Happy New Year in Advance!

God bless!

-First Lady Funms.

Germany is.....

a Federal Parliamentary Republic.
A Federal Parliamentary Republic.
A Federal Parliamentary Republic
A Federal Parliamentary Republic
A Federal Parliamentary Republic
A Federal Parliamentary Republic
A Federal Parliamentary Republic
A Federal Parliamentary Republic.

Ok I think it's sticking now.

*side eye*

I'm posting this EVERYWHERE! so that when I make it, I shall look back on this & just DANCE. 

They will regret ever saying this to me. Kai. The wrong person. I've just been motivated to make it big. Like Life has just been given to this special/important part of my life. I can't wait to work as hard as never before. Like they just created a monster by their words & they don't even know it.

"Funmi, you can't dance"

"seriously"






-Bolaxbijou

Grades & Grads.

Getting a B+ when you did A/A- deserving work is a slap in the face.
Might as well not tried at all.

Welcome to my life.

How To: Blend Your Eyeshadow Like a Pro

Change.

[ Shout out to my RHD for the last quote. ]

S

If you are not going to be the one to change things, don’t complain.

---------------------------

Be the change you wish to see. 

————————

Stop living life passively, allowing things to just come to you, pass by you, etc. 

--------------------------------

“Unless someone like you cares a

 whole awful lot,

Nothing is going to get better. 

It's not.” - Dr. Seuss. 

Sound Saturday

Wow. It's amazing how this time last year I was on a plane to the UK. 

Here's to the cool song I heard on TV while there. 

Flexclusive ft ItzTiffany x Anything for You

Here's to an amazing experience. 

Pray to do it again soon. 

-Bolaxbijou

It's Friday!!

Hallo Leute!

So it's Homecoming Week at my university, but i'm turned down because i'm sick & sad.
Two horrible combinations in life......


Anyhow, I'll just give you all a brief update on my life thus far:

So I've finally come to terms with the fact that I am NOT  taking the LSAT in December *gasp*. Shocker, right? Well honestly, it is not a shocker to God, who has been trying to get me to not study for this since the Summer. It's just my stubborn self that insisted on the fact that I must sit for this exam by fire by force. Thank God, for that fact that He has a plan for me though, and I can't wait to eventually look back on how such a plan was successfully  carried out in my life.

Reasons I'm not taking the LSAT in December

10. A lesson in not doing things to please others/make yourself look good in front of the eyes of others. 

I'm slowly learning this concept, yet I have not fully embraced it, being that I'm still telling people that studying is going great even though.....womp. See technically I'm still in the studying phase, though and will be in such a phase until hmmm December 2014. Ay caramba, a full year of studying. Well that's what I need & is what I plan to do. Hopefully they have testing sites in Germany *drucke daume drucke daume drucke daume* *speak into existence* x3. Which brings me to my next point.

9. I honestly had in mind to spend some time overseas before law school. So Germany is my first option. I am applying for three programs there: Fulbright, DAAD, & CBYX. Ki Olorun ko dari ese mi si ibi rere l'oruko Jesu. Like I'm constantly thinking, I have time to get this JD. let me fulfill my other goals before doing so, especially being that I'm still in my youth. JD can come later *Bane voice*.  One of those other goals being German fluency. Bruh. So close I can almost taste it. Let me get into any of these programs, by the grace of God, and bro.....wrap it's a. & plus, right about now, Western Europe is the place to be.

8. A crazy feeling that I have is that God might be using any of these programs, to allow me to be a light in Germany. It's crazy to think that, but God's way, no one can comprehend. I fine with that & am ready to be used by him. 

7. Kind of relates to #9 but needs it's own section, because it relates to trusting God. Like I said before, I don't have in mind to go to law school right out of undergrad.  Thus, if I were to sit for the exam,  apply to law schools and get in, I would defer my enrollment to the school that I got into, contingent on the fact that I got into any of the programs listed above. So basically, I am not moving in faith with my post-grad plans, stressing myself out simply because I don't trust God to do what He said he would do, trying to create a back-up plan for myself, even if it was not a school of choice (ex. getting into a lower-tier school, and going just to say I have a concrete post grad plan). & once again, I was also using this law school thing as a crutch for recognition amongst a society that is not even worth me being recognized in. Like I need to prove something. Bruh that's bondage. & the moment I truly become free is when I give people the correct reply once they pop the big question. 

6. Bruh, I don't even know what exactly I want to do with my life, and is law school the best avenue to take to fulfill that plan? All of these questions I need to answer before I commit to paying at least more than $20,000 a year for education in law. Like really needs to be answered thoroughly. Like right now the only motivation I would have to study law would be financial stability, and that might be the only reason later, actually, because the Development route I want to take for  a good 5-6 years does not require a law degree.

5. My current grades are subpar, and what is worth doing is worth doing well. If I want to go to law school, I want to go to the best school. I mean one tier ranking school, especially to make up for my piss poor performance in undergrad. I'm not a slacker, nor am I lazy. I just suffered from a huge disorder of not believing in myself. But that's totally not the case now, hence this blog post. I will achieve my dreams with or without law school & that's a fact & is all I need to make it. "If you don't buy into you, then how can others?". Anyway, I want to spend these last two semesters improving my grades, so there is no point in me sitting for the LSAT, when I am not even ready to apply in this cycle.

