Just another day in Lagos City.
Talk about a day that I’ll never forget and I would not think twice before saying that today, is that day. Let me tell you why. Before I do, do not expect a fantasy where I met my princess charming that proposed to get married to me this weekend. It is anything but that, please. It is just another day in Lagos. But for me, it’s a day I would not forget so soon. Now, Let me gist you.
So, I woke up at five o’clock today, Wednesday. I wake up around seven on my early days. Today, but I had an interview on the island and so I had to set out early. Lagos breathes traffic. But in these pandemic times, the government split the market days. So, on selected days, there was less traffic than usual. On other days, the traffic was five times the regular. By my calculations, today was traffic day. Hence, my early rising.
By six, I was ready to go and I hit the road. I took a walk to the estate gate while prepping myself for the day’s sojourn. I made sure to remind myself about my usual traffic indicators and my coping mechanisms. Because whether I liked it or not, I had to be at the interview in time. My first principle is not to “fly bike” for an interview that might not lead to a job. The second was to observe how available busses were and of course the fare. These were the only things that could make me consider taking a bike on any part of the journey. Getting to mile 2 was half of the journey for me so, getting there was all I had on my mind.
After waiting for close to thirty minutes, I did not want to believe that I would need to take a bike. So, I placed my faith in my second indicator, the bus fare. It was the usual amount. I boarded and got off at the last bus stop. Ladies and gentlemen, that was the end of express driving for me. The road was blocked and the rain that fell the night before now hit differently. Weather for two has now moved the Atlantic Ocean from Lagos lagoon and dumped it on my route to the island. Perhaps the island was coming to me since it did not look like I would get to the island. My thinking faculty switched from considering a bus to how I would have to tell the bike man to “waka jeje.” I was not even prepared to arrive at the interview like I was about to advertise a detergent with my soiled outfit.
I ended up taking the bike and saved myself 3 hours of traffic and a possible scandal if my bus hit another vehicle. This only meant one thing, the job had to get me. I was not even going there to prove myself. The job already picked me when I flagged down the bike. I got to the venue of the interview around ten o’clock, the nick of time. I underwent the interview with every form of confidence that I hand in me. If they had asked me why I deserved the opening, I would have told them that the job deserved me.
After spending time with the employers, we ended talks with the promise to reach out. A ray of sunlight, I guess. In that very moment, I came back to the reality of my journey back home and I started calculations all over. With the light of possible positive feedback, the bike was now an option on the return journey. Plus, I got a little transportation compensation. I began my journey home with a lot more optimism. Buses were available so, that was a good sign. The fare was the same, also great but the traffic at day’s close. Oh my God! The morning journey was better. My saving grace was that I had music for the length of the journey.
On my way to my first stop, I ran a personal traffic analysis to determine the best route home. knowing what route to ply is a basic life skill in Lagos. Sadly today, I failed. I chose all the wrong options and I do not even know how it happened. I kept on regretting my traffic decisions and when I had it to the brim, I had to resort to taking a bike, again. I got home miserable, hungry and exhausted.
I would not forget today because it was a hell of an experience and I have learned to enjoy the process. Even though it was not all that pleasant, telling the story will always bring up a smile. I would feel bad if this story did not make you giggle. I look forward to a future when all these daily struggles will become no more than tales. Tales that led the way up to the greatness I aspire to attain. I also do not wish that fellow road users have to go through this, just to make ends meet. I hope things become better soon. I hope that in the future, just another day in Lagos would translate to saner life situations.
