(This is so random and doesn’t have a MUST READ tag.)
Today the 19th of July 2011. Two years and counting since I moved to Lagos, I took my first bus trip and my third okada ride. And today obviously won’t be the last day. I started my first 9 to 5 job yesterday but I called my cab guy (who usually picks me up at home and takes me everywhere I go). He charged me 1,500naira to go to V.I where my office is located. And at close of work I stopped a random cab who charged me 1,500naira. I got home really tired after spending more than 2hours in an insane traffic, had a warm bath and then dinner. I dug my hand into my purse to take out money so I can send my gateman to buy me recharge card, but then I found I had just 3,000naira left in my bag/wallet. WHAT? How will I get to work tomorrow if I buy recharge card tonight? While contemplating to spend this money or not, there was a voice, or should I say the spirit of the Lord ministered to me- “Sharon, why do you want to live a champagne life on a beer budget?”
LOL....
So I started thinking..... Firstly, if I spend 3,000naira a day on cab cruising, 3,000naira times 20 working days is 60,000naira. Is lunch money in there? NO!!!! So what was all this about? Spend 60,000naira a month, 60,000naira times 12months is 720,000naira (Wow! That’s a Toyota Camry). It was a long night, thoughts running through my head. Secondly, why leave your house with a 1,500naira cab that’s going to be stuck in traffic and make me late for work, when I can take the BRT bus? They have their own lanes and it will cost me 500naira a day. So I started asking my cousins who have been living in Lagos for more than 5years how the BRT works. It was pleasant to my ears and neither was my second day to work. Did I wonder what people who have seen me on television will think? Yes I did. But I have never been the type to do things that others will find pleasing. I do what I know is right and necessary.
I left my house at 8am, I was lucky Brown offered to follow me do the trip as he wasn’t going out today. We took a bike to Barracks Bus Stop, bought 10 Bus tickets as he advised and then hopped into the next bus that arrived. It was full so we had to stand until passengers dropped at the next bus stop. We dropped at CMS bus stop where we were supposed to take another bus. Brown said we had to get into the buses parked there heading for Eko hotel. I looked at the buses they were not BRT and they were not pleasant to the eyes, neither was the traffic jam in front of us.... It was 8:30am already, if I take this bus I will end up getting to work by 10am. so I told Brown, BIKE IT IS!! The bike man charged me 300naira from CMS bus stop to Ajose Adeogun. I got to the office by 8:45am though 9:00am is report time. PHEEEEEWW!!! I had a short nap before starting what was on my desk. It is almost the same trip back home. But by the grace of God, it is just a phase and it will pass. I believe God allows us to struggle through this kind of phase so we can appreciate the good times when it comes.
Why am I being so random? Well, I just learnt my first major “Cut your coat according to your size” lesson. WHOOP WHOOP!!!! So apparently, I am officially a lagosian.
I am celebrating my welcome to Lagos with a good movie and then I will be off to la-la land.
Goodnight my lovelies, the journey continues tomorrow.
Xoxo.
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