Victims of fear

Posted on September 7, 2011 by James.
Categories: Experiences.

Part 1: This is a true story. It is my experience and I thought it is one I should share.

It all began in the night, with a single scream. A scream of fear; the fear of the death. I was in my room, sleeping, my sister also lost in her dreams when we heard it. I woke with a start, my veins pulsating rapidly. I ran to the palour to find the source, my sister close behind. Life was in a matter of seconds.

They were everywhere. Their guns pointed erect at one target: my father. He stood by the door of his room, tears trickling down his eyes. My sister screamed then they saw us. ‘’On the ground, now!’’ yelled one of them. He held a crowbar with a look of hunger in his eyes. This was a robbery.

 We were on the ground, held at gun point. Our bodies were jammed fast to the frigid tiles as sweat dribbled down our ebony skins. ‘’Where is the money?’’ the leader asked with a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes.  The others started rummaging the house looking for anything valuable. It was a frantic search as they toppled over the furniture and anything in their path. ‘’I’ve only got ₦25,000; I keep my money in the bank. Please don’t kill us, I beg you in the name of God!!’’ My father cried pleading for mercy as he gave the money to the thief.

‘’Only ₦25,000, with all the information we heard from you?’’ The leader yelled. As my body started shivering with fear, my brain told me that there was an inside man on this operation. This was no random attack. My mother and my sister stayed still, their body covered in sweat. I heard a faint whisper from them ‘’God please help us. Don’t leave us alone’’ 

After they felt contented with their plunder, they locked us in the toilet saying they were going to the next house and any noise or movement we made, would mean sudden death. We sat their quietly with no noise but the sobs of my sister and the whispers of my mother. I had thought it was over until I heard the banging of hands on wood. The traumatic experience was only beginning.

 

 

1 comment.

Woken from Slumber

Posted on December 13, 2010 by James.
Categories: My poems.

Here are some poems I wrote in Nigeria. Its been a while I updated my blog. Schooling in Nigeria is really rigourous and complex and requires a lot of studying. But then again I can never forget where I came from. So here they are-

SIN,

That single word sends a shiver down my spine;

It gnashes at my soul with its claws.

I try my hardest to scurry away from it;

Just like a rat burrows from wildfire..

 

Some say it is Simple Instructions Neglected;

But I beg to differ.

Sin has sent men to their graves;

With its claws, it clutches men to its chaos.

 

It gives so called pleasure;

Pleasure with a regrettable price;

A price man cannot pay.

Sin is evil.

 

She booms with evil laughter,

As she sees the face of men contorted with fear.

There is way to escape her disastrous clutches,

Master your sin before she becomes your master.

 

ESSENCE OF TRUTH

What is truth?

Can anyone ever fathom the essence of truth?

Does anyone understand and grasp the full aura of truth?

 

Some say truth can be found in the bowels of a righteous heart,

Others say it scurries away from a heart as filthy as a rag,

Some say the truth is the best remedy to shattered pieces of a man’s life,

Yet others question if truth really brings pure and utter joy,

 

I course through life looking for answers to my questions,

Questions that might not even exist,

But one thing that haunts my very soul,

That clasps my heart in bondage,

 

Is one solemn question that I doubt there is an answer,

Doesn’t truth break the faith of people?

Isn’t it best to keep the truth from people, so as their faith can be rewarded?

3 comments.

Where am I?

Posted on July 23, 2010 by James.
Categories: Adventures, My thoughts, Thoughts in Nigeria, Writing.

Where am I

 Image by: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2258/2273515717_497d49d9bb.jpg (miss:anthrope)

 I am spending my holidays here in Nigeria. I am sitting at the table with the soft music of nature- the wind, blowing in through the windows. I wish I can share in detail how much nature is showing her wonders. From the rustling of the trees up above to the cry of the insects down below. From the whistling of the wandering wind up above, to the hypnotic voice of the woman as she chants while she works, down below. These things cannot just be told, to be understood. They need to be felt to appreciate the remarkable wonders nature as got. You might be thinking why so dramatic just to explain about where you are. But I say it is only through words like this that I can share what I feel with people.