4. The LSAT is hard. I definitely need to study for this exam when nothing else is diverting my attention. & I pray to God I don't become that sit at home graduate that does so (not to knock any of you all, but my home is not what's popping. Well if it's God's will, then so be it). 

3. A Masters program studying governance, democracy, and/or human rights sounds awesome. I definitely believe doing so will help me know what I want to do in life, and I don't want to take out more loans, dropping guap to do so. Hence my applying for a DAAD grant.

2. People are sleeping on Western Europe. Like I said in #9, it's the place to be. I had a blast, even though it was cold when I was in Berlin. So understated, but if I were to want to elaborate, I run the risk of writing a paragraph upon paragraph long explanation. We'll leave it at "blast". So I'm possibly considering relocating there, rendering my JD obsolete (maybe). & this is not a decision I can make in a few months, nor is it even up to me to even decide if I want to relocate (job opportunities, spouse, etc. are all factors in this decision). So it's best to weigh all my options, taking it easy....so the next logical step would be to spend more than three months in this region & see how I like it. *Drucke Daume*

1.  I'm a free bird, that loves seeing the world, etc. So why feel confined to having to do something I am not ready for, looking for society's opinion, approval, disapproval, etc? 

I need to take lessons from a few of the people that know what's up & run with it. 

Hopefully in sharing my long thought out decision, someone else is inspired. 

*Sound Saturday is tomorrow!* 

Goooooooo Dawgs! 

-Bolaxbijou 

Perfect Arches! Get Awesome Eyebrows (eyebrow tutorial)

Don't forget, funms.

http://www.youtube.com/v/tLTAKxv07B8?version=3&autohide=1&autoplay=1&showinfo=1&attribution_tag=faNaSvxgA3ZrmUhI76J7cw&feature=share&autohide=1

Fact: Nigeria is less racially tolerant than Germany.

Interesting. 

Reflection.

I just took a look at my posts from the summer.....& I love every single one of them.
Especially "extra credit" & "college monster".


-Bolabijou

Sound Saturday!

Sweet Home X Klever Jay 

Ije Love X Dubie 

One of a friend of mines recent wonderful encounter with the concept of love reminded me of the simple beauty and truth of love: Either it is, or it isn't (as India. Arie states). Love is not practical & can't be fit into an economical thought process (like saying, "one get's married to someone that provides them comfortability). It's more than that, & I lost sight of this over the past few months. Too thankful for such reminder.  Enjoy these two beautiful songs that relate to that crazy thing called love.

In other news....

Check out my new blog!


Africathegolden.wordpress.com

Update tins.

So right now, I'm at the most confused stage of my life. & Post-grad plans is the source of such confusion/headache/younameit.


I'm going to do one words for all of the possibilities that are swimming around my head right now. All of which I am not guaranteed to get.

Law school. FSOT. Fulbright. Grad school. Americorps. Enlisting.

Ok, I thought it was much more than this, but in my head all of these things are much bigger & play a huge role in weighing my spirits down.

SO much debating, confusion, etc. & it's so sad. Like, I'm not even going to cry about it. I'm just. Confused.

It's like, I know what exactly what I want to do: eliminate the stigma of bad governance in African countries....it's just getting there that's the problem.

I'm on the mainland of undergrad, and the island of eliminating bad governance in Africa is right there, off in the distance. I can see its speck. I just need to find that bridge I can walk across to get there.


Is there even a bridge?



-Bolabijou

Do Dreams ever come true.....

I'm listening to Dreamer X GT The Guitarman.


&


I am really trying to inspire myself to push on, in spite of this world.







I am amazing.
I am a dancer.
I am an amazing dancer.

Period.

Sound Saturday.

I dub every blogpost for Saturday to be *drum roll even though I already gave it away in the title* Sizzlin' Sound Saturday!


Today's sizzlin' sound is inspired by my cousin being serenaded to Brymo's "Good Morning". & by serenaded, I mean the guy sent her a text with the song in it in the morning. Nice thing to wake up to huhn? or could've done better? Well seeing that she's not with him...haha.

Anyway. Here's another sweet song & great visuals by Brymo, especially for all my college sweethearts out there, 

'Omoge Campus'. 

Enjoy!

Bolaxbijou. 

P.S. - I've really been getting back in tune with my gospel lover side, so be expecting a sizzlin' sound from this genre soon! 

I really need to work on:

Discipline. 
consistently disciplined.
#yesbeyesnobenotins



Bolaxbijou

akwa ibom ayaya.

One of the benefits of having an Akwa Ibom future in-law *crosses fingers*, is that you become exposed to cool songs like this.

Akwa Ibom Ayaya x Mish

& Mish is fine small sha.

man. I might shift my eyes to akwa ibom guys oo. these yoruba guys are dulling as of late. cant decipher between a jewel  bijou and cubic zirconia, no pun intended. but i'm schleep  studying for the LSAT though.

bolabijoux

"I'm missing the love back home"

ill be back to my regular blogging self soon. blame it slight on the sinusitis. p.s.

