Friday 21 October 2016

The Friend Ship Sinks

If I could turn back the hands of time
I would strengthen the bridges
Losing friendships should be considered a crime
Handle the needle; help me with the stitches
Help keep my friend ships from sinking; do you need a hook and line?
Always thought my friendships would last, till a couple hit the ditches
Now it’s tough, I am trying to make things right
Humans are most probably the strangest of creatures
We watch situations get darker and then later try to turn on the lights
We present gifts and write long speeches
Sometimes, the effort is too little, and too late most times

-        Fiifi Khoruz.
-        16th October, 2016.
-        Unedited.

Wednesday 5 October 2016

GIJ Eminence Awards: Can I Nag?


Christabel Brainoo texted to tell me that she had nominated me for Best Writer/Blogger of the year. I had no idea what it was about at the time. Then Dave Acheampong  texted to say he had done same for me.

In the first place, I felt really appreciated. I finally accepted that people actually read my writings and actually liked them.

Then out of nowhere, I was added to a WhatsApp Group called, ‘GIJ Excellence Awards’ (which would later be changed to GIJ Eminence Awards). The message was simple- if you are here, it is because you have been nominated for an award. There were several people in the group who claimed they had no idea what they had been nominated for. I knew mine, so I didn’t say anything.

Then a first list of nominations came out. I scanned through and got to the Best Writer/Blogger part and my name was not in there. I didn’t panic. Following the conversation in the WhatsApp Group, I realized the organizers had admitted to erring in some sections, and urged all who had issues to send their names and the categories they should have been nominated for to any of the executives. I chose Richmond Anim Damoah’s number and sent him my name and category. There was no reply. Still, I didn’t panic. Stated under the nominations list was the requirement for each category. The one for the Best Writer/Blogger was that you send two links or your article to a specified email address. Confident that the initial error would be corrected, I went ahead and emailed two of my masterpieces (oh yeah) to the organizers. This time, there was a reply. They acknowledged receipt of my email and thanked me for sending it.
Some time later, they sent a message to the WhatsApp Group talking about how the purpose for creating the group had been achieved and how the group was no longer needed for anything. They removed all of us.

Then another nominations list made the rounds. I got it and quickly got to the Best Writer/Blogger part. Still no Fiifi Khoruz.
Now I do not know why my name is refusing to appear on their nominees document when I have been nominated by people, and I have submitted the necessary requirements. Maybe they have their reasons. Maybe not.

Everybody that I have spoken to, including SRC executives, had only negative things to say about the organizers of this award scheme. I don’t have anything to say about them because I do not know them and I do not know what sort of credibility they have. It would just have been nice to hear from them concerning my issues. And I believe I am not talking for myself only.

Thinking about it, dissolving the group was very unnecessary because now they have no platform to tell us why our names were not included in the final nominations list. Maybe I should contact the organizers and ask why this happened but is it necessary? I actually want to be awarded Most Influential Student but since I was overlooked for that, it’s fine. Haha.. that was just by the way.

Anyways, people are asking questions. So if you are an organizer and you are reading this, you should find time and a platform to answer them. People want to know what criteria is being used for SRC Executive of the Year and Group of the Year among others. It’s up to you.

Chale I dey; I just chork it. I can only be content and actually happy that people read my articles and they appreciate them. You guys are the real MVPs.

**
This is the end of Fiifi Khoruz nagging. Let me text my crush and nag more. She didn’t call me today.

PS:  The Duncans were nominated for Best Group of the Year in the first nominations list. When the second one came out, the group name was nowhere to be found. None of us was contacted both times.
I believe the organizers of GIJ Eminence Awards should show some respect and be professional. If you decide to do something, do it well.

Monday 3 October 2016

Matters; My Turn.

Though the sem began barely weeks ago, so many things have gone on since, and I can’t wait until the end to talk. My mouth is itching to say a few words but then again, gossiping with the mouth is way below my pay grade. That’s why I prefer using my lovely long fingers to type (when they are not in a bowl of groundnut soup surrounding fufu, or jammed in a girl’s weave, twirling away).

Before I continue, can we have a moment of silence for me to introduce myself? Oh, you don’t want to know who I am eh? It’s fine then. Let’s go ahead.

Welcome to GIJ if you are a freshman. We are happy to have you guys out here with us. It’s not like you guys are doing our assignments for us or anything, but it feels great to have new people going through the same hustle as we are. It will end though. In four years. Hold on tight, or better still, hold someone’s hand, and strive on.

Let me quickly make this known: I am trying to find the girl that wore a skirt so short, the rector had to make mention of a ban in his speech during the matriculation. Nothing much, I just want to see the skirt. It must have been shorter than the duration of my last relationship.

