| = a^2 - x^2                                                 x=?

And then this is what you get served when it's exam time:

1.)  log2 (2x-1) + x = log4 (144) * {ab²}³*² - log³³ * sqr55% of 2567309874 \ 99.2% of 356%

Eddie the cockroach dies after this experiment, how much x was put into the formula and how long did Eddie have to live after the dose was doubled? 

2.) ...


And then you go ...O.O... MY MATHS TEACHER DID NOT MENTION ANY COCKROACH IN CLASS!!!  But of course no one listens, because every pupil your age is supposed to know everything about Eddie, including the cause of his death. That's just how life works.


Thank God for YouTube, because there's mostly someone who knows everything there is to know about Eddie and was probably present when the experiment on him took place. So after a few hours of YouTubing -you probably round the whole search up by watching one or more videos of how to communicate with giraffes and mice and then wonder how you even got there in the first place- you FINALLY understand why Eddie had to end that way and then you feel like this:

Eddie the cockroach died, simply because of hunger.


Nur im Krieg und in der Liebe ist alles erlaubt!

Hospitals...

Courtesy of AUVA. Unfallkrankenhaus Austria.

We've surely all had our share of fun in a HOSPITAL! Well, I haven't, at least not until today when I voluntarily accompanied my friend to the hospital after she had performed a double salto in the air and landed in a split position in Physical Education lessons earlier today. I'm just kidding, we never do anything that cool in PE, she just tripped while playing volleyball and hurt herself somewhere around the knee. Before we knew it PE class was over. (which was good because no one actually liked playing volleyball except this particular friend who had hurt herself real bad playing the game she was soo passionate about- guess life isn't always a bowl of cherries aye?)

As the good friend and seat mate that I am, I went over to the school physician- still in my sportswear might I add- to see how she was doing. Next thing I knew, I was in my casual clothes again and rushing her out to the ambulance vehicle with both hands full! I felt like some superhero then... you know, with me saving a friend and all.

Fifteen minutes later, I was sitting in the waiting room feeling all cool and stuff  B). By the time I had waited a second hour without having being called in, the coolness started to wear off, and I mean real fast! There was NOTHING to do there other than watch a super-old episode of "Malcom in the Middle" with the volume turned all the way down... over and over again Ö-Ö. 
Finally it was our turn and she turns out to have a torn ligament in her knee or something and she has to walk on crotches for a few weeks.

So, what you learned from this, you ask? Don't ever believe anyone in the hospital when they tell you, "The doctor will be with you in a few minutes"


Nur im Krieg und in der Liebe ist alles erlaubt!

Blog O'Mania

In our humble abode, pushing boundaries.

So, it is evening where I live now. In a town where the mountains are so high, you feel encaved by your very own thoughts, but yet you feel free. 

Anyway, that was me trying to feel super-smart and all. (I don't think it was that convincing though..) 

You know that feeling when you want to get a website, be it a Facebook account at the age of 13 or whatever, or a Tumblr site just 'cos everyone is having one or even a YouTube account just for the sake of it? Well, This is me (us, my sister is hovering over my shoulder) starting a BLOG! I was super-enthusiastic about having one and then I(we) found myself (ourselves) stuck on the tab "Layout" at the very beginning. I felt like a child having to choose between a Batman and a Superman figure with my argument being: Superman can fly so I love him, Batman on the other hand, needs his rope thingy to swing from buildings and so on, but this one doesn't come with that ability to swing from buildings but I love him nonetheless, therefore I can't make a decision... at least not right now! 

And so I(we) ended up turning to a lady on YouTube to help me(us) make the right decision -whatever this may be at this point-.Long story short, I chose some handmade ceramic pots image instead!! You never know where life takes you!


Nur im Krieg und in der Liebe ist alles erlaubt!