EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

Good morning, you wonderful specimens of humanity! It's Tuesday and I am writing in my sunny South Texas cozy bed, so life ain't all that bad. I am particularly wary of the sun down here and have feared for my life in the last few weeks. The brands of SPF I have purchased this week should about curb the burning sensation on my face. I beg of you; these are perilous times so consider taking global warming warnings as seriously as climate activists take them. I fear for the life of humans on earth if these kinds of dramatic weather persist.

Enough about all this greenhouse gas talk, the united nations has their hand full on sorting this out. How have you been really? If you care to know, I have been adjusting and settling just fine. Apart from the occasional eyebrow raise when I tell people what I hope to research and my program in uni and the once-overs I get from people who haven't seen my kind of braids before I am swell okay. My apartment is simple, cozy, and neat and my room (my safe haven) is the right amount airy and warm on the days I need any of that. One thing though; I NEED A CAR. Note it came in uppercase because it is the next most important thing for me now to acquire. Kindly pray and sow towards this cause as I begin setting up the crowdfunding page. Because what manner of sun and distance is this that I have been walking? My flat beautiful feet were not made for this sort of life and I am trying not to sound entitled but I may not survive a whole 3 months of this. 

Apart from the ton of paperwork I had to file and sign as a new immigrant, my 2nd week was spent mostly indoors and sometimes touring the nicer fast food chains around the area. I had Chick-Fil-A in my second week and it was worth the hype and months of longing. The culture shock that comes with moving continents is already a downer if you are a picky eater like me so it is pretty hard to eat out since my tastebuds will take a while to get accustomed to any new meal(s) I try. I had Chinese and Mexican food sometime in my 3rd week and decided to stick with the Mexican one. It has almost the same amount of spice and seasoning as the meals back home and save for the food texture I might survive with this one. My flatmate has made it her life's mission to make me have tamales and enchiladas this week; maybe a bit of octopus too so stay tuned while I get fed fat. Since work doesn't start until another week and my onboarding seems not imminent this week, I will just focus on school work, which might seem weird. This will be gist for another time. I am still trying to figure out how to navigate the humongous structures and architecture around the campus area and save for the 4th time of getting lost I am surviving and doing okay for a newbie.

There is a much more leisurely pace people here do things that I will need to learn for the rest of my life. The average caucasian just wants to live a comfortable and easy-going life and if they can I will.

I found a couple of useful tips a few weeks before I left Nigeria that might be useful to you if you are planning to move to another country or you just did like me; 

• Be open-minded
• Improve your language skills (if you are moving to a bilingual country)
• Make new friends
• Don't forget your old friends
• Know what you are getting into
• Plan ahead 
• Seek out help if and when needed
• Expect the unexpected

It takes any moment from 2 years to eventually feel completely settled in so don't rush anything and be open to meeting and networking, For one, I am handling my anxiety better than ever and doing a bit more skincare since acne has decided to rent the entire face out for summer. Nothing too serious or over the top; just over-the-counter products prescribed for dark spots and terrible acne like mine. May God help the face. I have been advised to see a doctor in the coming week because having this much hyperpigmentation for 2 months screams trouble. As you know, I am quite uneventful and I have been cooped up at home like the sore couch potato I am catching up on my favorite shows and doing other menial things. Fun news - I have started a  mini hair business to make a few more changes on the weekends I am free. You will be surprised how easy it is to put the word out in this part of the world. I had my first caller on the day after I sent my posters out. This is an on-the-side thing so I will try to make it as small as I can handle. The time has come for me to leave, I promise to spill any other news I have left out the next time you get mail. Have a beautiful week, I am rooting for you. 

Your favorite Dreamer

Helen Dami 💚