After 3 years of not coming back home, I feel sad and dazed of how much life has changed. Looking back to where I came from and then looking right now to where life’s journey has brought me, there are definitely some differences. I have been here for just a short while and already, I can see the different social classes and their style of living. It made me think of those History classes we had with Mr. R about the French Revolution. And I thought ‘’the world isn’t so different after all.’’  Thinking about the classes I had liked, it opened my eyes to see how much I really miss where I came from.

Just like other people, I use to think of where I am as place without riches. Then again thinking of those English classes, I ask myself ‘what is the true meaning of riches?’ Trying to answer that, I started changing my perspective of where I am. Then I started to see the hidden beauties it has. Every time I look outside the car’s window, there are stories all around, stories just around the corner. Stories shown by the way people live, the way people bustle about the streets with emotions that can’t be explained in a thousand words. Stories waiting to be told. It is home for stories.  With the lessons I was taught where I came from, I knew it would be a crime not use what I have been taught to share these stories. Crime against who or what? I don’t know. What I do know is that when these stories are told maybe people can change their perspective of how they see, where I am.

Where am I? I am in Nigeria. I am where am meant to be. I am amongst people. I feel safe, sad, happy, dazed, amazed, and determined. I am home.

18 comments.

Home sweet Home!!

Posted on July 14, 2010 by James.
Categories: Experiences, My thoughts, Thoughts in Nigeria.

I’m in Nigeria and I’m enjoying every bit of it! From the massive amount of greenery to the people bubbling all about! Can’t belive have missed so much. I need to catch up on lots of things. Just happy to be amongst people I know so well! But yet I still miss Compass. I still have the feeling tugging at me each moment am quiet. But I guess life goes on with new adventures. But you stay in touch with the friends from old adventures. That’s the best thing about life! Keep on smiling and enjoy life to the fullest bloggers!

2 comments.

A day in the lives of the disabled

Posted on May 14, 2010 by James.
Categories: Experiences, My thoughts.

Children

Image by: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/2700242045_57f06cb1f8.jpg

Mrs. Cottenden arranged a trip to a school called Sunbeam. A school that aids children with disability. My first time on a trip like this therefore being my first experience. An experience new and fresh, worthy enough to become life-long memory. I didn’t know what to expect, or how to act when I got there. I was relieved to see that my classmates also felt the same way. Mrs. Cottenden noticed this and spoke to us with words of comfort. As I heard those words, my rapidly beating heart slowed down, a sign telling me to calm down and enjoy this experience.

We all got off the bus, oblivious of what to expect. As we stepped through the door, we entered into a hallway, quiet. Except for a boy who sat on a bench, smiling as he picked at the display board. Straight away I knew he was special, from the actions of his body to his innocent smile. As we awaited our host, we fed our eyes with the artistic works of the students on the display boards. Finally, a woman came to us smiling and the experience began.

We were split into groups. A group was sent to help the upper class and another group to another class. My group –James M. & Shereen were sent to the kindergarten class. My heart started racing, asking questions like ‘could I do it, am I up for it?’ It didn’t matter cause our host was already taking us towards the class. We entered into an atmosphere of merriment and a jolly place for learning. I saw little children, sat around there teacher in there sit, smiling with a twinkle in their eyes.

I sat next to a boy who at first seemed alright to me. Then I noticed how he found it hard to settle down and he just had to stand up every now and then. Whispering to himself with a grin on his face. I was occasionally told to help sit him down. I looked around me and I saw a very little girl who needed an earring aid; a boy who every now and then repeated the same words continuously then stopped. These children had different problems, and in my heart, I just wished there was something I could do to help. For I knew that they were still young and needed to enjoy life the way every able bodied child should.

