PROGRESS OBERIKO BLOG

  I did something today that I’m really proud of, even though I ended up breaking down in tears after — Calling out racism! I’ve met lovely people across all races since I moved to the UK. I’ve had very pleasant and memorable experiences. But I’ve also encountered people who left me with unpalatable experiences. One very repetitive disgusting experience is RACISM!  I don’t care how covert it is, it is evident and it absolutely disgusting! So today I discovered a massive mall not very far from me and I went on a tour. It is called Exchange mall located in Illford East London!  One of the shops I visited was TK Maxx , I looked around a bit as I window shopped, and on my way out as I approached the exit door, I saw a security staff dutifully positioned there.  I clearly heard one of his colleagues giving him an instruction through his walkie-talkie phone. He said, “The Black Female approaching, keep an eye on her”.  Now, I was the only Black female approaching the ...

  One of the proudest things I’ve done in my life is resigning from a toxic work environment. I once worked with this Start-up organization, where the CEO was a real bossy boss.  He was walking in his “CEO shoes” every day of his life, he was so obsessed with achieving his dream for his org that he cared less about his employees!  We would use our personal emails and our personal mobile number to reach out to clients.  I remember suggesting that a work phone should be provided for me because the clients were beginning to encroach on my personal space, but I was told off and tagged a complainer. In so many ways we were going out of our way to help him achieve his goals for his organization, yet these sacrifices meant nothing to him.  He kept demanding more.  He’d give us tasks that encroached into our weekends even though working weekends wasn’t part of our employment contract, and when we fell short of delivery he’d scold us so harshly, making us feel like ...

  “If someone ghosts you, respect the dead and move on .”  I saw this quote somewhere, and in as much as I strongly agree with the post, I also believe that there are arguably situations where it might be the wrong advice.  I once had a friend who for some reason decided to stop speaking to me. And whenever I try to reach out to him I was snubbed and got no response. I took this personally, given that we had no prior brawl, and there was no reason for such behavior. I had every reason to believe that I was being ghosted, and I believed so.  But following my gut feeling, I thought I should double-check. So I continued reaching out to him via chats, and eventually, he responded! He said he had been going through a phase of depression following the loss of his mom, hence his silence . I became so empathetic with him, understanding that I wasn’t actually being ghosted.  I have since come to learn that our assumptions might not always be right. You can be so sure yet...

  I currently share a flat with this girl, an amazing personality, but there’s a tiny bugbear! We both do our individual cleanups, but there are times when if I find her unclean dishes in the sink I wash them alongside mine. It is just the both of us living in the apartment, and for me, it’s no big deal to wash someone’s dish if I find them in the sink while washing mine.  But for this girl, apparently, it is the opposite. No matter how many times I’ve washed her dish, she has never for once washed mine if she finds it in the sink. Even if it is just a spoon. She’ll move it to one side and wash hers only.  P.S I don’t deliberately leave my unwashed dish in the sink, except when I’m in haste. This has been a concern. I know say nobody send me to wash for her, but I can’t just see her dish while washing, and ignore it. I’ve tried to, but I couldn’t! My conscience wouldn’t let me!  Part of me feels like I should stop, even though I don’t see a big deal in carrying on, b...