News channels and blogs alike helped spread the news quickly. The rector, Dr. Dzisah, had set an agenda for all of us. The debate was on. Wherever two or more gathered, the topic was ‘mini skirts’. Some argued that the rector was right to have cautioned students on indecent dressing. Others maintained that we are not in high school anymore and that we need to be left to live our lives. This has become so huge a news story that celebs like M.anifest have added their two cents. Admittedly though, the number of mini skirts I see these days has drastically reduced. Either you don’t wear them anymore or I need to change my glasses.

Hopefully, the SRC would not take credit for this and add it to their list of achievements. When I listened to Nii Boye’s 'GIJ Choices' there was this line in it that caught my attention. He asked if this current SRC would do better, and the collective response was NOPE. That scared me a bit. I was wondering how someone could just predict a trusted council’s future like that. I decided to do the right thing and wait for the SRC week in order to properly assess the performance of the executives.

I didn’t have to wait long.

“…wackest sh*t ever; it was torture; I really regret it; I felt like they were deliberately punishing us…”
Those are not my words. Those are the words of one Mr. Abelyire, a Diploma 2 student who decided to ‘Escape to Akosombo’ with the SRC. He clearly was not impressed with the hustle he had to go through before getting on the bus in the first place. Then when they got to the Continental Hotel, as many as 15 or so students had to share a room. What sort of Akwaaba trip is this one, he says he kept asking himself. He had gone to Sogakope last year with the previous administration and had thoroughly enjoyed himself.

The only good thing that could have come out of this trip was the swimming pool and everything that comes with it. You know, girls in bikinis, and boys showing their 6 packs. Ha. Laughing at those who can't swim to save their lives, showing off by those who can dive..
Even that, one of the most sexy ladies I know on campus said, ‘the pool was unclean’.
Well, students came up with their own fun and at the end, most enjoyed themselves. The question still stands- why couldn’t H.E Madugu and his team do better?

That is where the budget comes in. Most students have been heard complaining bitterly about how our monies are being used. The budget hasn’t gone down well with students at all. The main problem students have with it is that there is no actual breakdown of what x cedis will be used for and what y cedis will buy. All we have heard is that so amount had been allocated for the whole Akwaaba Week. A former SRC office aspirant described the whole budget situation as, ‘balderdash’.
Anyway anyway, I am not interested in student politics these days (I know the worst illiterate is the political one but I don’t really care) and so, I would like to end it right here. You guys should endeavor to be at every GA and argue your hearts out though. All the best!

Don’t forget your books while you are at it.
Results came out a few weeks ago and turn up at the library since then has been bloody impressive… period. (hope you saw what I did there). When the library gets choked like that, I wonder if it’s raining outside. This happens every sem. Whenever results are posted on the notice board, students flock to the library. Some get self-conscious and decide to study hard in order to change their D to a B+. The only yawa about this is that whatever demon it is that caused them to take their studies serious departs right after three or four days. Then it’s back to usual for these guys. I would advise you to get really serious though. I don’t remember the last time I had more than 3 As and it’s taking a huge toll on my health. No disrespect to fat people but my tummy has become big and it has nothing to do with beer. I just don’t sleep enough. I’m always up thinking about how to become a serious student like Sandra Hyde, Portia, and Tryphena. I think it’s a bit someway how all these names are in 400 Journalism A, and I am stuck in Journalism C. :’(
Anyways, learn hard people, learn hard. Education isn’t the only key to success but it is increasingly becoming the major key for survival.

#TrapHouseOsu. 
Hmm.. the left part of my brain is forcing me to say #FlopHouseOsu. That is exactly how it went down on the 30th of September. Breakers Entertainment are known for organizing the sem’s biggest party. So nobody knows what really went wrong with this one. The setting was perfect, everything was sorted. They had the club section, the rooms for whatnot, the bar, a meat grilling stand, a red carpet for photoshoot, every damn thing! But there were no ladies. It still doesn’t make sense to me. Guys came in their numbers. After all, it was a Friday night and where better to experience night life than in Osu? Hold on. I want to know why you didn’t come. Is it because you didn’t have 20 cedis only or you didn’t have a dress to wear? You these freshers, nobody really understands you. Haven’t you read How To Be A Cool Kid In GIJ? Ah but you people, common party that come and have fun too, you wouldn’t come. I heard you don't give out your phone numbers too.
I wish Breakers Entertainment all the best. These things happen sometimes. So I hope you don’t lose focus. Let's have more parties please.
**
See, I don’t want to talk much. Kasa bebree ma stroke. I am tired now. I’ve got assignments to complete too. So hopefully, we’ll talk again soon.
Stay safe and have a good semester.
So long.

PS: IAs are coming up. Take your papers serious and do all your assignments too. They affect your final grades in more ways than one.

Written By: Fiifi khoruz, Level 400 Journalism C.