So I helped them in anyway, followed them to different parts of the room as they tugged at my hand. I helped them in their circle time, where they sang and danced; I helped them with their colouring and so on. But yet I knew that this wasn’t enough, that they needed more. At that moment I knew that I had found a new born respect to teachers who dedicated their lives to help children like this.  We played with them in their break time and continued to help as much as we could. After all this experience, we got back on the bus ride as my classmates shared their stories of this experience and I did likewise.

In all this experience, I have learnt to always appreciate the fact that you’re healthy and fit. For I know parents would do anything to make these children whole. I also know that it would be unwise to take the fact that you’re healthy for granted. For I had spent a day in the lives of the disabled. One thing that surprised me the most is that although they are disabled, they still smile and enjoy life. Now I know that no matter the situation, just put a smile on your face and live life to the fullest.

2 comments.

Can you see your own future?

Posted on May 10, 2010 by James.
Categories: English, Homework, The Giver.

Law 2

Image by: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/225/497364007_b28f03366a.jpg

 We’ve been reading a book called The Giver. Which has so many unanswered questions about the style of living of humans and life itself? Coming across one of these types of questions while reading the book, our teacher told us to write about our own future.  The teacher asked questions like: what plans/expectations do you have for your future? What are your dreams? How are these ideas influenced? What other expectations do you feel are put on you by your parents, culture, or school?

To be honest, I haven’t the slightest idea how my future is going to turn out. But, I know that I can shape it in any way through the decisions I make in this present day. I am glad of these questions because it has given me a starting point on how to start thinking about my future.  I haven’t got a clear picture of on how to answer these questions because I haven’t ever given much thought about my future. As I grow, am becoming to realising that these are the questions I should be thinking about before the times come. Cause time waits for no one.

My plans and expectations for my future are getting higher as I get older. As I think about it, right now, my ambition is to become an International lawyer.  My plan is to have a good education and get my first degree in law and my second degree in International relations. To obtain all this, I know it takes a large amount of hard work, commitment and sacrifice and loads more. With the talents I have, it should help me while I work towards these plans and expectations. I realise, that I can only achieve that ambition by working towards it always through my education.  

The question about my dreams is a question that I still ponder on. It is a question that I keep getting mixed up with my plans and expectations and ambition. Therefore I haven’t found a suitable answer for it. I hope as I continue to work towards my plans and ambition, I shall find a clear answer for what my dreams are. An answer that I can put in words and understand hopefully.

I think there are different influences when questioning about the future. Influences like everyday living, problems in one’s life, T.V and so on. I can’t exactly pinpoint my influences. I can say that everyday living; problems in our world; my family and so on… have influenced me in different ways. 

The expectation put by my parents, school and culture are large. Everyone expects the best from me; so they can see me succeed in life. It becomes a problem when you don’t meet those expectations. I am happy to say that the expectations I want for myself are similar to that of my parents, school and culture.

My biggest fear of thinking about my future is to see that it shatters due to lots of reason. For example: maybe it might shatter because of people who don’t want me to achieve that future, not working hard enough to achieve that future. Am also afraid of me letting go of that ambition and becoming undecided of what to do again. I think people might try to avoid questions like this because they haven’t got an ambition of what to be in life. Once you have a clear ambition, I think the answers to these questions start to fall into place.

I hope that I continue working towards that future and meet people who will prepare me for it. I also hope that it is the right choice of future and that I have made a good foundation towards it.

I shall leave you with same question as my friend James M. did : can you see your own future? As for myself, I bid myself farewell and good luck as I begin to plunge into the full magnitude of life.

2 comments.

Brink of hell!!

Posted on May 5, 2010 by James.
Categories: Assessment, English, Six Traits.
Earth frying 
Image by: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2159/2047910540_82620d9481.jpg
 
Human beings have infested our precious world with lack of responsibility for nature. We can’t replace the wonders of Mother Nature and her wonders are still abundant. We are so close to ruining the only blue-green planet with life because of our personal needs. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss talks about the plight of the environment. The story shows how the environment has been swarmed with the disease of pollution. There are two main characters in the book: the Lorax; who represents nature and the selfish Oncler. The Oncler represents the industries and humans around the world who are causing global warming. These self- centred industries and people are causing pollution and nature is dying. For this reason the Lorax is that voice that speaks for nature.
 
