The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly of NYSC Camp...

It's been FOREVER and a DAY!

I'm sooooo sorry I haven't updated in a while. I'd like to say I've been working very hard, or playing very hard, but those would be lies. I'm back anyways, so let's learn some more about NYSC!

The Good

• For the vain people - the camp paparazzi! Well technically, they aren't the paparazzi, just photographers who stalk you all day, every day, imploring you to pose prettily and smile for the camera. For those of you aspiring socialites, models, actresses, and celebs, now's the time to practice your "Smizes." (If you don't know what smizing is, kindly open a new tab and google it) Anyways, unlike celebrities, you have to pay for these pictures. Each picture can cost N100 to N200 each. There were reports of people paying for up to 50 pictures in a single day, which makes no sense to me cos it's not like there were wardrobe changes.
• New friends! The truth of the matter is, you shouldn't go through camp alone. In my situation, I knew not one person going into camp at the same time. My buddy who I'd planned to start NYSC camp with conveniently forgot to bring his original diploma from The States. Anyways, after the first day or two of being mostly by myself, I noticed a young man sitting by himself looking as miserable as I felt. So I struck up conversation, and what-do-you-know, a "foreigner" just like me, YAAAAAY! We spent pretty much everyday for the rest of camp hanging out for at least an hour trading stories about our days. The point is, there are THOUSANDS of people in camp. You can find at least 3 people that you have something in common with. Be open-minded and smile at someone.

The Bad

• Anything that will have you standing in line - e.g. registering on Day 1/2, signing up with a CD (Community Development) group, collecting your allowance, filling out the Book of Life (this is a notebook with all the campers/corpers' information - name, address, etc), getting food if you're eating the camp-provided fare, fetching your bucket of water, etc. Just be prepared to wait in line for EVERYTHING. I'd like to tell you that this part is over when you leave camp, but again I'd be lying... Wait until you have to go to your designated NYSC Local Government office. Think of the camp lines as training for the rest of the year :)
• Naked people. Honestly, they might as well just call this a semi-nudist camp. When it's time to take your shower, there are more than enough boobies and butts of all shapes, sizes, and varying degrees of firmness, in your face. And unfortunately, your boobies and butt will be in someone's face too - you gotta shower and there isn't a privacy. I had a really weird, uncomfortable experience one day. I went in to take my bath, and two seconds later, this huge lady comes in to bathe as well. I'm one for privacy so I basically kept my eyes averted and head down. But from the corner of my eye, I could see this chick watching me. She was bathing, yes, but staring at me. Ewww! Before anyone could say 'Jack Robinson' I decided I was clean enough and BOUNCED! 

The Ugly

• The bathrooms... *insert BB grossed out smiley here* I shudder at the memories. For starters, have you ever heard of a 'pit bucket?' Yeah, neither had I. Let's just say some ladies (not sure about guys) had buckets for the sole purpose of relieving themselves (that's the least disgusting way to put it). Woe betide you if you go in to take your bath just before someone decides she needs to do her business at the same time. No matter how hard you try to not look in that general direction, just the thought that bowels are being emptied around you will almost force you to re-bathe 10 times in a row.

Oooh, now's as good a time as any to show you pictures of the bathroom closest to my room. Be warned: it doesn't look pretty!

To think these pictures were taken on a "decent" day. Ugghh, I feel nauseous looking at the pictures again *runs to take a bath*

I honestly can't continue with this post after these pictures. My next post shall be on "Random Facts/Experiences from NYSC Camp."

Sayonara!