October 27, 2015

Ask Me Anything Post

Erm, I might end up regretting this post but honestly, I'm bored and I feel like I have nothing to write about (which is a lie, because I have 2 posts in my drafts that I've been postponing for weeks - plus 1 or 2 collaboration posts that I simply haven't had time to write out).

Anyways, because I just feel bored, I have decided to do this "Ask Me Anything" post. So, from now until midnight on Thursday, feel free to ask me anything [within reason] in the comments. It can be about me, about life in general, my opinions on topics, etc. Whatever question you ask, I will copy and paste into the post and answer it.

Guidelines

  1. Please don't ask rude questions. I try to be polite as much as possible, so kindly treat me in the same manner.
  2. If you will not answer the same question you're asking me on a public platform, chances are you shouldn't ask me that question. E.g. utterly specific questions about my marriage.
  3. Have fun! 
P.S. I almost want to insist that you don't ask anonymously, so that any trolling is prevented, but let's see how it goes.

Q&A begins....................NOW!


Do you want to have children and if so, how many do you want?
I absolutely want children! I would like 2 ideally, 3 maximum.

How did you become a Christian and stay one in all your years in the US?
I was already a Christian before I moved to the States, and I went to great churches with wonderful pastors. I enjoyed serving at church and going to connect groups, which I REALLY miss now. I feel like it's been so hard to find a small group/Bible study here. WHY?!?!?!?!?

Apart from money/income, what skills or specific lessons have you learned or gained from your current job?
Hmm. I think one of the most important skills in my current job has been learning to work with deadlines, so Time Management. Every week, I have to send out a couple of reports and even though I'd rather faff around, some of the top management in the company use the reports, so they must be done on time. Additionally, learned to do Quality checks. I work in Safety and analyzing data. I have to be sure that the data input is checked for quality - are they correct, are they useful, etc. Sometimes I feel like a non-entity because its a LARGE global organization, but at the end of the day, the team I work with is largely responsible for the data that goes out internationally, and to different government agencies. So, I guess my work is not as unimportant as I mistakenly believe sometimes.

You mentioned you lived in the US for a while then moved back to Nigeria. What made you move back? How often do you visit the US? Has Cakes been to The States?
I moved back after a year or two of thinking about it. I had been feeling like I was stuck in a rut; there was no moving forward, upward or even backward. I couldn't see myself being in the same position for years without anything to look forward to. So I decided to move back and do NYSC. Luckily I got a good job and coincidentally met Cakes too.
I visit home at least twice a year. And Cakes hasn't been yet, but will soon.

Wanted to know if you make any money off blogging or if it's basically just a hobby.
I make minimal money honestly and treat my blogging as more of a hobby. However I want to take it more seriously as an added source of income. You might have noticed I recently added Google Ads to the site if you read from a computer. Me too I wanna buy house! :p

What's the hardest or most challenging decision you had to make all by yourself? 
I think deciding to move back to Nigeria, and deciding whether to stay in Nigeria after NYSC (I had the option of moving back to Atlanta and had to weigh pros and cons).

Do you speak/understand the Ogoni language? On a scale of 1 - 10 what languages can you speak fluently? 
Unfortunately I don't speak or understand any Nigerian languages. My grandma tried to teach us Igbo when we were little but it didn't work. It wasn't consistent. Oh, and I can say very few phrases in Italian, French and Spanish. I actually took all languages at different points in my life, but again, inconsistency... so I can't speak any of them.

If you go to an event, network, make acquaintances, what would be a turnoff for you that could make you not reconnect with the persons if you meet them at some other events?
Hmm. I have to think about this one. Trying to rack my memory for similar incidents. Erm there was a guy I met while I was single and he was unnecessarily touchy. When I complained, he practically scolded me. No bueno! Another thing that turns me off is arrogance/boasting. How can you be telling me how expensive your shoes and your house are, and all the rich/powerful people you know for no reason? This actually happened... and it was the same guy in the first instance.

I would like to know how old you are?
I'm 30+

How can you advice me to develop my writing skills?

My advice would be to read a lot, as that helps extend your vocabulary and simply just keep writing. You can try writing articles for some websites, and if they're good enough, they will be posted. If not, then you just have to put in the work to improve. If you can, write every day - a diary or journal helps. If they're not too personal, you can have a friend or mentor read/critique your writing and give you pointers on what you could do better.

Can you cook any Nigerian dish?

Yes! 

How long have you been on 'natural hair' and what made you go natural?
I stopped relaxing my hair in 2006 and it was mostly because my hair was in a sorry state. It was breaking and weak and fragile. Unfortunately, I continued with my bad hair care habits for a whiiiiiiile. 

I've been natural for 6months, still transitioning and people don't just get it! Even a few of my friends mock me*sad* They think I'm doing it because it's in vogue. ...ermmmm is it in vogue? Is it "reigning"??

