FOOD: Making Ewedu Soup

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I love Ewedu soup. I just wanted to show you guys the plant it comes from.

Politics is a Dirty Game

“Politics isn't about big money or power games; it's about the improvement of people's lives”

Paul Wellstone

How right you are, Mr. Wellstone. Politics should be about improving the lives of people but people seem to forget that part.

The picture above was taken as we made our way back to Alagbado from Ijebu. There were dozens of motorcyclists waving banners and signs with some politician's face on it.

The 2011 Presidential elections will be held on April 9.

One day, I sat down and watched AIT (Africa International Television) news with my parents. We were bombarded with campaign commercials. It felt like every commercial was a political one.

Politicians go hard when it comes to campaigning. Politics in Nigeria has this intensity that I haven’t seen in the US. It truly feels like a do or die situation.

So I asked my parents “what’s the appeal of being in public office here? I understand the perks that must come with it and the power but it doesn’t explain the desperation.”

That's when my parents told me that Nigerian politicians make a lot of money during and after their term in office. They weren't sure how much so I did some research.

So how much do senators make in Nigeria, a third world country? A post on Nairaland.com had it broken down like this:

Salary of a U.S. President: $250,000/yr.
GDP of the U.S. Economy: $13Trillion/ yr.
Allowance of a Nigerian Senator: $1,500,000/yr
GDP of the Nigerian. Economy: $45 Billion/yr.

I encourage everyone to check out these articles so they can read how the salaries of Nigerian legislators take up 25% of the overhead budget:

National Assembly Jumbo Pay - Fanning
the Embers of Revolution

Nigerian National Assembly Salary Saga

National Assembly and Jumbo Pay

The amount of money public officials make in Nigeria is disgusting. The minimum wage is less than 18,000 naira a month (that's about $113) and the people who are supposed to put the country and its people first are getting paid 2,456,647.7 ( about $15,000) a month? Not to mention the fact that they get allowances for everything from vehicles to newspapers. They even get a "hardship allowance".

This is old news here but I haven't been keeping up with Nigerian politics so I had no idea.

It has always been my belief that a career in politics is a career in public service, fit for people who have a vision for their country and wanted to dedicate their lives working towards that vision. How sad is it to think those in government are more concerned with fattening their pockets than improving the lives of the citizens?

Road Trip to Grandma's

Three weeks really isn't a lot of time to catch up with people when it's been four years since you've been home. While I knew I wasn't going to have a chance to catch up with everyone, seeing my family was obviously a priority.

Me and my parents got in the car on the 2nd to visit my grandmother in Ijebu, a town in Ogun state (we live in Lagos state0. The drive is about two hours but the traffic isn't as bad as it would be if we were trying to drive to Ikoyi or Lekki (towns in Lagos state).

My parents stopped for lunch at Sweet Sensation. I think I ate bananas on this trip.



Chicken and fries. Dad uses a visit from one of his kids as an excuse to eat like a frat boy. Good thing my mom keeps an eye on him : )
Chilling in the back : )
Well aren't they cute. Awww : )


A highway is a highway in every country. Nothing too fascinating about it.

Once we were inside my grandma's house, I did what I always do: sat down quietly. See my grandmother doesn't speak English and I don't speak Yoruba very well.

When I was 5 and I didn't know Yoruba, it was cute and endearing "Oyinbo pepe can't understand us. Awwww"

When I was 15 and I didn't know Yoruba after living in Nigeria for three years, it was inconvenient and annoyed my grandmother. I'm convinced she thinks I'm a lazy piece of shit who can't cook.

At 25, not being able to speak Yoruba is pathetic and embarrassing. I can't even have a conversation with half of my family!




My mommy and her mommy. My grandmother still fusses over my mom like she's a child. I guess parenting never really ends, huh?


Picture of my gramps. I hope we all live as long as he did.


My grandma holding my mom when she was a baby.

FOOD: Cashew Apples

Readers, that oddly shaped thing in the picture above is a cashew apple. It's called an accessory fruit since technically, the kidney shaped thing hanging from it is the fruit but I find the term insulting since cashew apples are the business.

Besides, without roasting the part that houses the cashew nut, eating it is dangerous. Check out the Wikipedia page for more info.

The cashew apple is incredibly juicy (the taste actually reminds me of lychees) and yummy but the skin is super delicate so they don't travel very well. Some people chew it until the juice is drained but I prefer to eat the whole thing.


Yum : )


Have any of you guys ever tried the cashew apple?

Not Mandatory but Freaking Good: Water for Elephants

Have you guys read this book? My roommate Amber let me take it to Nigeria and thank God for her; my sleep schedule didn't change for about two weeks so I spent the first couple of nights reading Water for Elephants before heading to bed.

Sara Gruen's novel is the story of Jacob, a 93 year old man who joined a traveling circus during the Great Depression.

While the novel didn't rock my world, it was a great and entertaining read so I recommend it.

I'm sure I can't imagine all the ways the film is going to suck in comparison.