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THE OLD RULE OF THUMB

There was a time when the criterion for enrolling children into school was for the hand to go across their head to touch their ear. It was deemed practical and the proper judgement for establishing a child old enough to get an education.  Many of our parents experienced this because there was no documentation regarding age/birth certificates, so the logic was to ascertain a child's age by specific abilities. Take, for instance, Diana in 1985. The education standard for getting into school was from the age of 5. Diana's mother had painted beautiful pictures of a school's appearance and said that only sensible people were considered worthy of being a part of it. All Diana wanted to do was put on the new socks and shoes her mother had purchased. Diana dreamt of reciting the greeting the night before, 'Good morning, teacher; we are happy to see you; God bless you.' And so, Diana was taken to school that morning for enrolment. 'Fine girl, raise your right hand over y...
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SCHOOL AND WORK ABROAD




I was weighing 43 at that time. It was not easy balancing school with work. But I needed money. The money my parents were sending was not covering up my needs. I needed a backup and that was why I took a job at an African restaurant, owned by a Nigerian couple back then in London. Jobs like this were reserved for students or for the undocumented. I could not babysit because the timing would clash with my class hours and that was why I settled with washing plates in this restaurant after classes. 

I had done this for a week and could notice my fingers fading away but I didn’t mind at all. All I pictured was my monthly pay.
The next week; on a Wednesday, after classes I resumed work as usual. I had washed the first round of plates and then I heard the voice of my boss (the wife) saying: “Favour, you will be the one pounding yam from today. It is part of your job description…” 

That voice echoed in my head and it still does till today. It echoed when I nodded in agreement, asked to use the restroom, went out through the back door, took the bus home and never returned there again. Sometimes I ask myself what those two were thinking. Were they really willing to ruin their business by asking an underweight student who hated cooking by the way, to pound yam every day except Sundays? 

 Today, I am glad I was bold enough to put my health first before my monetary needs. I am also glad that I felt sympathy enough to help save the couple’s business. That pounded yam would have been a disastrous phenomenon for everyone involved, especially the customers… I am done with my masters now. I hope to get a good job, one that I would not need to pound of course!
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Comments

  1. Unknown21 May 2019 at 02:49

    Very funny, but wait oo this slavery is everywhere. People taking advantage of vulnerable people in vulnerable situations

    ReplyDelete
  2. EMMAWAD8 July 2019 at 11:23

    hahaha... It's like it will never go away

    ReplyDelete

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