In the books. In the TV.

First day of (legitimately) studying for the LSAT in the books. & my favorite thing about the study session was the eager, excited, and interested attitude that I had within me while reading the introduction. No groans, frustrations, etc. I was actually happy to be studying. That has God written all over it, bruv.

Having a right mind about the test is one of the components to success on the test day, according to the Kaplan LSAT Premier 2014 study book. So, at least I have one thing down pat. 

Let's pray this attitude sticks with me from now till October 5, God willing. 

"Approach the LSAT as if it's an opportunity that get's you where you want to be, rather than a burden."

---------
I'm also watching the encore presentation of the BET Awards 2013.

My bants on that:

Justin Timberlake is black & Pharrell is my new #mcm.

 I actually gave credit to Ciara for her performance when I first watched it, but watching it again, I am requesting for that little credit back. Sorry, try again. Great body, though. 

Like, who even put the wardrobe together? 

Crooked Smile X J. Cole ft. TLC 

Such a nice, encouraging song. Not a fan of him though. I don't even like rap. But wow, the lyrics are so sweet & real. Like I could quote almost every one of his lines. I was literally like tuned in when I was watching him perform this. Didn't know he was about that life. 

"No need to fix what God already put His paintbrush on" -J. Cole

BolaBijoux

Coupe Decale. No girls allowed?

I didn't blog yesterday, one because my laptop fell off the table, so I wanted it to heal, and two, because my filling came out while biting on a (CVS brand) Sour Jack candies. So I was bummed about that last evening.

So before I go into my spiel.
Two cool songs to add to your playlist.

Omboio X Perola (Angola)

Awilo Longomba for the ladiessss! (aka idk the name of the song, lol) (Congo)

Spiel time!

Disclaimer: Feel free to prove me wrong.

So I have been watching many Cameroonian/Ivorian/Congolese music videos, and I've been noticing a trend: among the above mentioned African countries (not to mention many others), gender roles are still a strong part of the culture, and such even transcends into the realm of music. Despite how newer artists from these countries are moving away from this, I am noticing the trend of the girls in the videos holding down the role of the video vixen, while the guy is the one doing the cool coupe decale moves to the music (especially in Cameroonian music videos). A perfect example can be seen in the Ivory Coast's 'Molare' (see below). Being that I LOVE coupe decale, I was looking to do the moves the females were doing, but instead, I was copying the males moves. If anything, females do a simple whine their waist routine (in a fast pace), while the males contribute so much creative energy to their routines ("energy" literally & metaphorically speaking). Being that I am not Ivorian/Cameroonian/Congolese, It's hard for me to determine whether or not females are fine with being the pretty faces of the videos, leaving the amazing s**t to the males (excuse my french...lol what an appropriate phrase for this blogpost). I mean, The 'video vixen' subject is one that transcends all cultures, and it's not the concept of having video vixens in a video that I am worried about. It's the concept of what I perceive to be an understood established rule among their socities that it's socially unacceptable for females to coupe decale (the male way) that is the issue.. Thankfully, other dances across Africa aren't as limiting, speaking of the Azonto in particular.

At parties as well as in the video's I've been watching, I've never seen a female energetically and creatively coupe decale as the males do (especially DJ Arafat's crew...bruh watch this...back flips, somersaults, beatbox...all in the name of coupe'ing). Therefore, I dey fear small that if I were to do the same at a party, I would be relegated, rather than celebrated (I mean I would be expected to twerk only instead, no matter what kind of dance I want to do. But that's another topic for another day).

In no way am I a feminist/women's rights activist..... I just want to Coupe Decale in peace (the male way....leg kicking, somersaulting, spazz attack looking moves and all).



BolaBijoux

Quotes of life.

Yup. Yesterday (July 8, 2013) was definitely a quote filled day.

Took a nap & for those that know me, something's up when I take a nap during the day.


Anyway, I woke up really feeling inspired to journal. Like it was dire that I journaled. So I whipped open my pink journal and started writing.

The content of the journal is personal, and is not even today's subject, lol.

So moving on. After journaling my beautiful heart away, I looked at the notes I had written in the past in this journal. & me being the eclectic girl woman that I am, I have the tendency to put random writings in the same journal. In short, my past notes are a mixture of to do lists from sophomore year, sunday sermons from sophomore year, etc. While looking back at these notes, a few quotes stood out to me, so I felt like sharing. Also enjoy a bonus set of quotes from tonight's conversation with my boo Tolu (which explains why I did not blog yesterday. delay tins).

Here we go!

"One cannot live by feelings alone. Seek out what is true and what is not"
                                                                           -from "Tearing Down Strongholds" 

"It's the battle inside that determines who we become"
                                                                              -from "Tearing Down Strongholds"


"I have so much life to live than to live it in fear, despair, and condemnation"
                                                                                 -from "Tearing Down Strongholds"

"Some of us are trying to live out the identity people have stamped on us. Get it back" 
                                                                                   -from a session at BCF Conference 2012

"You've got to be sold out about the product in order to sell it." 
                                                                                   -from a session at BCF Conference 2012 




"I'm created too uniquely to let it all go to waste. ya dig?"  - me, today. 




