Kelly Jones..Near enough to a name you can trust.. (Indiana Jones) For those that do not understand. I cannot really remember the first time I met you but, I as I said over and over again, you were a light to our flat. You made it so joyous, and you did not hesitate to speak your mind. I remember the good times ( you learnt how to say “Agro dey worry me” on my birthday and of course the bad times..e.g. when you threw away your pan thinking I used it with palm oil . I am glad for the times you tried to teach me BBC English (which I failed woefully). I am glad I met you. You are still yet to take me to the rock club.
x
x
x
Dimitirs: Where do I start form, I had not dropped my bag when you offered me fried eggs. As I said, I will never forget that singular act. I promised to ‘retaliate’ and that’s what got you into eating eba and egusi ‘soupu’ and no, they do not put salt in eba. You pretty did not hang out much in the flat in the first half of the term and later on we got to know our selves more. It has been great knowing you
.
.
.
.
.
Chang: Ms Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!! Well I did not really have many interactions with you. But there is one thing I remember. You thought me how to use chop sticks. Thank you for that and I will not forget..
x
.
.
.
x
x
x
x
x
Sarah (Zulu!!): As with Chang, we did not have too much in common to talk about but, you gave be the chopsticks and I am grateful for that. I did not see you before you left but, I hope you get to read this.
x
x
x
x
x
x
My man Mithun: Obamziiiii, where do I start? You were my neighbor and we probably did not exchange up to 5 words in the first month and we them hit it off.. You were my closest friend in the flat, and we shared many things in common Football, Man United, Music, Pizza, Lee Evans e.t.c. In my man U post, I told the world someone ordered I left Old Trafford when we were losing 2-0 . Well, I can now safely tell the world the bitch was you.
I can remember us plotting to use music to disturb the whole block and vividly remember making our otherwise quiet change to complain and of course the lady downstairs had to come up the day you were leaving for term 2 breaks. You tried to give me a beautiful Indian bride of which I bungled (as a fake guy concerned). I wopped your ass when we played soccer, and we both wasted our time going to the gym.. Above all you were the perfect neighbor. I really hope you keep in touch. Yeah, I can’t forget, I made you the only Indian that can Rap M.I’s songs!
Michael Wang (The Cook): You are the only person that I believe eats a full duck! You cooked different stuffs every day. I remember the days we wrestled, the intellectual discussions we had about our different projects. It is unfortunate we are not on speaking terms as I write this and has been the case for the past 2 months. Well Shit happens! I appreciate the good times though. Hopefully we will see again and smile one day.
Update: I went and gave a gentleman shake to Michael before publishing this post. Life is too short to keep beef….if you have got beef, eat it up. Well, if you are a veggie…give someone who eats it 🙂
x
x
x
x
x
Anna: Madam Nobel prize, you were always too busy studying but interestingly we had lots of moments I can remember..The fire alarm incident where I let my inner frustrations get the better of me. I surprisingly lost my temper and raised my voice above normal. For that I am really sorry. I know I apologized but now I have it written. And no, I was never going to hit you, my people say ” Craze man sabi cross road”. A mad man knows how to cross the road so no matter how threatening I looked, I would NEVER hit a lady.. I know the line. Interestingly after our reconciliation, we really got talking. Thanks for having the faith to confide in me. As always I would never let you down. One thing though, you never invited me to eat those delicious looking Salmon fish you used to cook..It is not too late though J. Thank you for roof reading some of my stuff, I am grateful. I will really miss your presence.
Paulomi: I do not really remember much with you..I do remember we almost clashed because of salt in the early days..After that we got along fairly well.. It was really nice knowing you. I actually met your mum on the last day. I did not get a chance to see your dad and talk a bit of Man U.. You did not say goodbye but hopefully we will see again.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Juhita: You were one of the first Warwick students I met when I joined the TOCIL Facebook group! In the excitement, we planned a lot of cooking, parting, e.t.c. Well none of it came to pass.. I always spoke to you how much I wish I was closer to my flatmates. I remember you using a manual to cook your early dishes. I really hope to meet you again.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Yi Kai: The Old man, it was really good knowing you. I remember the DVD’s you gave me to burn stuff with. I also remember how you reacted after I used your sponge and liquid soap too much. You bought me liquid soap and sponge and warned me never to use yours again!! Unfortunately, it did not work, I stole your liquid soap to the very last day! I know I still owe you a collection of Nigerian music. It was really cool meeting you.. Remember you will still have to pick me up from the airport when I come to Taiwan..
