YESTERDAY was one of my best days since arriving in South Africa because the sun came out in full force. I had no choice but to spread myself in the sun because of the cold I had experienced since I got here. Though I had my cardigan on because it was still cold, I did not let the sun go without having enjoyed it to the fullest. The cold weather here has changed my dressing pattern as I move around in my jacket, socks, sneakers and winter caps, which makes me look like an Eskimo. It is also the same when going to bed, as the only thing I take off is my sneaker, and even that would not save you from the severe cold.Best Restaurant to the rescueAfter eating chicken and chips at KFC for several days, Nigerian journalists discovered a joint that serves Nigerian dishes. We all stormed the restaurant and were delighted to have a meal of semo and egusi soup mixed with bitter leaf, which cost us 25 rands (about N600). On inquiry, we discovered that the joint belongs to a woman from Onitsha, Anambra State. I have since made the joint a special part of my stay here.Nigerians are kings on West Street Nigerians are noted for the good, the bad and the ugly things they do, but on West Street at Kempton, what the Nigerians there show mostly are their bad and the ugly sides. When I visited the place at the weekend, I met fierce-looking Nigerian guys, who look just like the Agberos of Oshodi. One even wanted me to chop his knuckle but when I saw his hands, I quickly declined. You can also see them selling Nigerian dishes on the same street, while the local herb mixed with hard drink, known as paraga or jedi jedi in Nigeria, is very much available.One of the smart Alecs even offered to sell a fairly used laptop to me when he discovered that I was in Joburg to cover the African Youth Championship. But I declined the offer since I did not know how good the laptop was. It is sad to note that most of them sleep on the streets with the hope of making it big one day.A South African lesson in maintenance cultureIt is a popular saying that Nigerians no dey carry last. But if we were to compete with South Africa in terms of provision and maintenance of facilities, Nigeria would be nowhere near men from Mandelas country. I was at the Soccer City Stadium at the weekend and to my surprise the edifice is still very new as it was during the 2010 World Cup. I couldnt help but wonder what would have happened to it if it were in Nigeria. We would have abandoned it and in fact started thinking of building another one because it is only through that way some people acquire wealth.
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