*Bonus*

"Mother Africa is not pleased" 

"May we not be on line past 24 IJN" 

"Without the power of the box, there would be no Emancipation Proclamation" 

"I feel like our parents are kind of like the Martin Luther King for us African youth in America, and we are letting them down" 

"Lol, you went the highest out of all of us. Reached high. you went down low to be elevated. May we all be elevated  IJN"

"We can't even classify these guys as men....boys!!!" 

Lol good times. good bants. 




BolaBijoux

Speaking of credit...

I realized I am not giving the Nigerian military enough credit for their offensive efforts as it relates to the crisis in Northern Nigeria. Apparently, such offensives led the militia to driving out the rebels to the mountain/caves of the North from them terrorizing the village towns, markets, etc. So as a result, they retorted to sneaking out of the caves/mountains and burning schools.
(I forgot what news article I read all this in, but this is what I got from it in a nutshell)

Still, this does not excuse the military for their inaction with the children and schools.

& I read today that the Yobe area schools have been shut down until the start of the new term in September.

Interesting quote from today's article: "The refugees, among 6,240 recorded in Niger, indicated they are as scared of the Islamic extremists as they are of the soldiers who are supposed to protect them."

So does this military really deserve any credit?



BolaBijou <3

extra credit.

So I am really adamant about this whole introspection thing. & I've come to the realization that.........


I don't give myself enough credit.

Credit for the fact that I've been taught the Yoruba language - in fact went through a period in my childhood of having a "tyrannical father", endless hours of Yoruba writing, speaking, and reading, and even poetry performances (yes, all for the sake of us learning the Yoruba language, despite not having been born and raised in the land of its origin).....for me to brush it off as if it's not a big deal, or even worse- tell myself and allow others to tell me that I can't speak it well?

Credit for the fact that I am pushing through these German courses, working towards a German degree,  & I even went to Germany for a few months earlier this semester. Yet. no credit,  because I'm looking at the glass half empty, rather than half full (looking at the German I have yet to learn rather than what I already know).


Credit for the fact that I am an amazing dancer, despite thoughts from others stating proffering otherwise.


Credit for the fact that I am truly a beautiful girl that's working hard to do what it takes to possibly heal the (literal & metaphorical) scars from puberty.


I am constantly looking it what I am not, rather than looking at what I am. It's so easy to apply such truism to material things (be grateful for what you have, etc),  yet when it comes to my own self, it becomes, as Kirk Franklin's album is titled, The Fight of my Life (I am referencing him to also note that he and I had similar struggles...but God! :] )


I may not be able as flexible as I want to yet, nor as fluent, but it's about time I pat myself on the back for what I have achieved thus far, while encouraging myself to continue striving to achieve the goals I've set for myself.


*pats back*



BolaBijoux

Gobe in Yobe

-->

It's interesting how I was planning to blog about a very out of the ordinary Yoruba traditional wedding I attended yesterday, which would then segue into non-stop touting of the Yoruba culture. 

Yet, this illustrious culture is housed in a country that, euphemistically speaking- and understatingly at that- still has much room for improvement.

The news  I heard today permits me to change alter the subject of today's blog altogether: Gunmen kill at least 30 in a school attack in Yobe State, Nigeria. Like set the school on fire, and shoot anyone that tries to escape, kind of attack. Apparently, this is not the first incident, as Allafrica.com reported a similar occurrence on June 23. I am shocked and appalled, for many reasons- I shall state them in bullet points below, for all intents and purposes of clarity: 

• These attacks happened after President Johnathan issued a state of emergency for the area, meaning preemptive measures should have been taken to prevent such from occurring - the fact that this had occurred twice (both in incidents not too far apart), is even more bewildering.
•  It's one thing for a  rebel attack to occur in a country, it's another for it to occur in an almost lawless country (call a spade a spade. When a whole government cannot quell insurgency in some parts of it's country....it's lawless. ...OK incompetent would be more befitting). 
• The report quotes a source, who states "there is no protection for students despite all the soldiers." Shocked and      appalled is an understatement. 
• The whole Western world mourned the death of the Sandy Hook students this past December, who fell to the hands of a single gunman, and almost the entire world knew about it. I literally felt as if the whole world was standing still to watch reports from CT stream into their various news channels (for me, it was BBC at the time). These school burnings, have happened twice. Not to even say there's not enough media coverage on the issue (which is slightly debatable, but that leads to another subject of Nigeria's inapt government being the root cause of such news not gaining notoriety), nor to even say that one situation is more extreme than the other (in my opinion, when a human life is taken as a result of insensitive actions, it's extreme). I am just trying to expound a situation of active reaction (America) vs. passive reaction (Nigeria), as many will read this news, but God forbid another Boko Haram attack later in July.

