an·ec·dote 1

Like I mentioned in my blurb, I am going to share whatever is on my mind, which includes random occurences that happen while I am here. I decided to call them anecdotes (definition of an anecdote: a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person). So here is my first one, enjoy! 

an-ec-dote 1: 50 Naira and Love in the Parking Lot.

So yesterday I drove myself for the first time to the hospital I am supposed to be doing my research at (LASUTH). When I get there I learn I have to pay for parking (300Naira-less than $2) and I was not a happy camper!

The parking warden in charge of directing cars into the car park signalled for me to roll down my window and shouts "THREE HUNDREDDDD!" (For those who have never been to Nigeria, esp Lagos, it's all about haggling the price, so in my "Lagos State of Mind," I'm thinking why pay 300Naira when I can pay 100Naira)
Of course my automatic respone to the warden was "Oga (boss) I don't have 300Naira, I only have 100Naira."

The look on the parking warden's face after I spoke was out of this world! His eyes got really big and he looked at my face, and said "give me 250Nairawheredoyoustay?" He said it so fast and all in one breath, I had to ask him to repeat himself. Once he repeated himself I thought "YES!!! I saved 50Naira, but whY is he asking me where I stay?!"I reasoned that he either mis-spoke or his English wasn't too good and meant to ask me, what building I was going to. So I gave him the 250Naira and told him the pediatric department. After which he was so gracious in following me and finding a spot for me to park my car, he waited for me to descend from my vehicle to again ask me where I stay. When I did not answer he yelled "YOU KNOW I LOFE (LOVE) YOU!" At this point I'm thinking I need to get the heck out of there, but before I could take two steps, he's on the road on his knees asking me where I stay and begging for my number -__-

When I'm nervous I SWEAT!!! So of course at this point I'm sweating buckets, while people passing by are looking, pointing, and laughing. My exchange with the parking warden went on for about 3 minutes, but it felt like an eternity. I finally convinced him to get up from the ground, by collecting his phone number, and promising to see him before I left.

When I finally made it inside the building, the doctor I came to meet asked if I walked far, because of the MASSIVE sweat stains I got from my parking lot ordeal. I didn't have the energy or mind to tell her the story, so I lied and said yes I walked a far distance, though the parking lot was literally a few steps away from the pediatric building.

Nevertheless, yesterday was a good day, I guess. I saved 50 Naira and found love in the parking lot, all at the same time.


SIDE NOTE:
Now that I think about it, the parking warden should have let me park for FREE if he really loved me!!!! Next time I see him I am going to have to tell him about that.