Wednesday 27 August 2014

Two years!

Hip hip, hooray, my blog is two years old today! I've come a long way since I first started this blog. Back then, I was seventeen and about to start Year 13. Now, I'm nineteen, I'm about to go into my second year of university and I was on national television today! (Wait, what?) Crazy times indeed!


I still have the same intentions that I had back then of reviewing things. However, university has made me more political and socially aware and there has been a lot of venting recently.
It's important to speak out against injustice so I definitely won't stop venting but I intend to be less slack with reviews. Watch this space!

Sunday 24 August 2014

Change

  I'm not a big fan of change. I'm the kind of person who will find a restaurant, pick one thing from the menu that I like, then get that same thing every single time that I go to the restaurant because I am wary of 'trying something new' (Pizza Express- dough balls and lasagne, Wagamama's- Yaki Soba etc). I'm also the kind of person who keeps things like old clothes and school books for years because I can't bear to part with them, even though I don't need them any more. My sister is witness to the fact that I'm a nightmare to share a room with because I clutter the place up with old junk that I should have binned years before. Yes, I know it's weird. If I know it's weird, then why do I do it, you ask?

  Well, for me, I guess there's something somewhat intimidating about the idea of change. It has connotations of making or becoming something different and letting go of something in order to take on something else. The scary part of this is that people like me often feel like they've only just adjusted to or gotten used to a certain situation when it is time for that situation to change. Also, in order to change, it is sometimes important to let go of a part of yourself and elements of the past. This too can be scary because established routines are comforting and familiar whereas the unknown is exactly what it says on the tin.

  However, change is not always all doom and gloom with no light at the end of the tunnel. With change, bigger and better things can come. In addition, one will not fully embrace these things if one keeps looking back and clinging to the past, instead of looking ahead. Furthermore, one can be changed for good (cue music from Wicked....).

  Peter Capaldi's first episode as the new Doctor in Doctor Who inspired this post. As someone who isn't too fond of change, I didn't like it when Matt Smith became the Doctor (I even boycotted his first episodes as I was fiercely loyal to David Tennant lol). Eventually, he grew on me and I liked him a lot so I was super gutted when he left last Christmas. I like to think that nineteen year old Kenny is now miles way mature fourteen year old Kenny. So this time, I didn't boycott the new Doctor and I actually really enjoyed the episode. From it, I learned that although change is scary and you might feel like you're becoming a completely different person, it'll be okay because deep down, you're still yourself.

  So, if a big change is on the horizon for you, like heading off to university for the first time or moving house, remember this piece of advice from someone who's been though a lot of change in her life: everything works out in the end and you'll be fine. I may not be a big fan of change but getting used to it will get easier and with time, I'll get better at it.

 

Thursday 21 August 2014

Paris

I was in Paris over the weekend and as always, it was wonderful.

Paris, Paris,
Tu attires cette fille,
Et je t'aime, Paris.
Tu attires cette fille,
Qui ne sait pas encore ce qu'elle va faire
Avec son avenir.
Mais la vie dure longtemps.
Donc, pour le moment,
Cette fille restera une francophile.











Sunday 10 August 2014

Daughter of a Preacher Man.

   My father is a pastor and it is his job to go around the world setting up churches. So, as a result of this, I am a 'Pastor's Daughter', or a 'Preacher's Daughter' and I pretty much grew up in the church. This is the first time that I've mentioned this fact on my blog because I don't want to be defined as 'Kenny, the Pastor's/ Preacher's Daughter'. This is because in African and church culture, there is a lot of pressure with this role because the congregation's eye is on the Pastor and his family; they're watching intently to see if the Pastor and his family lead exemplary lives. I try not to let the fact that I am a Pastor's Daughter determine my life because who my Dad is shouldn't rule my life and my decisions. As a Christian, my life should be ruled by what the Bible says and God himself. Also, I am really against the idea of people in the church watching every single move of the Pastor and his family. I believe that people should focus on themselves and their own Christianity first.

  There is a reason behind this rant. A very good friend of mine from church came up to me the other day and started suggesting subtly that I need to behave more like a 'Pastor's Daughter' because 'others are watching' my actions and decisions. This upset me because (I really hope this doesn't come across as conceited) I always try to be the best person that I can be and lead a good, Christian life. There is already so much pressure and difficulty with trying to be a Christian in today's secular society and I do not need additional pressure from busybodies. This friend suggested further that I was endangering my Christianity because at uni, I go out clubbing and listen to secular music.

  I go out clubbing with my friends because I like dancing. That's it. I don't drink and I'm not promiscuous. Also, the Bible encourages us to go out and try and spread the Word of God and for me, I have the best conversations regarding religion with people in clubs. This is because people tend to open up more about their true beliefs after a few drinks. I also find that looking after people on nights out is a good way to show Christian love; it involves going out on a limb for people and it can be so rewarding knowing that you were there for people.

  I can understand where this friend is coming from because Nigerian culture is quite different from Western culture. Some Nigerians (particularly the older generations) just can't understand that you can go to pubs and clubs without having to drink, hence why they completely stay away from them. Also, the Christian Unions in Nigerian universities tend to completely isolate themselves from the non-Christians, and they're like an uninviting clique. I tried to explain to my friend that this is not the best way to break the stereotype of Christians as judgemental people who believe that they're better than others. It says in the Bible in John 8:7 that "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone." Basically, don't judge unless you're perfect and sinless. No one (except God) is perfect and sinless, soooo....

  I also tried to explain to her that different cultures call for different things. So, for example, involving myself with my friends' lives but not compromising any of my beliefs (e.g going out sans alcohol) and getting them safely back to college in their inebriated states is a better way to show love than judging them from afar with other Christians for drinking.

  With music, my friend believes that it's all black and white. In her eyes, secular music is the 'black' and religious music is the 'white'. To her, there are no grey areas and music has to explicitly mention God for it to be positive and uplifting. I disagreed with her. Sure, there are certain secular tunes that I would class in the 'black' area because these choons go against the things that I believe in and they encourage negative things such as misogyny, objectification ('She got a big booty, so I call her big booty'. Really, 2Chainz, really?), violence and racism. However, what about classical music, songs from musicals and songs that aren't particularly religious but still give good messages? As examples, I cite Einauldi, Céline Dion's 'I'm Alive', 'He Lives in You' from The Lion King and massive chooons from Five and S Club 7 like 'Keep on Moving' and 'Reach For The Stars'. Music's all about interpretation, right?
 
   Okay, rant over. I love being Nigerian, I really do. But sometimes, patronising friends and 'elders' that refuse to see and consider things from my own point of view really get me cross. 'Preacher's Daughter' Kenny out.

PS- I passed my first year of uni and I raised the most money during that telethon that I did a few months ago lol. Bring on Year 2!