Unbraiding: A loss of self

Diary of a Nigerian Immigrant

I may or may not have projected myself as a neat freak, but I am definitely not who my roommate thought I was in my application. I mean, everyone is entitled to their opinions, not Temitope, though. She will probably have worse things to say about my neatness and how I leave a bowl here and a cup there.

As it rained, I saw the young man in his blue shorts run around shirtless, even in the rain. I realize as much as I envy the dress culture, I don’t have the audacity to pull off the dress culture. Just posting a dance video got me sanctioned by the elders in my community. Imagine being told I had no shorts. Well, another family meeting. It's not like they will all get to read this blog, but if they do in the near future, I have my defense.

I have learned that cricket is to India what football is to Nigeria. It's a good thing Arsenal won whatever it was that they won. Now I can speak to Vijay, my new friend. You would think I would have learned how to say a proper hello and a “bless you” after a sneeze and a wave. Good thing, we are both curious about each other's cultures. “Hello, Namaste Walhalla.” The only time I get to see him is when we stumble in the hallway to our various lectures or when I peep through my window to see him play his version of basketball. Today, there are a lot of people at the pool, some…