Going Down Memmory Lane

Its 1:42pm and I'm sitting at my work-space- D5F 025, on the 5th floor of Block D at the Deloitte Consulting office in Hyderabad. I had just finished having lunch and decided to check some of my emails. Coincidentally, I decided to look-up some old emails I have in my yahoo account. It was great to see the emails I found: Will love to share them with you.

OLDEST EMAIL IN MY SENT FOLDER:

Sent: Thursday 4th October 2001

To: My dear Parents:

Text:
"Dear Dad & Mum,
Regards in our Lords Name. Hows everyone? I believe were all in Jehovahs safe keeping Hands. Please, Ive got some needs in school. Weve finished our planting on farm. It was very tedious. I made about 1,480 holes on my plots. Weve going to use herbicides for weeds. I might have to get about a thousand naira for my crop management. Im also running out of foodstuff. The budget for the foodstuff I bought last was for a month but I didnt know the prices of some foodstuff had increased though its getting to a month I left home; for another month, Illneed N2,500 for foodstuff. Ill need a Thousand and Five Hundred for my pocket money and other unplanned expenses. It wasnt possible for me to be in Sis. Gladys weddingbecause I was on farm, I hope to be in the Church on Sunday God willing. Please sir & ma, Ill be glad to receive the cashthrough anyone coming this way or you could pay itinto this National Bank saving Acc. No: 0000026219 but please send me a mail to know when you have paid it. Im not trying to be wasteful in spending but Ill only ask for what is too great necessity believing and praying for Gods provision for you each day. My love to Sister, Oluwafifunmi & EnitiOluwaferan.My love always sir & ma. Your son,Oluwatobi

OLDEST MAIL ATTACHMENT IN MY INBOX

Date: September 13th, 2003

To: AIESEC Local Committee in Germany- an application for a CEED Program

Text:
"MOTIVATION LETTER
"Some day I will travel to far off countries,
Have friends on every corner of the globe,
Manage global corporate accounts,
Meet social, political and business leaders of the world,
And be satisfied that I am finally making a difference and a real positive impact on my world."
This defines my thoughts, a few years back, when I took the bold and non-regrettable step to be a member of AIESEC. My decision was firm and completely born out of a conviction that through this organization, I will be able to make friends that are going to last a life time. I knew this opportunity will make me pick up skills that are going to give me the edge in my career, establish contacts that will build my future and in all, give me a life changing experience.
It was never a burden in my heart to think of the fact that I might have to leave a country I was born and raised in, to other parts of the world that's completely strange to me. Of course I was sure that leaving the city of my comfort into the "wilderness of my intuition" would make me discover a wonderful thing- myself.
Today, I can say, AIESEC has equipped me with the communication skills that I needed, to be a better communicator, be a good team worker and experience long-term conceptual thinking and understanding. I've gained the ability to relate the big picture into actions, work with professionalism, acquired general intelligence and great leadership skills. All these were enhanced due to my commitment and personal motivation; but not without a principle that supports flexibility.
Working for a full year as a member on the EB of AIESEC in Abeokuta, that from the scrap became Nigeria's best, was an experience worth cherishing. As a good team worker, it was not difficult for me to fill up the lapses of my teammates. This has earned me the diversified experiences I have. Through this, I gained functional knowledge in areas of Core work, Human Resources Management, Marketing, TN and SN Delivery, Service and Learning, Information Systems among other personal skills.
I've faced challenges of working under pressure, all with the patience required as a result-oriented individual.
I feel experienced but I am far from being fulfilled. I have a long way to go, so much to learn and more experiences to gain- to make me achieve my dreams. I have to be diversified in my learning and this is why I need this international AIESEC experience.
I've got this opportunity, this one opportunity to impact and to be impacted at your AIESEC Local Committee as your CEEDer.
Tobi Odunowo."

Funny uh? It's worth it going down memmory lane. It makes a lotta sense to once in a while check and review your path to where you are because this helps to build your confidence and make you believe that you will eventually achieve your goals!

A Happy Married Life...Dear Sister

My only sister, my older sister,
It's my great joy to see you married,
Though it hurts you're dropping our name,
I'm glad you found your true love.

In the family you've still got your place,
A place now meant for you, your husband and kids,
Still closely knitted, we'll forever stay
As one nuclear family- our parents, ourselves, our spouses and kids.

Congratulations...Mr & Mrs. Funso Amao- 19th May 2007

Last Weeks of November and First Week of December | Ghana-Cameroon

Jump-In Conference in Yaounde, Cameroon

In my years as an AIESEC member, I've always believed that the most impactful experience offered by AIESEC to her members is the opportunity to attend conferences- AIESEC conferences are always a mix of terrific learning mixed up with a fun-filled atmosphere. Over the past few years, I would have attended some 20 old AIESEC conferences and seminars (ranging from local to international) either as delegate, a facilitator or a conference chair.

It's December 2006, and I've been given an opportunity to Chair a national conference in a country other than mine for the 3rd time. I arrived in Douala on the 7th of December on board Virgin Nigeria Airways. After being picked-up by Landry- the President of AIESEC Cameroon, we drove in a cab to the AIESEC office/apartment. It looked much like home- a better but similar apartment as compared with our dear 17a in Lagos, Nigeria (the AIESEC Nigeria office/apartment). After meeting with the national team and having some discussions about the conference amongst other things, we went out to see a few places in Douala, had lunch and later set-out for Yaounde.

I've always been used to a 3-day or more conference but when Landry told me this one was only gonna run for 2 days, I asked myself how on earth was I gonna get the time to make a connection with the delegates and make sure the conference ends up for them as "a life-long experience?" With a positive approach, we had an amazing conference. I don't think I was the best Chair the AIESEC country could have had- as some of the guys concluded, but I believe the credits should go to the delegates, the organising committe and the facilitators without who I couldn't have functioned well in my role as the Chair.