Mother Nature is like a vulnerable rose. If you care for her she will bloom, but if you show her inattention she will wither. Right now, our actions are making Mother Nature fade away. According to the movie 11th hour by Leonardo Di Caprio, research has shown if we were to replace Mother Nature, we would need 35 trillion dollars. Unfortunately, the world economy has eighteen trillion dollars. Personally, I think no amount of money can substitute nature; even science can’t replace everything nature has done for us. To illustrate, let us use a tree. An oak tree to be precise has a style of living and there are advantages we get can get from it. It produces for humans in many ways like producing nuts for food, taking our carbon dioxide and renewing it. So it helps us breathe just like any other tree. We can’t replace that. Furthermore, animals are getting extinct and soon we would be saying ‘this was how a polar bear looked like. All because nature there source of life is dead. A lone polar bear out there as we speak, in the rapidly melting Antarctica looking for a safe haven but searching in vain because the ice is melting and the era of polar bears is coming to an end. Thus without nature, we won’t have air, without her we won’t have vegetation. We need her because she’s our only source of life in this vast space. For that reason, Mother Nature needs to be watered. She needs to vegetate back and do her part in the cycle of life because without her, life would be terribly unbalanced. Human greediness is what is causing her downfall.

Indeed humans are hungry for power but are not ready for the responsibility that comes with it. The lack of those responsibilities is what is affecting our world today, negatively. Out in a rainforest, acres of fertile land are about to be sold to a mischievous mayor as tender trees say their last prayers. The mentality that nature has no rights can be emphasised by saying that humans think of nature as property. Not only property that is owned by person can be used anyhow. Little by little but unwillingly humans have chose to wipe Mother Nature off the surface of the world. We greedy humans take things like wood, food and so on from nature and when we’re done with it, we waste it. For instance some industries take out of the ocean. They take living things like fishes (to make food) and in the end they waste most of the (dead) fishes and dump them in the ocean. But if we take out of nature, we should take something that we could use on and on and not waste. Wastage from humans is having huge effects on the climate.

Most people say humans are responsible for global warming. On the other hand, some people believe humans are not fully responsible for global warming. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there is a 90 percent certainty – that humans are responsible for increased global temperatures in recent years. For instance greenhouse gases – usually from vehicle, factory, or power-plant emissions – thicken the ozone layer and trap excess radiation from the sun in our atmosphere. Thereby heating the earth. The IPCC predicts that by 2100, average temperatures will rise 3.2 to 7.1 degrees Fahrenheit as a result. That’s a lot looking back at the earth’s climate before the increase in it. In my opinion, I think that although humans are responsible, most of the pollutions were not done deliberately. Possibly, they were only done because people were not aware of the effects. So, now that people are becoming aware and seeing that’s its real, lots of concerned people in different organisations are thinking of different of ways they can help erase the dilemma.

The best part about life is finding solutions but it takes endurance and perseverance to make solutions worthwhile. There are different ways we can help control this situation of global warming. People have come up with ways like: motivating others to help stop pollution; making people aware of global warming through different sources like the media; educating the future generation about global warming; reducing our carbon footprints; using more solar energy and so on. In additions to that, nature can inspire us e.g. people are having innovative ideas to save more energy like building offices the way a tree functions. Also schools are teaching students of all ages about recycling by using the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This has been a useful guideline to help people stop wasting. In conclusion, we should commit ourselves in helping our world because every little thing counts. Famous icons like Al Gore, Leonardo Di Caprio e.t.c. are making innovative movies to spread motivational messages. These messages have been used by lots of people and organisations to help raise awareness of the issue. The idea of these motivational messages is not for us to feel guilty, but for us to be conscious of what is happening around us and to show the little ways we can help our fragile world. But it is a question of choice and you can chose to make a difference it’s all up to you. So we shouldn’t try to ignore this problem. Instead while we have the time, we should unite with each other to do our parts in solving this problem. We can be the Lorax. We can be the ones showing the ignorant industries and the people, the effects of pollutions that we humans have inflicted on our innocent world. We are on the 11th hour and if we don’t join hands and do something now, then mankind as we know it will be no more. Make your own difference. It all starts now.

