Financial Bottleneck - Living in tight situations

I've blogged about how much fun studying abroad in London has been but you win some, lose some and face some challenges.

In a previous post, I mentioned that the living costs in England is significantly higher than in the States. The USD is not equal to the GBP, for real. For the past 10 days, I've not had access to cash because my American debit card got stuck in Barclays (British bank ) ATM. Unfortunately, I can't make withdrawals with my American credit card because it does not have the chip, that they always ask for in the UK. Even in places like some restaurants, you cannot foot your bill with an American bank card if it does not have the infamous chip. So, you can imagine the financial crevice that I've been in, for the past 10 days. I've had to top up my oyster(travel) card, my phone, and buy groceries online with my credit card. I borrowed 100 pounds from a friend but had to spend 70 pounds out of it to fix my phone. That left me with 30 pounds, in addition to some 50 pounds that I had.

I was annoyed to be informed that Barclays bank could not give me my debit card back, even if they get it out of the ATM, because it is not a Barclays card. I called my American bank to issue another one but it is not here yet. It has been 10 days and Yinkuslolo has been surviving on 80 pounds cash. That should be a lot of money, right? But this is London, money goes faster than the speed of light. I've tried to be prudent but I end up buying coconut bread, cafeteria breakfast, Arizona Iced tea etc. As of Friday, I had 10 pounds left in my wallet.

Important note - I did not inform my mother about my situation and I have no reliable relatives in London to help me out. Also, I'm not a kid. Thus, I figured that I should be able to handle this by myself. My american bank told me that my new debit card will be here on Friday. Alas, my mail box is devoid of this damn card, up til now . On Friday evening, I finally decided to let my mother know about my problem. Like the very caring person that she is, she wired some money to me via Western Union, within an hour. After visiting thirteen Western Union cash points in East and Central London, I found one that is actually in operation in Leicester Square. I will go there later today, because I didn't have sufficient ID when I went yesterday. To make matters worse, the TFL (Transport for London) disabled my Oyster cards because of God knows what. That's a long story on its own.

Why did it take me a whole week to tell my mother about this money matter? I have always been financially self-sufficient. Don't give me that 'yeah right!' look. I do not know how to ask my mother for 'pocket money' and I was not brought up with any regular allowance. So, I feel very awkward asking my mother for money. Fortunately, she sends me money irregularly and in very random amounts, based on her own instinct, and I'm not complaining. Back at my home university, I had two well-paying part-time jobs, alongside my regular 18-credit courseload, and I always go after deals / student discounts. So, I've been living off my savings, for the most part, in London. I'm not against depending on Central Bank of Mummy and Daddy but I respect adults, who work for their own money.

This past week has made me to think about my desirable financial position for the future. I want to be comfortable enough and not depend on a spouse or inherited returns to cater for myself and dependents. I know this means a lot of work but that's why I'm putting my best into this rigorous education now. This is not to say that a good education assures financial security but it goes a long way with getting there.

What does 'comfortable' in future mean to me? This may sound cheesy. I want to be comfortable enough to own (or co-own with my spouse) a family house, send my children/dependants to very good schools and afford to take annual vacations abroad. Hopefully, I will not have to take any loans in the future, except it is for some grand investment.

Enough with my money talk, the two pictures below have been subjects of twitter jokes and spin offs for TTs (trending topics) on Twitter. Follow me on twitter, @yinkuslolo

Je t'embarasse

This one is just funny. What about Real Housewives of Ebute-Metta and Keeping up with the Igbinedions?

This movie is actually out. You have to see the parts 1 and 2 on youtube. Too hilarious. Babes are stealing Blackberries and leaving a matrimonial home because the husband didn't buy a BB for the wife I just want to believe that it's a satire.

On that note, shout to the best mother in the world, I love her so much and I know she does not how much I do. I will not be who I am and will be, without her. I hope my debit card comes in the mail, soon.

Affirming my black identity in London?

I am proudly Nigerian and I will always be. I am also the queen of procrastination. If I had a penny for the number of times that I have blogged in my head but failed to type a post, I will afford not <1Kgof gummy bears right now. If you don't know what gummy bears are, google 'em. They are the best study snack, next to seedless grapes. yum!

If you have not noticed, this blog is turning to a study abroad blog. I want to highlight my experience in London so far, related to me being Nigerian. For every black person I meet in London, I assume that ze is Nigerian until ze proves otherwise. Trust me, you will save your time and your curious spirit some energy, if you go with my formula.