Which brings me to the main beef of this blog. Honestly, I would love others opinions on this, and definitely tell me if I am wrong, or don't know enough being that I am not physically in Nigeria). As I think of the reason for such passivity amongst Nigerians and the Nigerian government, many different conclusions come to my head (all of which I cannot confirm, as I am a literally distant bystander): Maybe Nigerian's take "suffering and smiling" and "laugh through ones pain" and run with it, becoming more and more settled with the situation of their country with leaving it for good being their only hope for change. Maybe the lack of sense of unity causes other parts of Nigeria to not want to continue pressing the government to do something about what's going on in the North. Maybe the people don't realize the power they have to make a change ---they should definitely head north east and  recruit some Egyptians to become Nigerians, because they are clearly 'bout it. There's clearly much that goes into preventing such tragedies from occurring again, yet I don't feel as if Nigeria has it down -at all. 

To make Obama's recent famously quoted statement endemic to this situation, maybe one day Nigeria will be for Nigerians. 'Coz  Because I would love to be able to safely enjoy the traditions of my culture in its original land without hesitation or apprehension, instead of having to do so in a foreign one.

BolaBijou <3

Dedicated to the 30 lives lost. I never knew you, but I know your potential was incomparable. 

College Monster.

If you haven't done so, check out my correct guys Mike W. & ....... Sullivan (clearly they are not my correct guys, as I have forgotten the name of the blue monster, pictured right) on the big screen again in 'Monsters University'. The marketing strategy for this movie was good too! I saw a few Monsters University ID cards with people's pictures in it on Instagram --which sparked my curiosity towards movie. So I saw it, & it was good!  & as has been the trend for many of the recent children's films, there's usually an underlying moral/advice that is applicable to the general audience (old and young), so here's what I got from it:

1. There's no 'I' in team. Use the unique strengths of each person to altogether strengthen the group dynamic, and further allow the group to be successful in all endeavors.

2. As I am reminded of a Yoruba proverb 'ma gun eshin eleshin sare' (don't use someone else's horse to race), this moral kind of hit's close to home. So the movie definitely touched on how there's no specific way to do things in life. Everyone must run their own race, basically. What helps Sally may not help Molly, vice versa tins. & that's what many tend to struggle with, especially in college. Just because your friend Tom, is able to study for a test the night before and get an 'A', doesn't mean you can do so,  and receive the same results. & such applies to many other things in life. The best way to avoid such is to truly know yourself. Know your strengths, weaknesses, unique talents, etc, & Boom! greatness happens. *SPOILER ALERT* The monsters that were especially used to exemplify this moral to me was Art & the monster with 3 eyes. In the Scaring contest, both really scared the child in a totally different way, using their physical features to scare the child. In order to do so, they had to know themselves (ex. know what was a part of them could make them appear the scariest).
Basically, run your own race. 

3. No matter how physically incapable you are deemed to be able to do something, passion & confidence will drive you to do it. *SPOILER ALERT* bruh, Mike was basically not scary at all, but with the confidence he had in himself, you couldn't tell him anything (I was slightly jealous of his confidence, sha. shhh. ). & his passion for Scaring. He surpassed his mates in becoming learned on the subject of Scaring. O'boy could've schooled the professor on the day of the final, if he wanted to. Yet, he wasn't physically scary. I honestly though he was going to come to this epiphany through his new found friendship with Sullivan and then drink Muscle Milk and work out to get bigger. LOL. Nope. Instead he still became a Scarer --- but not the traditional one. He became a behind-the-scenes Scarer, as he is the brains behind the Mike-Sullivan Scaring Team. So despite how he didn't make it through the path that is usually taken, he took the road less travelled...matter of fact, he created his own path & made it. Changed the game.



Two other children's films that also had such an impact on my life, both because of the great production and the life lessons it taught are 'The Princess and the Frog' and 'Wreck it Ralph'.


Rating: 6/10 - The end was not something to write home about. But Disney Pixar definitely A1'ed everything else.




BolaBijou <3

Not a double entendre.

Correction:
 In my July 3rd "July Bants" post I insinuated that "vocally eloquent" was a double entendre.

 It's not.

this is a double entendre:

                     "Panda mating fails: veterinarian takes over"



"Vocally eloquent" --- I really tried to look up what the term is for this grammatical error, but alas, no luck. I know there's a word, so blog readers feel free to help me out anytime with this word.

I'm out like a light switch. 


As in, how old am I? (referring to above statement).



BolaBijoux

& The Jay-Z song was onnnn.....

Jay-Z's album came out today....in all honesty, I'm not interested.  I don't like rap nor do I like the person. Yet, I am extremely attracted to the marketing strategy behind the album.
From the day the album's release date was first announced through the 3-and-a-half minute commercial during halftime of the final game of the NBA Finals (wait, what if there was no Game 7? It would've been back to the drawing board, I guess), which featured the movers and shakers of the music industry (specifically-actually maybe only- speaking about Rick Rubin the demigod, physical features and artistic wise)---I was highly impressed. Not only did the the videographer do a round of applause deserving job, the commercial also  presented an unprecedented phenomenon to the masses --Free streaming of the album on its launch day via a particular phone.
& all this was the result of a deal between Samsung & the guy I don't like.
 I am a fan of all things unique, creative, and different.. that my friends, fit all three categories to a tee. Talk about inspiration.

----

Happy 4th of July, Leute!

