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Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Travel / Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. (698704 Views)
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Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by Originalsly: 5:42pm On Sep 03, 2017 |
FrankNetter:Take a look at what other forums?..... don't you know that when it comes to forums in Africa. ...Nairaland is the Giant of Africa?......just look at the number of members.... the number of guests.... the number of daily views.... millions.... numbers is the only thing that matters.... like Nollywood producing soooo many movies each year...in fact...daily....it's all about quantity...not quality .....ehmmm.... small bowl of garri or a barrel of sh#t? ..... the owner made his choice and appointed moderators to achieve his objective. This is nothing new...... whether it be roads, industries, buildings, autos..... and in this case forum.... one thing is common..... it is like taboo to try....try....try to maintain standards. What is most disturbing....is NL is not only viewed by Nigerians.....open to worldwide viewership....so like you said. ..what impression would a foreigner get of Nigerians by viewing NL?.... and believe it or not... there are foreigners in this forum. Over to Seun..... the one who can stop NL from sliding into the sewer. 6 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by abduldope(m): 8:58pm On Sep 03, 2017 |
Originalsly:Word!! |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by abduldope(m): 9:05pm On Sep 03, 2017 |
FrankNetter:bro come and complete what you started my blood de hot 2 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by Forestview: 3:35pm On Sep 04, 2017 |
abduldope:people de wait for am,if e like make e work overtime he must finish this gist 4 Likes |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by abduldope(m): 7:11pm On Sep 04, 2017 |
Forestview:Lwkm I de tell you |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by lillaowow(m): 1:01pm On Sep 09, 2017 |
jiangchu:Simple.. concrete reduces heat. Asphalt traps heat. 1 Like |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by FrankNetter(m): 1:36pm On Sep 12, 2017 |
I heard National Association of Resident doctors (NARD) and ASUU are simultaneously on strike. I feel for medical students in Nigeria, honestly. Both strikes would affect them. 10 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by Ugosample(m): 1:57pm On Sep 12, 2017 |
FrankNetter: It's a shame |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by fSociety: 4:15am On Sep 14, 2017 |
What's going on here? Where's franknetter? ![]() |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by FrankNetter(m): 4:31am On Sep 14, 2017 |
lovedappie: Chicks are literally everywhere. In church, in the library, at grocery stores etc etc. But honestly, the fear of women, unwanted pregnancies and child support is the begginning of wisdom. ![]() 32 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by PDPGuy: 4:36am On Sep 14, 2017 |
FrankNetter:I love the chicks ![]() |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by FrankNetter(m): 4:44am On Sep 14, 2017 |
Moving on I've come across a lot of things. I've had conversations with a lot of people and I've learnt a lot from these conversations. Working this burger king job has given me the opportunity to meet a lot of persons I would not meet on a normal day. It has given me the chance to interact with (and pick the brains of) different persons with different personalities and different backgrounds. Those that are drug addicts, serial law breakers, those that live in their cars, those that have different kids from different baby mamas and daddies, those that aren't even up to 20 and have 4 kids already, those that are 18 and have their lives on track, living all by themselves, filing their own taxes and being independent. Engaging in conversations with a wide range of people from varying backgrounds has taught me a lot. A whole lot... If I had the chance to do this again, to take this job and mix with these same people all over again, would I do it? Hell yeah! Life is all about perspectives. If someone had told me some years ago, that I'd be flipping burgers and throwing out garbage in some years time, I'd have laughed it off, but here I am, flipping burgers and kinda happy about it. It could be worse, right? 59 Likes 4 Shares |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by FrankNetter(m): 4:56am On Sep 14, 2017 |
Update When I engage in conversations with persons who were born here and I tell them, with a smile on my face, that life is easy here, they look at me some type of way. They don't know how easy they have it over here, you wake up every morning, light dey, water dey, food dey, job dey, nobody is owing you salary, school dey, any level of education you want to get to, you can; plus by virtue of being a USA citizen, you have visa free access to more than 170 countries. Most of them take these things for granted, some have never even been to Canada. I've met some ignorant people, I've had some ignorant questions thrown at me. One time, I was having a conversation with one lady at my job, when one other dude jumped in and asked me, "hey obi, do you guys have toilets in Africa? I heard you have to dig the ground to take a _shit". The question cracked me up a lot, I doubled up in laughter and couldn't stop. Most persons think africa is one big underdeveloped jungle, where we jump around half naked, with sticks and stones. Being away from my medical books for so long, I've begun to feel like a cave man. ![]() These CNA classes I'm