Hitler, Naira, and call-in shows.

Hitler is popular in Nigeria. Being German had to bring out his name at some point. It is one thing people all over the world know about Germany. To me, it is shocking how people think about someone I consider the most terrible and horrifying dictator of the 20th century, who believed in white supremacy, and killed millions of people. Three of my friends here actually told me that they admire him - and when they see my face after telling me this they quickly start to explain how they do not believe in what he believed in (at least!), but that he was a strong leader with an ambition, who was able to elate a people. I have to admit that I am overly sensitive when it comes to this particular part of my country's history. I try not to be, but even in my generation many people still have that sense of collective guilt. I cannot and do not want to understand how anyone can see anything positive in this man, who managed to create a concept of an enemy based on the belief that the Aryan race was supreme to any other. It suprises me over and over again to hear how people who would have been deported, tortured, and killed if they had been alive during the Nazi regime can straight up tell me that he was not only bad. He was. And what he did was a tragedy and a desaster for the human race. The world is a better place without him, and I strongly urge people to stop seeing the positive side of Hitler. There is none.

Different topic: Naira notes are disgusting. They are greasy and dirty and just gross. especially 1000 Naira notes (worth around 5 Euros) are very very used and very trashy. You should watch out when changing money or getting change, so they do not give you the ones that are stapled together in the middle or that do not actually say what they are worth because they are just too crappy, because those ones no ones wants and you usually cannot pay with them. You can try exchanging them at a bank, but going to a bank in Nigeria usually is alot of hassle. It is funny how many notes you carry around on a normal day, because the currency just is not worth much. Today I have 4000 Naira on me (around 20 Euros) to pay for my taxi back, to buy credit for my phone, and to dash the police (or anyone else) in case I have to. If you have to pay a larger sum, lets say at a club or a restaurant, it seems to be a ritual for guys to take out a huge pile of Naira notes (preferrably 500 Naira notes) and then count down the amount that has to be payed, taking their sweet time, and often counting twice. Usually quite a pile of notes is handed over (Just imagine paying a bill of 80 Euros with notes that are worth around 2.50). And guys do enjoy it - it is their time to show how much they are worth. Well, as they are paying for everyone and everything I think they deserve their little moments.

Every day when I come back from work and listen to the radio while in the taxi I notice how people seem to be huge fans of call-in shows, and I have to wonder why. No information is actually ever conveyed, due to desastrous mobile networks. Usually it goes as follows: Moderator: Hello, who is speaking? Caller: "....hello?...o? rihe... ekjgie.." M: "Can you hear me?" C:"Hello?" M:"Hello Madam, what is your opinion on the matter?" C: "jkhfkjhar... okdhnfo... (line breaking)" M:"Please call back! Who is next? Hello?" Caller2: "This is ....sdfje calling from Maitama, I ..gth. .. ......faksjdhauh ... aksdjhfa... (line breaking)" M:"Hello? Can you hear me?" C2:"So.. iadshglksh... laskhjdfoih.. kdejg" M:"Thank you for your opinion!" It is very funny to listen to, but I wonder why this seems to be the most famous evening entertainment on the radio. Well, I m grateful for any sort of entertainment, as mostly there are no lights when I come home, thus I do not have too many options of what to do. I can go bug hunting in the candle light, which is now one of my most favourite activities.