I'm not going to lie & say this 4th rocked my socks off....In fact I haven't had a rocking 4th since Blue Ridge (Summer 2010). But as good as my God is, I would be ungrateful if I didn't recognize and acknowledge the good that came out of this day. I became more comfortable driving my pops car, I was good at being vocal, in the evening, I did a bit of "clean up to my area". So yea, Heute wars cool. I also got a (hopefully) nice Shea Moisture product for my hair. excuse me. "Got" doesn't justify my actions, nor does it do justice to the amount of money that left my bank account -- I "invested"in a nice Shea Moisture product for my hair. so hoffentlich, beim Ende des Sommers werde ich die Ergebnisse sehen. Speaking of end of the summer, unless I really have bad memory, I am a bit saddened by the fact that I don't feel as if I have done anything progressive since I have been back "stateside" (as my Americanized twentysomethings Naija FOBS & their imitators -like me- that are still trying to cling  to their roots would say).


Maybe I need to be writing things down but, I am recanting since I've been back---and since then till now (like 3 months)....I've been feeling real stagnant. & the summer is almost over. 3 more weeks for me. Well, I need to stop worrying, complaining, and just do.
This week is not yet over, despite how much tomorrow feels like Monday.
Delay is not denial.
I need to be that retreating ram for the rest of the Summer if I want to attain that state of progress that I truly crave.

Please help me God.

In other news --In a forceful incident, President Morsi has stepped down as Egypt's president.
 #revolutionegypt2013

BolaBijoux.

4th of July day at Blue Ridge Conference Center, NC. 2010. Thanks, Facebook.

   

                                   

  

Oya X Victoria Kimani ft MI

Despite how I am in the opinion that this artist needs to rebrand herself (this is how they made videos in the early 2000's, she could've milked her Kenyan culture for all it's worth to really stand out, and the foreign boy eye candy...cute but what?)......


The song is kind of good. & I like how she speaks her language for like one ad-lib.

& of course my dude MI in that thing drops a few bars, increasing the song's bride price altogether [ha].
[He didn't deliver as he usually does, so I'm slightly disappointed.]

The Secret to Greatness

Do. 

July bants.

Happy month of July!!

bants. bant. bants.

So I'm trying to really be introspective this Summer, & clearly God is forcing me to do so, as my mind is currently not being distracted by anything as of late.

So as far as blogging is concerned,
I am not a fan of typing, nor do I like to vlogging because it requires me to be vocally eloquent (isn't that a double entendre...anyway)...but I love the concept of blogging/vlogging....that only means one thing!!! ----> I NEED to do this. Since my self-esteem is in its healing process, I see improving my writing skills and my speaking skills (as elementary as this sounds), will only help to expedite the process of it to fully heal.

As President Obama stated in his speech to the South African students on his recent visit to their country, ".....[make] choices that reflect not our fears, but our hopes."

[I am a very ceremonial person, so not having done this on the first of July is throwing me off but...] I am holding myself to the task of blogging each and everyday of this month, by His grace.


I can do this.
[I want to end here, cos it looks good...but I'll continue]


So yea. 

Things I plan to work on this month, BGG. 
LSAT study
Discipline
Diplomatic decision-making
Dance & Flexibility -- creative advertisement/brand/website creation
Blogging- natuerlich
German practice [Ubung macht den Meist]
Reading list completion

oh & I would like to create a signature for myself. 

I thought.....Bola Bijou ? No? OK. BolaBijou.... I actually like it.


This is really a scary task for me to embark on, as I tend to start/plan/think up great ideas, but it never comes to fruition due to my fear of being great -- which w'ell discuss in an upcoming post.

BolaBijou <3

5:00 am.

SO I HAVE SINUSITIS.
&
Insomnia is an unfortunate symptom.
My eyes hurt. but I can't sleep. whaaa.

-------------------------------------------------

So I've really been feelin' the "Dance for Me" X Wizkid off the EME album lately, and the song is quality. But pretty much, this blogpost is about how iconic of a song Pakurumo X Wizkid is, & the video just enhances its greatness.

A song, in my opinion is iconic if it's a song that one would NEVER get tired of hearing two to three years down the road. One could possibly say the same for "Dami Duro" X Davido, but that's highly debatable.

Hmmm let's go ahead and dissect the song to see what makes it one of the best hits to come out of Africa (& some of Africa oeno it though).

1. The beat - the beat of the song in itself is A1. It's a successful mix of a western beat to the traditional Yoruba beat/instruments. Which brings me to reason #2.

2. Wizkids (or his songwriters) inclusion of Yoruba in the lyrics makes the song not only unique in itself, but also appealing to the general Yoruba audience (young and old)

3. Thus it being played at celebrations...& when a song is played at celebrations (where the old and young are)...it's guaranteed a hit.

4. You really want to Pakurumo as soon as the beat drops. Kudos to the producers and Wizzy.

5. The video. Classic tins. While the video has much order to it, and it has a well developed storyline, it never fails to lose sight of what I feel they wanted the viewers to grasp - light hearted, harmless fun being had and happiness all around (the parts in the video where Wizkid and others are in a photobooth type room just bruhaha'in it up, case in point).