taking right now has shown me how much I've forgotten, in a way it has helped me, I find myself squeezing in time to read once more. See me, that was bristling with knowledge, naming enzymes, biochemical pathways, courses of arteries etc etc struggling to remember, struggling to recollect. The knowledge is still there, I find it hard to regurgitate them though, but they pop up when I try hard enough. ============================================================= As I was saying earlier, the Government takes care of everything and everyone. that's why they go after anyone who doesn't pay their taxes. In Nigeria, you're basically on your own, worse still if you have a Physical disability. Here in the USA, the government takes care of people who are disabled and cannot work at any job, they call it social security. You get a paycheck from the government every month, coupled with Home Health services: a program where someone would come in and take care of you through out the day. Over here, people would gladly accept to be called disabled, looking at it objectively, they get a lot of free stuff from the government. So, what's there to be ashamed about? 59 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by PDPGuy: 5:10am On Sep 14, 2017 |
^^ But they still use pit latrines at OAU ![]() 4 Likes |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by FrankNetter(m): 5:10am On Sep 14, 2017 |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by ichommy(m): 5:32am On Sep 14, 2017 |
PDPGuy: Latrines for OAU? 4 Likes
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Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by abduldope(m): 10:51am On Sep 14, 2017 |
mhn o mhn this post made my day. i don laff taya GOD!!!! One time, I was having a conversation with one lady at my job, when one other dude jumped in and asked me, "hey obi, do you guys have toilets in Africa? I heard you have to dig the ground to take a _shit". The question cracked me up a lot, I doubled up in laughter and couldn't stop. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() 3 Likes |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by lolawilliams(f): 12:08pm On Sep 14, 2017 |
Franknetter, there's a lot of misconceptions about Africa. Most of the time, i'm always irritated by the ignorance of some people but with time, i got used to it. I've seen people who thinks africa is a country, people who think all African live in the desert with a dung hut. I have a Cameroonian male friend who told me about someone asking him if he has wild animals like tiger or gorilla as pet before coming to the states. I think the media has been a real disaster when it comes to Africa bevause they only show the deserts, people starving and animals everywhere. I have a friend who think Africa looks just exactly as what was shown in French Montana's Unforgettable video. It's just too funny 27 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by Nobody: 3:56pm On Sep 14, 2017 |
FrankNetter:Don't tell me say na your gist be this |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by PDPGuy: 6:22pm On Sep 14, 2017 |
Chai. Some Nigerian women are just incredible ![]() https://www.nairaland.com/4054684/girl-replies-guy-facebook-after Franknetter, see what you were complaining about a while ago. 2 Likes |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by Originalsly: 6:47pm On Sep 14, 2017 |
FrankNetter:When we talk about keeping it real..... there is no post I've read in Nairaland nor anywhere period.... that's even close to this one. Anyone that is even thinking about visiting the US...should frame this post and read it daily. This kind education you can't get from universities nor money can't buy. If medals were to be handed out for posts.....this one deserves the gold medal.....and the silver one..... none comes close. This is sooo deep.....and filled with emotions 27 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by kayjee101: 8:23pm On Sep 14, 2017 |
no gainsaying bro, that dude is great. His diction is fabulous; his idiolect is the best I have ever seen. If anyone tells you that the dude typing this was not moved by that post, that person is a Lai addict. Keep the good-work, Frank; somehow, you are helping a friend take that step he has ever dreaded. Originalsly: 14 Likes |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by skitkid2(m): 8:53pm On Sep 14, 2017 |
Originalsly:You must be tripping. |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by therealchase(m): 5:26am On Sep 15, 2017 |
lolawilliams: Exactly what I was talking about the other day and one slowpoke came out saying shit. Ignorance is a great disease, the media misinformed most people overseas. 3 Likes |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by Nuzo1(m): 10:33am On Sep 15, 2017 |
lolawilliams: Africans, mostly Blacks have made it a favorite pastime to blame everybody except himself for everything that's wrong with him and around him. Whether you were raised in enlightened societies like Japan, Sweden, Australia or USA ; humans are naturally ignorant. The ignorance rapidly escalates to another level if the subject matter (in this case Africa) does little or nothing to make a difference. And then, the ignorance becomes a source of entertainment. Cos even when you take your time to explain the "truth" about Africa, they still go ahead to ask the next African : "do you live on trees in Africa?" ![]() But then again, are they wrong to "ignorantly" assume all these things? I don't think so. 1. They assume Africa is a country. Well, Africa is not be a country but since the creation of most African countries in the 50s and 60s ; our early leaders were more Pan-African and often used "I'm an African" when asked who he is. We even even still throw that phrase around till date, though with an improved version "I'm proud to be an African or proudly African". Now, how do you tell an European not to see you as a people from one country? I mean, I never came across Japanese who said he was a proud Asian or an American say he's a proud North American. Even with the European Union; its hard to hear Europeans refer to themselves as Europeans except for political reasons. This does not mean they are not proud of their continents but they understand it too burgoius to use for description. 