CAMP LIFE By; ANAYO ANSLEM ONYEKA

                               CAMP LIFE 

By; ANAYO ANSLEM ONYEKA

Life in Yikpata, Edu local government area of kwara state as a corp member was a bitter sweet experience. After mobilization of corp members for the 2019 batch A orientation was confirmed, I was to serve in Kwara, little did I know what lay ahead in stoke for me. To be sincere Kwara was the last place I wanted amongst the list of states I chose, based on Geopolitical zones, but as fate would have it I was posted here, my least state of preference, what was left was accepting and making the best out of it..

My Journey to Kwara started quite early, although I ended up arriving late. Got to the state capital around 4pm and then another extra 2 hours to my destination which was the Orientation camp. The hot breeze on our way to yikpata gave a sign of what I was in for. On  arrival we where allocated hostels, before settling in, we were advised to proceed for our registration as quick as possible. After the swearing in ceremony days began to move really slow, we all wanted it to be done and dusted, before long a song was produced by a corp member Buchi who MC'ed most of our social events. Parade took center stage as we were taught the basis of parade.. I smile from cheek to cheek each time I remember how we were made to learn attention by numbers, at ease by numbers, Division into columns, Quick match amongst others.

As days turned into weeks we all stated settling into the early morning routines and evening drills. I started to make friends with both guys and girls starting with my platoon. My story wouldn't be complete without my cliques. Amywaywaywu like I fondly call her, Ekene, and myself. Always with each other and doing things together. The Lions club was a group formed by my roomies and bunk mate running things together. O, Mayflower 2 the craziest and noisest of hostels in yikpata camp. I basically lost count the number of times soldiers paraded our territory to ensure we stop our noise and retire to bed or the number of times they were forced to bring us in the middle of the night to either squat and stand for hours while others were asleep, but what I loved and cherished the most was the way we had each others back at all times, all of these we did knowing the soldiers where like lions without claws and tooth as there aren't allowed to beat but only give mild punishments in camp.

Life in yikpata wouldn't be complete without a visit to the kitchen, Graduates were made to queue like inmates for a spoon of whatever was being dished out. I only enjoyed the kitchen twice when my platoon was on duty as I was assigned for afternoon shift on both occasions and I had my cooler filled to my satisfaction.

Various activities were organized during the 3 weeks program that I wouldn't be forgetting in a hurry ranging from drama, football, volleyball, cultural dance amongst others. We were also enlightened on SAED (Skill Aquisation and Entrepreneurship Development) we were to pick a skill and learn more during our stay in camp. Creative writing was the  skill I chose as I had previous knowledge on content writing. We were made to exhibit a drama at the end of the skill which I participated and really enjoyed.

As the days went on and our exit from camp drew nearer the fear of where one would spend the next 11 months of the service year heightened. The fear of Baruten, Pategi, Kaima just as the name sounded were scary. Everyone wanted the state capital same as I but then again you always don't get what u want maybe I didn't have the connections some had so I was ready for what was to befall me but also hoping for the best.

The carnival day was another big event that happened where each platoon needed to come up with a creative design on what each member was to put on, lots of pictures were taken, lots of food and drinks available and merriment was the order of the day all through the evening, if only all days on camp could be carnival.

The final day befell us, the day we were to exit camp, the day of truth. For the first time the whole camp was awake and  ready to leave as early 3am, 2 hrs before the beagle sounded( a sound used to alert all corp members to prepare themselves for the next activity).

After the whole closing ceremony was done and dusted it was time to deal with the little matter of our posting letter. After having the best and worst memories of life in camp we had to be scattered to various villages and towns in the state. Lots of contact were exchange and we all promised to keep in touch. As the letters were shared some jumped up for joy as they got their local government of preference and many had tears rolling down their eyes.  I was a bit sad when I got mine as I was posted to a Secondary School in Share, Ifelodun LG which I had no idea about, but seeing people cry for places like Kiama and Baruten and a little petting from my camp girlfriend Amywaywaywu who got at different LG from mine made me feel a bit better. Yes, I didn't tell you about my love affair in camp and my escapeeds with other girls, maybe a story for another time, but NYSC found a way of scattering us all again making one wonder why we had to be brought together, build friendship and be separated, such an Irony of life.