• At my host university in London, Queen Mary, they are more South Asians than blacks and even whites, I believe. This is probably because QM is located in East London, the domain of South Asians. Whenever I see a dark-skinned person, I become so eager to meet them. Getting closer it turns out to be a dark-skinned Indian and I becomes low-key disappointed. This is not to say that I'm racist but I just like meeting all sorts of Black people, whether it be African-American, Carribean or African. Sadly, the ACS (african-carribean society) is not as active as the Black student unions in the States that I am used. Thus, I have to meet fellow Black students, with an extra effort on my part.
  
• I usually go to south London aka the hood to get my hair done. Y'all know that black hair is done and cheapest in the hood. But then, you gatta be careful because finding a good hairdresser is as difficult as finding a good husband. Anytime, I go there to get my hair done, they seem to be confused by my 'hybrid' accent until I say my name is Yinka (Yinkuslolo is from Yinka, get it?)
  
• Most of my study abroad buddies are African Americans (called akatas by Nigerian english) from the States and everytime we go out, we are asked which country we are from. As usual, I give my long story that I'm a Nigerian studying in the USA. My akatas friends have a problem though because they will tell you that they are from chicago/atlanta/*insert.random.city* America but many blacks in London are not buying that. Then, my akata friends will have to the enquirer that their forefathers went to the USA as slaves from Africa. Thus, recent akata generations are mixed with other races and have no idea of their precise African origin. I think this long explanation is due to difference between the Black-British and Black-Americans. This is because the blacks in Britain are more recent immigrants than those in the USA. It is sometimes sad to see my Akata friends have to go through the slavery explanation so many times. Actually, my African American friends often ask what their looks can suggest about their place of origin in Africa. I often joke with them and say oh you look Igbo/Yoruba/Kenyan.
  
• I must have mentioned in an earlier post I went to the Basketmouth show on Feb 13th, that show was basic. I felt the jokes were mostly recycled. Maybe the theme of the jokes (ie Naija hustlers in Jand) was over-flogged. The show just wasn't working for me. I had a good time though, because I went with a new friend and saw my crazy ass Nigerians.
  
• Two Saturdays ago, I went to CokoBar, a Nigerian club in East London. I had heard loads about it and it is just 10 mins away from QM. So, I decided to go see what's up there. One word for CokoBar. basic!!! The music was nice, the DJ did a good job in mixing Nigerian music with mainstream western hippop/ R &B but the transitions were kind of wack. Of course, the dressing at CokoBar was at the two extremes, regular Jand dudes in Blazers in the club's heat hian! and some girls with GUCCI clutches (with green and pink stripes instead of green and red). I had fun though because I was with friends and busted all my moves with Michelle, my PIC. Btw, what is it with most Nigerian girls (and some dudes) not dancing at the club? I understand if it is your day off dancing but if you don't dance every time, there is a problem. How will you just be sitting and boning (frowning in Naija slang) in the club? You might as well stay at home or go to a pub.

I must admit that the title is somewhat misfitted with the content of this post. But yeah, I typing at as many character per min as possible at 4:30am. Pardon the grammatical error. I dislike proof-reading, like I always remind you. My next post will be about my London Fashion Weekend Experience and my trip to Wales.

Till then
Je t'embarasse
ff me @yinkuslolo on twitter

PS:
Happy Ash Wednesday! ( I'm Nigerian and we celebrate everything/day even 'Happy Strike!')
Are you giving up anything for Lent, if so what is it?

So you think you know Yinkuslolo? Stylish and Versatile Blogger Award

I went to Camden with @juiceegal, three sundays ago. I'm going back to pierce my ears :)

Hi, I'm finally getting around to blogging. This semester has been no joke. I claim to have a lot of free time in London, but there is also coursework do in little time. I still want suggestions of places in London to visit. By now, you should get from this blog that I like to explore and not stay at home. I don't even have or like watching TVs. But after fter these 5 months, is there anything that will be of interest in London to me here again? We will see.

So, Taynement gave me the Stylish and Versatile Blogger award eons ago but the Yinkuslolo that I am will acknowledge it in this century.

The rules of this award.

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them in your post. Thanks to Taynement that tagged me.

