Diary of an Honest Naturalista: Week 23

Hello my diary readers, as you should know by now, I am at the Osun state NYSC camp. I have been here for the past one week, and so far, I have enjoyed it. I am missing my work place and colleagues, but definitely, not Thomas. Aaargghh, good riddance to bad rubbish. I miss Dimeji so so much. But at least, we still get to chat.

Because I did not plan to style my hair for three weeks, due to the rigours of camp life, and my decision to stay away from weaves for the next few months, I decided to do something bold and daring, which in hindsight, was my first mistake. I just did corn rows, without extensions, and went to camp like that. I felt I didn't need to stress myself about my hair, since I was not even in the mood to impress anyone. I was sure to go to a hair stylist that could weave hair very neatly.

And so I took my tidy-looking corn rows to Osun state camp, and wore very large hoop earrings. In my opinion, I looked good. It reminded me of they days Alicia keys wore corn rows and large hoops.

The next day after I got to camp, I was told my the military men to remove my earrings. They said such large earrings were not allowed in camp, and I should either use a small earring, tiny stud, or no earrings at all. Actually, I already knew about this because my elder sister had told me before, cos she served in a very strict camp in the north. But I just wanted to try my luck.

I went to my room, and checked my bag, only to discover I had forgotten to bring along my small earrings. And so my reader, I was stuck in camp, with corn rows without extensions, no earrings, and no make up (Make up is not allowed on the parade ground), so I don't even bother wearing it to other places. I stood out among many ladies, who had different kinds of weaves and extensions on. It was rare to see any lady carrying natural hair.

On Friday, I was on my way to register for my bicycle allowance, when a lady stopped me, and ask why she did not see me at fellowship a day before. I looked at her well, and wondered if she was mistaking me for someone else. In my mind, I was like "Do I know you?"

I told her I did not know what she was talking about. She then asked if I wasn't a Deeper Life member, and shouldn't be attending the fellowship on camp.

It was then it dawned on me. A young girl in this day and age, No earrings, no make up, no extensions, and to cap it up, natural hair. She must be a Deeper Life member. Typical Nigerian stereotype.

No one told me twice before I ran to Mammy Market to buy a small GL ear studs, because the next thing is they might force tracts into my hands to start distributing.