These people too much! I just got an alert on the Qatar mobile app that boarding is now open, got two similar alerts in Lagos, will go in search of the boarding gate now...

I clicked on the alert and it downloaded a map of the airport...

Searching I go!

Found my boarding gate easily using the map... Didn't need to ask questions.

The screening for boarding flights into the u.s is on a different level. Laptops, tablets and cameras are swipped for..... Even me no know wetin dem deh find.

They asked if I could change seats, a family wants to sit close together. A new boarding pass will be generated.

I am in Houston!!!
Just cleared immigration and picked up my luggage.

Currently at the International Arrivals Lobby.

Still on Doha to Houston check in...

I gave up my seat so a family could be together then I got a very nice one in exchange..
Front row just by the emergency exit, no obstruction in front. I could stretch my legs from Lagos to Ibadan.

Flight took off, journey was for ~16hrs direct.

Plane was bigger, a Boeing 777, 3-4-3 sitting formation.


There was USB charging available, I am beginning to think I didn't check the Airbus properly for seat charging.

*Pix showing my last view of Doha airport

On Qatar Airways, food no be problem. Had brunch, snacks in between and then lunch.
The meals were good, I chop am lick plate.
I didn't pass any plate today, all were sensible.

I constantly asked for drinking water, was severely dehydrated. Drank like every 30mins, they fill my bottle which lasts a while.

Few turbulence on the flight but it didn't shake me.

In flight entertainment was bam, heard some very nice songs - particularly Wave - I go buy am from iTunes store (Yankee levels, downloading suppose be piracy)

I finally got to watch Lost City of Z, had it but only watched the first 10mins.

Watched and it's only 20mins left which will be completed later.


We could track flight progress on our screens. This middle east blockade na wa... See how far QatarAir needs to go and turn to avoid the neighbors reaming them from behind.

POE Experience

Landed after the 16hour flight and proceeded to Clear from Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Lines weren't much, I saw the self service kiosk but it had a banner which read 'u.s passports this way'. I minded my business and continued straight up to the manual inspection points.

I joined the queue and the wait started...
A CBP officer shouted, 'security! security! '. Na so security show escort one guy comot. see gobe.
I guess it was for secondary inspection.

Cbp: Your passport please...
Cbp: You are going to Texas AnM?

Me: Yes Sir.


Cbp: That's one of the biggest schools in Texas..
Bam! Bam! Stamps me in! Hope you have your I20 with you.

Me: Yes, I do

That was all!

He then said o I see you declared for agriculture. You have egusi? Leaves, in what form? Hope no snails?

I answered all and went to retrieve my luggage.
Saw the pickup location on the electronic board where it was updated.

Got my bags and strolled down to the arrival area - the 'room' just before Tunnel 4.

I was picked up by family and we drove around town for like 1hour.


Sleep is calling, past 10pm Houston time.

More pictures will come in tomorrow...

*abeg, feed your eyes..

Wide 6lane roads,
The main baseball arena,

I also saw Joel Osteen's church - Lakewood Church (saw it late so pictures were blurred)

The commercial district

Mama put where we bought egusi and ogbono soup - the stock fish get mouth!

E be like say jet lag deh look face ooo...

I slept here at 11p.m 26th July and was up by 2.30am 27the July. Abeg, wia the lag?? I deh find am

Naija boy sleep with light, no thoughts of make I rush charge my phone, no fear of thieves, no generator noise anywhere around and no mosquito singing in my ears...
How won't 3.5hours sleep equal a full night rest?

More from yesterday...

Last two pictures are from the community where our home is located,
Very quite, good roads, no fences concealing the beauty of houses.

No 'horfeinse' intended but lekki 1 na expensive slum - here, there is a waterway right beside the community. Not community submerged in water with noise, commercial property and dirts everywhere.

I hope to remain only on this thread, no p.m's , no mails, no whatsapp...

If possible, all questions should be asked here...

This user is dedicated strictly to this thread, please understand and bear with me. Thank you.

Woke up by past 2a.m looking for jet lag, I no see am...

Slept again around past 4am and woke by 8a.m


My brain and body is slow but hasn't stopped me from eating coconut rice with a cold can of coke.

Today feels good.


*Front yard and Back yard.

Modified - Now I am in Yankee and not turned back at POE, I can authoritatively change the topic of the thread.

Slept by 11p.m yesterday and woke up by 4a.m...

I feel refreshed, tried not to sleep all day in order to assume a normal overnight sleep cycle.

I took a picture yesterday at 8.30pm, it was still 'bright'. The day I arrived, past 7pm was 'sunny'.
Longer days so more can be achieved.

Grilled beef deh here, suya lovers make una no shake.

Up at 4.30am, it is now safe to say this is my average waking up time..

Spent my time home on Friday watching movies. There's this 'magic' box/decoder called xFinity, I use the voice function and bam! 'Game of Thrones' appears...

Watched the first 2 episodes, waiting for the rest. I call up anything I want to watch... Pressing buttons na old school. People deh invent things sha.

U.S Politics is currently on a wavy level.... I am enjoying the drama from Russia sanctions, to failed Obama care repeal, to comms director agbero remarks and so on...

Trump say make ICE deh throw criminals into the vehicles carelessly, criminals beware...