2. Tell us 7 things about yourself. Read below

3. Award 15 other bloggers. I tag every blogger that hasn’t done it because I seem to be the last one doing this.

In no particular order,

• Hopeless romantic - I believe in the power of love. It is simple, yet so complicated. I always pray to be loved and love without limits. I gush over loving couples. In reality, I don’t go awww everytime I see couples showing each other love or obsess over Valentine’s day. I just love loving. More importantly, you have to learn to love you for yourself before you can love another healthily.
  
  
• Only child of single parent – This is unusual for a Nigerian to proclaim openly. I think Naija is one of the few countries left, where there is a stigma for single mothers or children born and raised out of wedlock. This is another blogpost for another day.
• 
  
  Love for French – I took french in elementary and high school, with breaks in between. I have taken French classes for 2 years in university. Yet, my French is still at the intermediate/conversational level. I think that I will not be as fluent as I want until I actually reside in a French-speaking environment. These classes are not cutting it and I have a low aptitude for foreign language learning but I am determined. Though, I ditched studying abroad in Paris for London this semester, I am planning a 2-day trip to Paris in March and a 4-day trip to some cities in France in April. I loved Paris so much, when I visited in January 2010

Picture of Eiffel Tower that I took in Jan 2011

• Sleeping with panties only – I don’t know if many people do this but whenever it’s not too cold and I have no company, platonic or otherwise, I always sleep with no clothes on. This may be TMI but yeah that’s a fact. I just love the feeling of my duvet and bed sheet against my skin, after a night shower especially.
  
  
• Seafood = orgasm - Thai duck curry wins. Calamari owns. Nigerian fried snail hits the spot every time. I will leave it at that.
  Edit. Thanks to Azuka, duck is not seafood. what was I thinking? Another correction thanks to Myne, Snails are not seafood because they live on land, right? Anyhoo, Calamari is still part of the seafood family.
  
  
• Riding - I do not know how to ride at all. Get your dirty mind of there. I do not know how to ride a bicycle because I never had one. As for cars, I have been to driving school s twice but I’ve not driven a car on the road out of the schools yet. The last driving school session I attended was last summer. So, I have probably forgotten all of that and will need to start again. Oh well, one day sha, one day, maybe when I get a car to cruise around.
  
  
• Friends – I have never had an appointed best friend. No, I am not that kid with no friends. I actually do have close friends from very different parts of the world but I think I move from place to place too often that I cannot nurture a long distance ‘bestie-ship’. In high school, I was the centre of almost everything from academic to extracurricular. I had a wifey (platonic), we were close and competed for the top in many subjects. After HS, we cut off, (no phone). A year later, I moved to a flat directly behind her house and we reconnected. Three months later, she went to a private univ outside Abuja, I moved to Hungary. New beginnings right! Two months later, I went to the US for uni and started all over again. Now I have a crew close to my heart, no labels. I’m currently in London; I meet new people often and I love it. Most of my friendships are seasonal. I love those friends, who can pick up from wherever we left. I despise those, who do not keep in touch, but have the means too. Don’t judge me, the whole BFF craze is cool but it is too much of a responsibility for me to bestow on someone.
  

Below are pictures of a canal and my visit, outside London, to Old Hamptons court palace.

Regents Canal, next to my uni, Queen Mary Univ

Boat on the same canal, next to my residence hall

Old Hamptons Court Palace, where generations of royal British families used to live

Entry map post

The Palace garden, so beautiful

A four-post bed in the palace. I want something like this in my matrimonial bedroom.

I hope everyone is having a good week. It’s reading week (no classes) for me and Fashion week in London. Guess what I’m doing on Friday? Going to London fashion weekend yay! This is my first catwalk show ever. I will have to wear some of my fashionable pieces with style, take photos and try to imitate those fashion bloggers. I kid, I kid.

Au rêvoir!

Tinie Tempah - "Pass Out". My fave British jam.

Before this year, I've not been exposed to British songs. But oh boy, they've got some good songs here. But the techno in some kill me. Three weeks ago, my friends and I went to my campus pub, Drapers, and we thought the fire alarm was going off. You will not believe that it was actually the intro of a song. The techno is sometimes unbearable. Besides that, they've got some cool moves here too. One of my new friends here, Chris goes in on all the different types of skanks from Jungle skank to Tribal and Migraine skank, no joke.

The video above is my fave British song right now. It's a club banger as well. It has been stuck in my head for a while. Youtube the 'Bubbly bubbly' song too. It's kind of an oldie but the dance is very choreographic.