I think at a point, being natural was trendy. I don't think it's still trendy though. I think that most people who are natural now are natural because they want to be, not because it's reigning. BTW if you're happy with your hair, don't listen to your friends - they'll come around eventually.

A, B, C, D, DD, DDD, E, F, etc???
LOL! The fifth one. 

If you had super powers for a day and could change just three things, what would you change?
I would stop all criminal activities from occurring, eradicate illnesses, and provide jobs for everyone.

Why do you always condemn Nigerian local foods like amala, banga, starch etc. You always give off the impression that its below u. Meanwhile I had some white people who came for a conference and they didn't mind tasting these Nigerian foods but you always condemn . 
LOL! I wish you used examples of food I actually like. The examples you used, I can't stand for anything. Not because they are Nigerian, but because I simply dislike how they look or smell. And trust me, it's not just some Nigerian foods that I don't like. I won't eat most things with cheese, butter, pork, etc. Take me to a Mexican or Italian restaurant, and I can eat maybe just 2 or 3 things on the menu - the rest I will not even attempt trying. Now, when I do like foods, I LOVE THEM! Have you ever had Native soup? FAVORITE soup of all time! Or Onunu? FAVORITE "swallow" in the world. I know you know I cannot resist ripe Bole and Fish - shey I've said that next to Jesus and the Holy Spirit, God's next gift to the world is ripe plantain? What's my point here? I don't condemn Nigerian foods. I'm just picky about what I eat based on how the foods smell, taste, feel in my mouth, look. 

I think I have noticed 2 wedding bands in some photos. How come you have 2 instead of the usual 1?
You're right. I wear 2 bands instead of one. The band I initially wanted apparently didn't fit too well with my engagement ring. The sales lady suggested the wedding bands - two of them were about the same price as the one I wanted in the first place. So why not?

How can someone get a good job (salary from 200k upwards) in this lagos for God's sake???
I guess it depends on your field of study and [un]fortunately who you know. From what I've seen though, people are becoming more entrepreneurial. If not a full-time entrepreneur, they at least have a secondary income. But as far as salary, you'd most likely need to be working in a multinational company.


I have a blog but somehow lost the zeal. how can one remain motivated with a regular job?
For me, I just really really really enjoy blogging. There's no day that I don't think about my blog. Even when I'm at work, I find my thoughts drifting towards the blog. I usually do most of mine when I get home from work and on weekends. To stay motivated, make sure you're blogging in a niche that interests you and you actually enjoy. I think that's the first step. If you really enjoy it, I think you'll make time for it.


I want an adventure, a real adventure. maybe to see nature or sthg different. i don't club or party or do some funny things. how can i get an adventure in this lagos without breaking the bank?
Adventure... I think it depends on what you like to do. There's a lot to do in Lagos - performing arts is a big thing - plays, concerts, comedy, poetry, etc. Some of them are free or low cost. You can go to a beach, or one of the parks for outdoor fun. If you like food, go on a "best <insert food choice here> in Lagos" quest, e.g. Best Suya or Shawarma - there are hundreds of places to try out - just be careful of your waistline. If you like exercise, sometimes there are free exercise events... October is a great choice - lots of walks for breast cancer so you engage in an activity while supporting a good cause. Honestly, the options are plenty. You just have to look or make up your own stuff.

Would u rather be a child again to avoid passing through some adulthood stress?
There are days where I wish I was still a child and not worrying about bills and responsibilities! Being an adult is tough business!


THE END!!!

30 comments:

  1. Yaay it's so nice you want to interact with your readers this way.

    Do you want to have children and if so how many do you want?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Greetings Berry!

    My questions are 1. How did you become a Christian and stay one, in all your years in the US?
    2. Apart from money/an income, what skills or specific lessons have you learnt or gained from your current job?

    Thank you in advance.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You mention you lived in the US for awhile then you moved backed to Nigeria. What made you move back to Nigeria? How often do u visit US? Has Cakes been to the states.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hey berry..
    This is a fun post and I don't think you would end up regretting it..well, I hope.

    What's the hardest or most challenging decision you had to make all by yourself?

    Do you speak/ understand the Ogoni language ?On a scale of 1-10 what Nigerian languages can you speak fluently?

    If you go to an event, network, make acquaintances, what would be a turnoff for you that could make you not reconnect with the persons if you meet them at some other events?

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Berrylish, just wanted to know if you make any money off blogging,or if it's basically just a hobby,thanks in advance for answering...cheers.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Me just love berry. Anyway, having a nice bible study group would not be bad at all.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi berry,I would like to know how old you are?
    How can you advice me to develop my writing skills?
    Can you cook any nigerian dish? Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hey Berry, You know I'm obsessed with this blog right? And you're my imaginary bestie.....hehehe anyway I've been wanting to ask this...
    How long have you been on 'natural hair' and what made you go natural? ??
    I've been natural for 6months, still transitioning and people don't just get it! Even a few of my friends mock me*sad*
    They think I'm doing it because it's in vogue. ...ermmmm is it in vogue? Is it "reigning"??
    I'm doing it because I want to, because I want it...It's almost like an emotional/personal journey for me
    Sorry for the long post.....