Or maybe I'm being too general & realize this song is only as iconic in the Yoruba society. But the Yoruba culture and society is the best society to be a part of anyway... but that's another blog post for another day.


In the meantime, enjoy the video from one correct guy.....who is providing Banky with much needed guap...for now lol.

Pakurumo X Wizkid

2 million views, btw. my assumptions are slick correct haha.

& one could argue that Kukere is more iconic than Pakurumo (& you'd probably win the argument), but I'm sticking to my biased opinion, lol...& frankly I'm tried of hearing "All my ladies, all my ladies..." at celebrations.


-OBB

New posts coming soon!

Even though I am not longer in Berlin....I am still going to make proper use of this blog to express my thoughts whenever the need arises.

& it kind of still makes sense (continuing to use this blog) because whilst in Berlin for those 2 1/2 months, aka the longest winter ever, I feel as if I experienced many things & have been shaped by such experiences to the point where I can say that, that "omoge in Berlin" persona still dwells within me.

So even though I'm not an omoge in Berlin (for the time being), I am still an.... Omoge in Berlin.



& every time I utilize this space, I am reminded of my motivation to one day return to Europe (Western Europe, to be more specific).


Deuces.

Oh yea, posts to come:

-A comprehensive look at my journey.

- First impressions part 2. (it won't make sense now. but I owe it to myself)

-The black people explanation.

Ankara!

Next outfit plans/ idea.

Now back to this paper.

#truelife

I look at Black people differently now (even Africans).
Ok, to be specific, I look at the idea of being black/ the black community differently now.

Not in a good way.
&
I strongly dislike that.

Unfortunately, that is  one of the side effects of living in Germany.

After a month or two in Atlanta, I'll recover...at least I hope I will.

(I will expand on this later, once I gather my thoughts)

-OBB <3

ich liebe zwilling

Mariah & Nick Cannon with Monroe and Moroccan

So tis couple came to my mind when I saw Nick Cannon in the "real Husbands of Hollywood Advert. This was literally my thought process:

"is that nick cannon?" pause "oh yea, he is married!" pause "with twins!"

then  proceed to search for a picture of their children.

How cute are they!

-OBB <3

What do you call someone from Hamburg?

A Hamburger!

Til Schweiger.

So fine, he deserved his own blog post. 

& he is a phenomenal actor, by the way. 

Sigh, I'm in love. 

If you want to know more about my crush, click here. 

ZweiOhrHasen

The two best German movies I've seen, by far. 

Kudos to Til Schweiger (& bros is fine by the way).

If you love romcoms, then you are in for a treat. I cried at the end of the sequel. 

-OB<3

New blog posts coming soon.

-Niggers in Germany.

-First impressions part 2.

- Germany so far (picture slide show)

-Sweden (picture/video slideshow)

Get excited!


-OB <3

The American Dream.

So I was in the middle of working on a presentation that I'll give tomorrow to German high school students about the American dream, and I stumbled upon this picture.

I couldn't help but post it to my blog.

Is the American dream still alive today?


Let me know your thoughts,


-OB <3

San sushi.

So I didn't go to Lange Nacht an der Museen as planned, which i'm still bummed out about as of yet, but hey, God has a reason for such & when I remember that, I feel a little better. So, BGG, I'm going to spend this week and next week visiting museums and stuff.

So, Sanssouci with my intern friends was a blast.
It's a palace in Potsdam!
Potsdam is cool. The weather was mad deceiving though, so I got sick while walking through the gardens, hence why I couldn't partake in Lange Nacht an Der Museen in the evening.

Pictures coming soon.

I haven't forgotten about the other 2 picture slideshows. I just need to go ahead and do it. smh.


Anyway.

Today, I went to an art museum in Charlottenburg.
That was nice.

It was really cool to just roam through the various rooms and look at the artwork, paintings, sculptures, and all.

It really made me appreciate the area of art more & I could definitely relate, being a dancer myself.

O & I fell in love with Henri Mantisse 's work.
simply beautiful.

I think this one was called, "Blue Nude Woman" 

-OB<3

H&M lipstick.

Pucker up ladies!

I found a lipstick that is legit!

Surprisingly, H & M lipstick is really good!

so here are the pros:
-very vibrant
-lasts long
-very soft on the lips
-easily applicable
-looks great in photos (kind of the same with very vibrant)
-affordable! costed me only 5 euros. that's like 6-8 american dollars.


cons
-stains

With this lipstick, the pros definititely outweigh the cons, unless you can't stand having a red mark on the bread you're eating...or whatever it may be that you're eating. 

Any way.

Looking forward to this weekend, BGG. 

-OBB <3

"I am born in His image. I am a gift to this world"

I'm a sucker for love again.

So while watching Tollybabygirl's YouTube video's of her and her guy, I fell in love with the idea of love/being in a relationship all over again. 

Shout out to them. I know their relationship is definitely not perfect, and they may even break up like tomorrow, but thanks for showing a real and genuine relationship through your videos. 

Here is one ofthe songs I'm currently jamming to, of which I found out about while watching her recent video. 

SILE x Nasir ft. OC Nicotine & Itunu

(I love when I find good songs that are super underground)

Ok, well I can;t find it via the external link blogger provides to search for YouTube video's but here is one of this Youtube users recent video's, which features the song. 