Side note: Wikipedia claims that Tinie Tempah is British Nigerian.

PS: I'm going to see Wicked, next Tuesday. It is supposed to be a very good play because everyone I know that has seen it speaks well of it. I plan to see Legally Blonde, Mamma Mia and Les Miserables (plays) before June.
Je t'embarasse

Hi, from London

Damn, it's already the last day of january, 2011. This year is going by so fast.
I've been in London for three weeks already and I feel like those weeks went by so fast. It has been amazing, I'm really glad that I'm studying abroad. I'm going to comment on a few aspects of my stay here so far.

A typical street sign in Westminster

A shot from the cruise that I mentioned

I forgot to add, the art on Brick Lane is amazing

one of the stalls in the Sunday-up market at Brick Lane

Chinese food blows

Big Ben: Note the tower is called Big Ben but it is actually the Bell in it that should be called Big Ben. 

 

Shopping: Of course, you can not be in London and not cop a few things. I feel like this is the fashion capital of the world. Yeah, people rock gears in NY but Londoners have style. I already had an extra luggage coming here and I know that I will leave with nothing less than an additional extra luggage. I've tried to curtail on my expenses but it looks like there is some jazz in these stores, from those in Westfield to Oxford Street. I went to Camden market yesterday, that place is huge and I need to go back. Very close to my school is Brick Lane, the Sunday-Up market there is very nice too and I've been there twice. I think the beauty of these markets is the very diverse vintage wears and exotic food stalls. But my dear, if you coming to shop in London, better come with plenty $$$$. Since, I'm not the President's daughter, I'm always converting the prices from pounds to dollars like everytime. Things are so expensive here because what is 5 dollars in the States is also 5 pounds in the UK. Note: 1 pound = 1.6 dollars.

Academics: This is the main reason why I'm in London right? Queen Mary University of London is kinda weird to me. Well, the entire British educational system at the Uni level has been more of a relief. I have 2 in class hours per course in week and no tests or weekly assignments. This equals lots of free time for me. I'm looking for a job or volunteering position because I'm used to having two part-time jobs in the States. I have no classes on Tues, Wed and Fri. yipee! Because I'm not used to independent study, I've not been able to keep up with the readings but I need to soonest. On another note, the state of the extracurricular life in the UK is close to dead. The only thing they do really is go to the student union pub, Drapers.


New relationships: I've made a good number of new friends. My closest are fellow American students studying abroad at Queen Mary. We've gone shopping, to the movies, clubbing and typical social stuff. I'm really trying to meet British students and not to stay in my comfort zone with fellow American students. The few that I've met so far are chill peeps. I've met some men, *cough*, they've been mostly Nigerian. I'm yet to be impressed, though. I've met up with two twitter friends, one (@juiceegal) is originally from blogger. There are both interesting and nice ladies. I do believe that my blogger persona is different from my twitter one and also from the one in real life..


Living without a meal plan: I live on campus and this rarely happens in London because most Unis in this city do not have a campus. Unlike my campus in the States, this one does not have a meal plan and that means I have to cook for myself. It should be cheaper right but I think the honeymoon phase of cooking is almost over. I'm yet to get very Nigerian food stuff. So, I've just been making stew chicken/fish, rice and plantains.

Who knew vegetarian African food can be commercialized?

Night life: I've been having a very good time. One of my friends here, Michelle (her name from 12am to 5am hahaha), is my PIC. We've been out to on a cruise over River Thames and a few places in WestEnd, Leicester precisely. I'm def down to go to more places. The drinking culture is a major aspect of British social life. For example, my uni students dash into the school's bar in between lectures. Sadly, I'm not a beer/pub-going person. So, I will just stick to sipping my fruity cocktails and wine in lounges and clubs.

Summer plans: This has been a major concern for me and I'm yet to take concrete steps on it. I'm looking for an internship-like opportunity in the public health sector. I'm open to any branch but I will prefer sexual, social or environmental public health. My mum wants me to stay in the UK but I lowkey want to go to Naija. So, I'm considering both places. Sadly, I've not found anywhere yet and I need to find at least 6 places within the next two weeks to apply to. God dey, please if you know anything or have connects let me know.

I can go on and on about my stay here so far but I'll keep 'em coming in subsequent posts.

Pardon typos, I dislike editing my posts. Just for you to know, if you haven't noticed

Much love.