I did a drive around town later in the evening round some areas of the FortBend county ...

Here are pictures of shopping malls, sit outs and pictures of the general area.

The evening actually started from pic1 above, driving out, cool area, trees everywhere and our first stop was Walmart...
I needed to get a flip flop (slips as we know it in naija). Twasn't available there, na unbranded them deh sell, didn't like the quality... Will do the purchases on Amazon but all my money is in cash, who can epp me?

Then we did the driving all round the county, sights were beautiful... Lots of people strolling around...

I noticed no one has used their car horn since I arrived... Lagos and P.H are the direct opposite.

*Walmart and Local council building (way bigger than what my camera captured), I ask again to confirm say no be there governor office deh...
Chairmo said this one is lower than Mayor's office. Me trip!

The evening ended at McDonald, I picked it over KFC (I don chop this one for naija)

Was already stuffed from home... Chairmo wants to turn my 1pack into zero flabby belle.
He will not succeed!

Baba, say make I collect big cup for drink and big pack of fries... I say noooo... I am on a journey to acquire 6packs.

Did the big Mac and fries.. Filled my cup with sprite, picked a straw, filled my ketchup cup then proceeded to sit... We initially planned to do take home, but I reasoned, lemme complete the experience joor... chop the thing for here dude..


Before I forget, Walmart and MacD had free wifi...
When will naija Spar(I actually mean large Shopping complexies - in case of oversabi people) do their own make boys finish them

To be a man is not a day's job.

At the GreyHound park now, set to leave for Kingsville Texas. These people knack me akpako!

Ticket my friend bought for me a full week before today $70. Isn't this expensive?

2 bags were charged at $35 EACH, about 60lb weight each. No free luggage for me, na wa o.


Wouldn't it have been almost same cost leaving by air??

Naija people on F1, abeg make una hold better money for pocket before touching this land.

Make I reach school in peace sha.

Pic1- Boarded.
Pic 2 - Last picture of Houston I got. See the car I would like to drive when I grow up.

All my plans for temporary accommodation in school, busted!!!

All men wey agree to host me don blank! Two different people, no headway - one even has stopped replying his messages, na so e deh be for Yankee??

But I think I have another lifeline, a fellow JJC like me has two offers for accommodation and might fix me up. Make we deh look, maybe this one fit get head otherwise I go go burn money for motel.

To be a man is not a day's job...

We are here now, no going back. 1.40pm is boarding time, bus leaves by 2pm. I love road trips.

Onboard wifi is available as they claim, our jisting continues.

Bus arrived in time, boarding now and waiting for us to leave.

It is about 30% occupied and we will make several stops to pick up more people.

I will search for the onboard wifi so our jisting will continue.

Update: Wifi seen but my phone keep 'obtaining I.P address'. So, no show.

"Always Hope, Never Expect"...
I came across this quote in 2009 and I have always been guided by it. I keep my expectations low and it helps save me from numerous heart breaks.

Arrived kingsville safely (almost 6hours on the road)
and no one to accommodate me after all the assurances...

Don't feel sorry for me, channel the sympathy to the individuals who have reduced themselves to nothing before my eyes.


I am currently 'lodged in a lodge', cost me $67 + $50 as damage deposit. Cab to the lodge was $8...
I never add all wetin I chop o.

Una see as money deh fly?? Please kack well financially before leaving Nigeria.

As the Boy Scout motto says - Be Prepared.

Lemme drop a few pictures from my trip...
I saw an a.c unit, it's name is 'Amana', now I understand why people say Amana chilling.

Next is to discover 'Oye chilling'.

I had a nice sleep in my 'expensive' hotel room. If you say e no cost, convert $70 to naira and consider me being a student + this buhari economy.

Some pictures of the 'hotel' (don't laugh, na hotel I choose to call am).

So much walking around to do today...

Achieved some things, opened an account with Wells Fargo - only International Passport and visa were used. Deposit needed was $25.

Also signed in with International Students Office.

Make I rest, the school fine sha.
Pictures attached as usual. Opposite the International office and 2 inside the building.

*Comments and Questions are welcome*

Still on the apartment search...

There is no where you see a pool of apartments listed for rent so na so so waka waka, going from one to the other looking for an apartment.

As we all know, motor for here no be big man - it is a necessity. The trekking I do yesterday, I never trek like that in the last 5years I can remember.

Search continues today, off campus accommodation is the aim.

Hello moderators,

Tgirl4real, Mynd44, justwise

Kindly help me move my thread to the Travel section so people can ask questions concerning how I achieved something or went about manoeuvring any difficulty I faced.

It is styled so people can get an actual sense of what it involves and maybe give their inputs too so other intending students can learn.

Thank you.

I met a Nigerian student yesterday, currently on graduate studies.

He came in this summer session, part tuition waived and accommodation scholarship. Who says summer session doesn't fund students?

It actually does happen.

U finally opened it up..


Issorite been following the gist

FOLLOWING!!!

Following as well...

Good Luck.

very nice narrative - good thing you made it a diary. would have been derailed sharp sharp!

dropping 5h for airport staff hmm

Your first arrival spot looks like Sugar Land ?

smithsydny:
U finally opened it up..


Issorite been following the gist

Yes Sir, nice to have you here.