 

Bubble Earth

 Image By: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2884635654_ffd65ee2e6.jpg

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An Ideal Community: Good Or Bad?

Posted on April 27, 2010 by James.
Categories: English, Homework, The Giver.

Ideal CommunityBy: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/3008116026_bbbe1a603b.jpg 

 In English, we are reading a new book called The Giver. It’s basically about a boy called Jonas who lives in a perfect world. No war, fear, or pain. There are no choices and every person is assigned a role in the community. He’s role is decided at the age of 12 and he goes to the Giver as an apprentice and learns different things like the true pain and pleasure of life and many more. Our teacher asked us what we saw as the positive and the negative aspects of the community Jonas lives in.

The writer has made Jonas community to look as different as possible to our community but the ideas behind the community are similar to the communities in our world. In Jonas’s world they want to make their community has ideal as possible which is good because an ideal community can benefit its population in many ways. Also they have customs which can be essential in the society because it is like the backbone of the society and can help shape an individual’s life.

Although his community strives to be perfect they still have disadvantages. Jonas’s world is so caught up in making the community perfect that they’ve have made so many rules that I think are quite barbaric. For example in their community the leaders choose who your spouse is; what job you get; and they decide if you can have a family. The rules in the community have been made into routines and have lost its true meaning amongst the people.  

Having all these kinds of rules have made the community to be a community without feelings. A community where mistakes are unacceptable; a community that doesn’t know real pleasure or pain. I think things like pleasure, pain and so on are what define us as humans.  Reading this books has aroused questions within me like ‘what are the importance of rules?’ The book is enjoyable because I can make connections between the community in the book and our world at large.

4 comments.

New book=New messages

Posted on April 20, 2010 by James.
Categories: English, Homework, The Giver.

Giver

By: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2045/2136272763_3627cdecc0.jpg

We are about to start a new novel called The Giver. To get us thinking about the novel, the teacher gave us survey to answer. After answering this survey we had to pick a question from the survey and expand our answers in a blog post. I have decided to expand my answer about this question: One’s job or occupation in life should be a careful match of one’s interests, talents, and skills.

I agree with this because the statement is true. Doing a job that matches these things allows you to have joy while doing the job and also the job would be easier as you have an apt for it. Most parents don’t quite agree with the statement. For example a child might have a talent in art and want to be an artist but the parents wants the child to be a doctor because they think that’s more serious and can gain success.  I don’t quite agree with this. Majority of schools have decided to build on those talents, interest, and skills. In future with the support the child has gotten from the school he/she can be able to have job where he/she does what they love and can still be successful. Most parents are beginning to realise this.

Parents who don’t encourage their children to do what they love and end up doing what the parents want don’t have has much happiness and joy as those who do the job that they enjoy. There is not has much dedication and commitment in the work if you do a job that doesn’t match your interests, talents, and skills.

In conclusion it is very important to do a job/occupation that matches one’s interests, talents, and skills. Writing this blog post and answering the survey has given me an idea of what the book is going to be about and also how profound the messages behind the book is going to be.

4 comments.

Podcast on Sailing!

Posted on March 31, 2010 by James.
Categories: Adventures, Assessment, English, Podcast.

For the past few weeks, we’ve been working on an assessment that involves our reflection on Doha week. Doha week was a week where the school arranged ranges of activities. Me & my partner: James M. decided to have our reflection in a form of a podcast. A podcast asking questions about the Doha week activities. This is the podcast: James and James

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