    ReplyDelete
  9. A, B, C, D, DD, DDD, E, F etc????

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love u to pieces.I would to me you during your meet and greet....hope I would be not be busy sha...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Berry. If you had super powers for a day and could change just three things, what would you change? Epiphany29.com
    Alone But Not Lonely

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello berry.my question is this.why do you always condemn Nigerian local foods like amala banga starch etc. U always give off d impression dat its below u.meanwhile I had some white pple who came for aconfrence and they didn't mind tasting these Nigerian foods but you always condemn .

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think you could just answer each question as a reply instead of copying and pasting.
    I'm a data analyst as well and its very tasking and time consuming. Analysing figures isn't for the faint hearted and mistakes are very costly to the company.

    ReplyDelete
  14. hi berry, i'm your imaginary bestie. now my questions:

    1. can i meet and greet for free?
    2. can u keep the best gifts for me? (i hope its an iphone 6 or 6s) :p
    3. can my sister learn sugar craft at cake factory for free pleassssssse?
    4. where do u work and what are your qualifications?
    5. how can someone get a good job (salary from 200k upwards) in this lagos for God's sake???
    6. can we be friends? like hanging out friends? (nohomo, plus, i'm a christian, i'm not a bad influence, i'm pretty too. i'm just bored with my life at the moment *sobs*)
    7. i want a creative hobby. photography perhaps?
    8. i have a blog but somehow lost the zeal. how can one remain motivated with a regular job?
    9. i want an adventure, a real adventure. maybe to see nature or sthg different. i don't club or party or do some funny things. how can i get an adventure in this lagos without breaking the bank?
    10. errr, to be continued...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL, I'll answer some in the post and others here.

      1. We haven't decided if we'll giveaway tickets yet :(
      2. The gifts will be given randomly... and definitely no iPhones. Apple isn't sponsoring unfortunately :p
      3. I'd like to say yes, but Cakes has bills to pay :D
      4. Because of where I work and their policies, I can't divulge that information
      6. Of course we can be friends. Although I've found that hanging out is a lot easier said than done :(
      7. Photography is a good hobby, but do you have enough money for a nice camera? Or a friend photographer who's willing to teach you? Or the motivation to actively learn photography?

      Delete
  15. i'm back o.
    10. how can one make decent money in this lagos eh?
    11. is the standard of living in australia better than the states and canada?
    12. can these financial institutions just give loans without collateral or frustrating interests?
    13. would u rather be a child again to avoid passing through some adulthood stress?
    14. i won't ask u this one here. maybe during my free meet and greet or one of our friendly hangout sessions...
    15. how can a babe make decent money in this lagos eh?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. 10. This is basically the same as #5.
      11. Let's ask our good friend Google.
      12. I feel your pain!
      14. Lol, I can't wait to hear the question.
      15. This is the same question as #10 and #5

      Delete
  16. oh, did i ask already? where can i get a GOOD tailor in this lagos that won't cut my neck with prices???? thank berry, you're the best

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @Nkechi, Try Ade. I've written on my experience with Ade here: http://www.reviewnaija.com/morivick-concepts-tailoring/

      Delete
  17. I think I have noticed 2 wedding bands in some photos. How come you have 2 instead of the usual 1?

    ReplyDelete
  18. Hi Berry! Me loving this concept... I started my blog mid this year...while I have gazillion stuff to blog about, bad habits won't let me remain consistent in putting up posts. #iMustChange

    So my question(s)
    1. What blogs do you enjoy reading? Especially Nigerian ones.
    2. What bloggers are you cool with?
    3. I have not really encountered help/support from Nigerian bloggers. I find that foreign bloggers visit each other's blogs and comment and help spread word out. Am I unrealistic or have you ever encountered similar stuff?
    4. Looking forward to meet you...:)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Where were you born?

    ReplyDelete

  20. 1) what did berry study in college
    2) you seem to have a hang on online shopping in Nigeria, where can I get good quality handbag(s) that won't break the bank
    3) can you tell all the organizers of those fabulous events you attend that abuja exists?

    ReplyDelete
  21. if you could do any job in the world for free, what would it be?

    ReplyDelete
  22. very entertaining! i was expecting to see "berry will you marry me? i'm a great guy and i make great cakes too"..or something along those lines lol

    ReplyDelete
  23. hi berry, awesome post
    pls if yu hear about any vacancy in an "okay" organisation would you mind linking me up?
    email id: fumbebe@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hello, I just wanted to reply to Miss Tamie's question about whether or not you speak the Ogoni language. I just wanted to note that the Ogoni nation/people speak multiple languages (ex. Khana, Gokana, Eleme, or Tai) and various dialects, so there is no one Ogoni language, there are several. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the input! Don't the different Ogoni tribes understand each other though?

      Delete

I'd love to hear from you about this post! Let's all learn and share our worlds.