x
x
x
Raffi: the ever happy Raffi!! Raffi the smoker!! I was the only one that was able to piss you off even though it was for about 30 seconds. You were the worst cook that ever entered the kitchen but I never hesitated to eat when you invited me. I cringed at each swallow but how could I refuse the invitation to eat from such a good man? Unfortunately, you stayed for only 6 months and the flat was never the same after you left. Good to know you will be returning to Warwick in September. The UK needs you aura. You are a perfect example that people from the Middle East are good people! I wish you a happy wedding this summer!
x
x
Saqib: the man from Pakistan!! It was good to meet you… unfortunately, the Shoes you had to fill (Raffi’s) were a bit big. I apologize that we did not really take you in and it is obviously that you tried hard to integrate. But, I remember you came to my rescue when my PC gave way and at 2am you were ever willing to help out. Thanks for all that bro!! PS: Because of you, I might venture into Islamabad one day.
x
x
x
x
x
Jude: You are the only reason we all did not die of tubaculosis. You made sure our flat was alwasy clean. You NEVER complained! I cannot say how wonderful you were to us. Yup, you spoilt us because you always washed our plates. The only period you wew not there, those (2 people had to replace you) who replaced you almost ran us mad. It is a shame we did not get to say thank you. I hope you enjoy your summer holliday. And of course, I wish you the very best in life!! I have to tell the world that you will be going on a cruise next year to celebrate 30 years of marrage, your 5oth birthday and paying off of your mortgage. You deserve it. I stupidly did not ask for you number when you left.. I will ensure I get it. I wish to thank you for the christmas card and chocolate you got us for christmas. In the words of Jay Z… you are far too kind.
x
I just have to put a picture of our clean kitchen..made so by Jude.
To you all: There are other general things that come to my mind, I can never forget the birthday cake. You guys made sure you got a soccer pitch made in the colors of my dear country.. Thank you for that!!
Our flat was pretty a ‘gay one’ because. There were no interrelationships, no boyfriend/girlfriends and hardly any opposite sex visitors. Damn!! Michael redeemed the flat towards the end though!
One more thing, I did not miss the coloring of my country’ s flag!! It was a graphical resolution issue!!!! There was something consistent about me though, I got on every one’s nerve.
I am sure I missed out so many things and should not have said some things. For the errors made in this post, and for getting on your nerves in various ways I am sorry.
As an important addendum, I cannot forget my Flatmates by proximity..Flat 3 peeps..
James (who opened the door about 3 million times for me), Alex (thanks for the poker lesson although my 5 quid went with it), Mikie, Gabrielle, Ibrahim (Ibro) , Yao, Serena (the Italian with an African body), June, Anke and Ruth (The no1 baker): Thanks a lot for accommodating my constant coming in and invading your domain. and teaching me how to say the ‘V’ sign in the right direction.:) I want to thank you Flat 3 peeps for
Val: I have to write yours specially..You were the one that created the Tocil group on Facebook befor re arrived school.. We bonded immediately I came around and enjoyed talking with you. It was really great meeting your wonderful boyfriend Mark, the Jazz guitarist. You two are just so nice! It is sad that toward the end of the term we were not close anymore because of the school stress. I will really really miss you. I laughed when I saw being teary, saying that you will miss us but deep inside I shed a tear (just one, as I am a man). To hell with The Godfather and Berlusconi, Thanks to you, I now know Italians are the bestest people on earth!
x
x
The Tobe: Nwannem nwanyi! I go talk your own for pidgin, I no fit use online Tell you thank you. People must have wondered how I survived without cooking.. Well, let me tell the world, it was you who prevented me from vanishing. I can never forget..I just want to say thank you and I am so so grateful!! My flatmates kept wondering how you could do so much for me with no strings attached.. Well, as I once said, “Once Nigerian girls choose to try, they are second to none”. You always chose to try.. Thank you so so much!!
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
TOCIL: You were a cheap and very convinient accommodation. Very close to the sports center, TESCO and my class. I could not have chosen a better hostel…I know I am blabbing (not yet crazy) but I just wanted a reason to put the picture of TOCIL
x
x
x
x
x
To everyone: I LOVE AND WILL MISS YOU!!
I remain…..
Oo
Update:
Mumi: As with these type of name dropping, you always forget the important ones..From the days of eating beans in your flat..you always had my back..Thank you!! Yeah yeah.. you loved my palm oil too:). how can I forget all the time you tried to drag my lazy ass to the gym??? Thank you so so much!! I know we will certainly be in touch.
Adam and Ryan( Zlatans Brother): you two are very great Dudes!! We had some cheap englsh beers togeteher.. We will certainly see more.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
I will update this as my mind get clearer..I slept at about 5am so expect some mistakes..