2. Poverty, hunger, diseases, crime: Except you you are among the 20% who are comfortable, more than 80% of Africans are poor. Poverty breeds disorder, hunger, disease, crime and early death. And if I were to honestly describe Africa, I will start with these things. How much more a foreigner? 3. Living with animals : Na lie? I know people who live with monkeys and other wild animals. Heck, we witness people come into town with snakes and hyenas to beg for money. 4. Other things : Most of us still eat with barely washed hands, live in bushes, swears and talk rudely to one another etc. Ma'am, aside from a few lies, can you tell me the major misconceptions about Africa and Africans? I don't think there's much. But if there is ; then it's our duty to clear those misconceptions. Clearing does not mean one has to rush to the media and begin to refute these misconceptions with lies but to begin to clean up our acts just like East Asia did and South East Asia is rapidly doing. While we are clearing our closets, we should emulate the Chinese or Qatari (CCTV, AL Jazeera) by launching or relaunching our TV channels and other media outfits to launder our new Image. The image laundering has to go hand in hand with drastic changes on ground. SABC was one of the best news channels in the world 20 years ago but today it's just another local channel because the people and the environment could not meet up with her aspirations. Imagine an African satellite network like DSTV features more foreign TV stations than African. Well, except a few boring and immomorable African programs. Will you blame dstv? Please don't cos if I have my way, those boring local stations wouldn't be up there in the first place. Besides, these local programs even solidifies the "misconceptions" the ignorant world has about us. I mean, do you watch NTA? Inspite, of all the money invested in it; nta has made little or no improvement in terms of graphics, studio design, investigative journalism, professional newscasters and analysts in past 40 years. How do we sell Africa to the world with such outfit? Dear sister, this is not an attack on your person, opinion or realities. But just to let us always know that the ignorant world is not the problem with how and what they see about Africa but Africans. 35 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by HomeTutor1(f): 12:12pm On Sep 15, 2017 |
Interesting and Edutainment thread. |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by Nuzo1(m): 3:31pm On Sep 15, 2017 |
FrankNetter, Given to how you dropped out of medical school, I may not exactly understand the reason for your drive, but one thing is sure; your brilliance, principles and discerning mind can get you anywhere and anything you want in a developed society. People travel for different reasons. Some to pluck money from trees. Some to impress. some to live luxurious lives. Some to acquire education. Some to be at peace with body and soul. Some to work and earn a living. While some are just to understand why societies work. I suppose your reasons are the last 3 points. Having lived and worked in very developed societies for quite some time, I came to understand why other "abroad/Americana" like you are in shock and then become a bit abusive to the system you left behind. The difference in both societies is quite shocking and repulsive. This now becomes clear why non Africans can hardly take us serious as a group. This is evidenced in chapter 22 of Lee Kuan yeuw's "From third world to first" autobiography. (every living human being in Africa should read that book). My brother, live your life. I can't advise you to acquire more knowledge cos you are doing that more than I tried to and even far more than your age mates are/would. So, by all polite means, keep critiquing us here. The critique can only stop when we begin to get it right like the Asian dragons. Singapore caught up with the west in less than two decades. Why can't we? Nb: as a reformed Christian, one of the most spectacular things I noticed about living for a long time in a developed society is that loosing ones faith in any organized religion is religion is the easiest thing to do over there, especially in places like Japan, Korea and the scandinavian/Nordic countries. Stay cool bro. 22 Likes 2 Shares |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by guiddoti: 7:08pm On Sep 15, 2017 |
Nuzo1:huh where do we start the blames from?, is it from young generation that wants to mimick westerns?, is it from our political representatives that would seat in the caliphate of power and make demagoguery remark of restructuring stomach infrastructure Whereas people whom they represent are lost in the ocean of hopelessness?. They (politicians) only will come again to deceive for another four years; for how long will all these deficiencies continue to happen.? |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by Beautyaddy: 7:46pm On Sep 15, 2017 |