One last memmory about Cameroon was the opportunity to eat the roasted fish!...I called it an "opportunity" because it's always a "grand-opportunity" to experience the taste of a delicious meal:) I had the roasted fish with bololo (a whitish roll made from casava) and hot pepper!...If you've ever tried it, you'll know what I'm talking about. The guys also took me out to eat Senegalese rice at a nice resturant. ..Thanks for the experience guys!..It'll remain in my memmory for ages!

Finally Back in Naija | Off to Cameroon

It's so hard,
To say good-bye,
To my 2nd home- Accra!

It seemed like a dream, one-year gone already....so fast!...but with a lotta memmories. Few days ago, I had my last moments in Accra, Ghana after a 1 year internship with The Capital Group Ghana. The good-bye ceremonies started with my farewell party at the office. Held within the office premises (at the summer-hut) with my boss and all other colleagues in attendance, I still didn't feel it was my good-bye party...it seemed I was too used to saying good-bye to other past trainees that I felt my good-bye time wouldn't come...of course, I felt so much at home:) Wanna say a big THANK YOU to my boss: Mr. Adetola, my fellow-AIESEC trainees during my 1 year stay- Reeta, Tone, Eric, Patrick and Crissy, all my other Ghanaian- colleagues..Desmond, Fred, Khalid, Mohammed, Aunty Pat, Mrs. Amugi, Emefa, Jacqy, Emmanuel...(too many to mention all) for giving me THE YEAR OF MY LIFE:)..Will always be grateful to ya'll:)

My 2nd good-bye ceremony was at our hang-out pub, Champs!!!, on the Quiz-nite (Thursdays). I had the opportunity to see most of the AIESEC interns again and say some warm good-bye...though it hurts that we might not see soon again...I'm glad we met! Thanks to you all...:)

The 3rd good-bye ceremony was organised by my best Ghanaian friend Michelle:) Little did I know that she was up to something when she called me up and invited me to pay my first visit to her house before I leave Ghana. Well, I decided to go on that Friday morning (1st of Dec was a holiday in Ghana)...I arrived at the house and few minutes after, she asked that I go with her to pick-up something:) "Well", I thought, "it means we'll be back here"...but "Myshell" said NO! we weren't coming back....then I started to wonder. To cut it all short, we met other 2 friends- Nii and Sitso at On the Run, after which we drove to the outskirts of Accra to have a nice time at Golden Tulip Beach Hotel:) I loved each moments of that day guys.,...thanks for being part of my Ghanaian Memmories

The 4th good-bye ceremony was 1 I hadn't thought would happen:) It wasn't a ceremony per se but rather a hang-out time with someone I liked to much. Devereau Chumrau is my American friend who I met at one of those night-outs with other AIESEC interns. We were outta touch for a while but I decided to send her an SMS at Quiz nite, just to inform her I was leaving....Nice she opted to hang-out with me before I left...and we did meet at Champs for the Friday nite karaoke, I sang for her and we said good-bye...(but for one nite)...we were still gonna meet the next day- few hours before I left Ghana. I met Dev. at On the Run eat-out on Saturday where she gave me a little African drum. Thanks so much Dev, you've made a huge part of my Ghanaian memmories!

Its so nice to be back home...but Ajala (native word for "traveller"- thats what many friends and family call me back home) hadn't stopped his travels yet:) On the 7th of this month, I'm off to Doula, Cameroon to Chair the Jump-In Conference:)...much more stories coming!!!

2 Weekends of Region-Trotting: NLDS Togo | Naija Again

The past 2 weekends were really of a different kind. You can imagine how you feel when you hadn't planned a trip and you find yourself in one:)


Weekend 1
....Just a few days before the beginning of the first of these 2 weeks, the President of AIESEC in Togo asked me to come Chair their National Leadership Development Seminar- (wow! another Chairing experience?)- of course, I didn't hesitate- after I found out that the Director of AIESEC Africa Growth Network was gonna be there, it made it all more exciting:)-Chairing a conference attended by an AI official;)?:P Uhpps:)

I had to ask for permission from Mr. Boss to take 3 days-off:) Good I have an AIESEC Alumnus as boss...I got his YES!...Penultimate Wednesday, I took a bus ride from Accra to Lome; it was a nice ride except for the fact that it was difficult passing through the Togo side of the border without giving-away some fourty thousand (in cedis now;). Some nice AIESECers met me at the border and took me to the MCP's home and later to the University- where I saw some old faces- people I'd met 2 years ago when I first visited Togo on AIESEC matters. I also found out that there were lots of people (all speaking french)- later realised that AIESEC in Benin Republic also had its members in attendance.

The conference was amazing...also because sessions were ran in french (and I don't speak french)...but then, I sometimes had to use an interpreter...(doesn't that sound illarious?)...2 days passed-by, every moment was worth it and by Monday morning, I was off to Accra to continue work-life:) Thanks Benito for giving me this opportunity:)!!!, Thanks AIESEC Togo au Benin members..you guys are amazing:) All the best!!!


Weekend 2

In the past 10 months of my stay in Ghana, I've found myself visiting Nigeria 3 times prior to this last visit. I remember that when leaving Nigeria in December 2005, I'd said to myself that I'll make sure I'm away from home the entire 1 year- just to know how it feels:)...Now, I've made 4 trips to Nigeria in 1 year...all for different reasons:) The last reason is the most alarming one;)...We had got a request from a client to supply some 20-odd copies John C. Maxwell's 360 degree Leader and Stephen R. Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People:)...and guess what? all the bookshops in Ghana had ran out of these books, so I had to go to Nigeria to get them:)...Nice trip though..at least it was better than the penultimate trip)...Good to be back in Accra;)