The chorus definitely makes the song. & Itunu's part is good too. 

-OB <3

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Genesis 2:24 

Sverige Sweden.

Guys, a video compilation of how my travel day/night yesterday is coming soon. Words can't explain how crazy it was yesterday, but braah. I'll let that video do the explaining.

Anyway.


I am in Lund, Sweden for my "spring break", which is basically only lasting a weekend for me.

There is a family that is friends with my dad here, and so I decided to go and visit them,  you know to have a change of environment and what not.

Just chilin' so far.

I'll be updating my journal soon.


I went bike riding earlier, by the way.

fun. fun. fun.

Bike riding in Lund.

Interesting things from yesterday.

Ok. So I didn't get to go to the art exhibit opening as planned (boo, no free wine :/ ) , but I did try a caramel shortcake for the first time.

To say this baked good is amazing would be an understatement.

Whoo. Is all I have to say. 

I got this beauty from Balzac Coffee. Ya'll, the struggle to find a baked good that that looked good and looked worth my money was real. So needless to say, when I saw Balzac Coffee shop at the Potsdamer Platz U bahnhof entrance, the first thing I noticed was the wonderful assortment of various baked goods. That carrot cake was looking good too, but I had that yesterday. & plus, I wanted to try something new. Whoo. Yes. 

Ok moving on. 

Learned much about National Parks in the U.S. today, as well as the National Park Services as an institution. Definitely will be visiting the Atlanta Regional Office, BGG, to see my homie Don, and will look into partaking in the "Rails and Trails" Program. 

North Korea apparently has issued a nuclear threat against U.S., which opened up an interesting conversation between myself and my coworkers about North Korea, the commy regime in place there, and the effect on it's citizens. It's amazing when you sit down and think that there are people around the world, that are not granted the same freedoms as you are. & they literally cannot escape from it, and are shot if they tried. They are even taught, that their standard of living and economy is great (even though its poor, relatively speaking), and they don't realize that that there are other countries doing better than them, because propaganda and government controlled media outlets, education, etc is holding them back from "seeing the light". It really makes me appreciate my freedoms even more, and causes me to shake my head even more at those that take adantage of these freedoms, as with the whole gun violence/gun debate goign on today. I could go on and on, but I really don't feel like typing further.

What else.....

If I remember, I will definitely make another post. (Sidenote to self: grrr this is why I shouldn't have stopped my journal keywording. grr. grr.grr.)

Google Doodle.

I was really fascinated by Google's doodle from March 4, 2013, which basically commemorated the 81st birthday of Miriam Makeba, late South African civil rights leader and singer. 

Thanks for making me smile Monday, Google.


-OB <3

Vapiano's review.

Yesterday evening, I and a few of my coworkers decided to grab some dinner at a restaurant called Vapiano's. It's a fast food Italian restaurant.

When we got to the restaurant, which is located at Potsdamer Platz, I was told by a coworker that had been to the restaurant before, that they give you a card upon entering, and you basically stand in different lines and order up, and they charge it all on your card. I knew from that point, that this would be an interesting experience. So yes, as it turns out, this restaurant is different from your regular ol' Olive Garden in the sense that you wait in line, place your order, and they prepare your order right there in front of you as you are standing. So, needless to say, you wait your turn to get to the front and place your order. Despite how interestingly different this system was, I must say, while standing for like 10 minutes near the cook preparing the meal for the person in in front of me causing me to be able to smell the aroma and therefore increasing my hunger, I was just thinking about how much I preferred the old fashioned sit at a table and be waited on, system. The atmosphere of the restaurant was nice though, and by the time I got my food, (I ordered the Funghi Pasta....only because it's similar to my name. I didn't know what else to choose, so I was left with taking that route....Not a bad choice!) I was just ready to sit somewhere and enjoy my 6 Euro 25 cent worth of food. Which brings me to the money part. Definitely one of the things that has me a bit perturbed about eating there last night. Despite how the food was good, it definitely could've been a  more reduced price. Like reduced by 2 Euro 25 cent. The portion was not worth the money, and the meal was meatless. It also was not even a meal, seeing how I wasn't given complimentary garlic bread. So ya, definitely not worth the amount I paid. 

But my dish was good!

 I ordered a Funghi- Austernpilze, Champignons, Sahnesauce ( oyster mushroom, mushroom, and creamsauce). 

Once I added olive oil to that thing, man, it was hittin'!!!

So I did enjoy my food, but I really wish I had a larger portion (& it had meat!!!), or paid less (either one would've been fine.)

 

The place also had a nice ambience to it. Great for a night on the town, date night, or just hanging out with your coworkers, as I did!

Overall rating: 3.5 

 

I see from their website, that they're also located in DC, so if any of my DMV people want to check it out  for themselves check out http://www.vapianointernational.com/vapiano/ for more details. 

The different stations where one orders. Source:online

-OB <3

P.s.- That picture slideshow is coming soon, promise! I know y'all are probs tired of seeing paragraphs upon paragraphs of info.

#Iammorethanaconqueror through my Savior, Jesus Christ. [Romans 8:37]