lolawilliams: I will have to differ on that comment. The access to the internet as well as the social media has made it difficult to brainwash people in this day and age. People that are still asking ignorant questions about Africa are the ones themselves choosing to remain ignorant due to laziness to explore higher learning in Education as well as being around to learn diverse cultures and people. 10 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by Originalsly: 8:30pm On Sep 15, 2017 |
Nuzo1:Major misconceptions : Africa is a country Africans are primitive (live in huts and most wear clothes made of leaves/go almost naked) Uneducated because there are no schools let alone tertiary institutions. Why?....from what I gathered The education system has omitted the study of Africa from its basic curriculum. Slaves were brought from Africa is basically it and to date the perception the average American has about Africa remains that of Africa in the 1700's. This perception is further reinforced by Hollywood and the media.(This is no different from the very perception Africans have of Black Americans as perpetuated by Hollywood and the media ....Black Americans are lazy, into drugs and crime and making babies.) Clearing misconceptions : It is for Africans to clear the misconceptions by highlighting and broadcasting who we really. are as a people ...our culture..our way of life. Like Hollywood, I have no doubt that Nollywood 2002 to around 2005 had a tremendous impact and changed the perception millions....millions. had about Africa and Africans. Nollywood was about Africans showcasing our own culture.. as never seen before. .....African way of life being told by Africans. Oh well...that was then! And yes...we do need to clean up our act to bring about change in the negative perceptions.....and where best to begin than right up in this NL where we tend to add more negative perceptions . 1 Like |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by Nuzo1(m): 9:36pm On Sep 15, 2017 |
Originalsly: Apart from the highlighted, we are on the same page. Now, for the highlighted; I thought I gave detailed reasons why the misconceptions are mostly true. I will do it once again sir. 1. Africa is a country : please refer back to number 1 point in my previous post. 2. Africans are primitive: more than 40% live in huts, while over 30% live in very deplorable conditions. Majority Use pit latrine, do not feed properly and do not have access to portable drinking water. Now, what's the definition of primitive? 3. Uneducated because they are no schools and hospitals. What's the misconceptions there? Sir, I mean, you cannot not even imagine the illiteracy rate and lack health services in Africa. I'm not even stating all these from the UN, who unesco statistics, I'm stating these as a rural community caregiver in Nigeria. We've not even started with other African countries. And like I said in my previous post, 20% of the rest of Nigerians or black Africa are good to go and may never understand what I'm saying. I'm only referring to the vast majority. ..... And the vast majority is the definition of Africa. 3 Likes |
Re: Yankee: through the eyes of a village boy. by Nuzo1(m): 10:34pm On Sep 15, 2017 |
guiddoti: The solution I'm about to proffer may look silly, but go, get a dairy and write it down. Africa can never develope except they go by these simple rules. 1. Sense of patriotism: Japan, Singapore, South Korea, western Europe, USA, Canada and China etc were able to develop because of first thinking what the could do for their countries. Most African countries don't have such passion except secessionist elements. 2. Western countries used Protestant work ethic to develop. It's characteristics are hard work, discipline and frugality. While East and South East Asia used Neo Confucius to develop. These two strategies border on selflessness, justice, honesty, respect for authority/elder, transparency, hardwork and frugality. Nigeria/africa are clearly not practicing any of these. Mark it like I've told you, this is the only proven model to transform the most despicable societies into a glorious experience. Singapore happened right in front of us. Other South East Asian countries are picking up very fast. Who are to be blamed? All of us. And I will start with you. You said the politicians will come to decieve you for another 4 years. But you forget that aside from the fact that these so-called leader are products of the larger society, most youths play very significant roles on how these politicians treat them. I left a well paying job at a multinational company overseas for quite an okay managerial job here. Many of my peers laughed and thought I was sick in the head. Some still think so. Lol. In 2011, I tried to contest for a post where I thought I could make a difference with what I've seen outside the country but age got me automatically disqualified. I tried again in 2015, it was rigged, I went to court but because of the threats my parents received, I withdrew the case. In all these, some youths thought I should have joined the so called politicians by accepting an appointment or at least collected monetary compensation....given that I spent a huge chuck of my life savings in the election. I still plan to run for a seat in the Senate by 2019. Please, this is not to tell you how better I know but to answer your questions on how societies are built. Once again, only selflessness, justice, frugality develope societies. And it must be pursued with passion, persistence and faith. Funny thing is that these principles are mostly Christian principles of which we claim to practice here. The countries that used them are mostly godless countries like those I mentioned above. 20 Likes 1 Share |
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