Prior to moving to the northern parts of Nigeria, I had only been to southern states. So when it was time to choose where I'd like to serve in the compulsory national one year service, I really hoped any of my northern choices was selected. Generally, down south when you say north people think Boko Haram, killings, bomb, insurgency. But I didn't care, the north is very large and it's not like the whole insurgency issue is everywhere. No matter where you are, your life is always at risk anyway.
I wanted to explore the north, the animals, the museums, tourist sites, the people and culture. I found it all fascinating from reading books and watching TV and always longed for the north. I was eventually posted to Nasarawa state for my youth service and was quite excited. It was a loong journey of about 11 hours but I didn't mind, the beautiful view on the way was enough consolation for the pain on my butt. There were so many giant rocks and hills, I was overwhelmed with nature. I even got a glimpse of the famous Zuma Rock some months later on my visit to Niger state.
The service year turned out to be opposite of what I expected...quite underwhelming. I was posted to a very rural community to serve in a hospital. There wasn't any monumental structures, no museums, no elaborate colorful festivals, just plain village stuff. Most nights I cried myself to sleep because it felt like I was wasting one year of my life in a strange land. All I did was go to work and then back to my little house by the hospital everyday.
I did enjoy the very rural landscape view of some areas though.
view from my office
I got tired of crying myself to sleep because of my shitty job and absconded for a weekend at another state. I was going to Kaduna, one part of the north that has always seemed so far away. It was exciting getting on a train for the very first time going to somewhere new.
The trip turned out to be refreshing.
So the highlight of my northern experience was going to Kaduna, seeing the people, animals, finding love... I hope to go to other northern places like Kano, I hear it's a beautiful city. Hopefully, I enjoy my stay there as much as I did Kaduna. Plateau state is also another place I'd like to go, obviously a lot of plateaus and it's very cold.
All photos were taken on my infinix Hot 6 phone
This is my entry for the @bdcommunity weekly writing contest
Kaduna has always been an eventful city, it has its rocks, rivers, tradition, landscapes and even the cuisines which I never exhausted while I was still there.
I was born and bred there na tertiary school carry me comot. You see the histories embedded in the streets of that state, its overwhelming. Hopefully I'd take a trip there soon.
I would have loved to read about the snake in the thumbnail of this post, I feel there's more to it.
You're very right about Kaduna.
The snake is from a snake farm in Nasarawa. Actually the smallest one there.