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Paris: 

I always managed to skip my French class in high school, it wasn't my teacher or my classmates that was the issue, I just didn't quite get what she was saying...(yes finger at myself).  Hhhmm ironically, Paris was my first port of call in Europe.

A beautiful city indeed. I  remember vividly  practising catwalk with Marilyn, Blessing and Leona   on the the heavenly  lit Parisian roads,  while the French police asked our  poor driver for his  'papers'.  They were  obviously alarmed by the four black tallies all cramped behind the mini.  My French teacher's eyes was vivid in my head, as if she was trying to catch up with her usual  warnings  all in 'franshe'...yeah, yeah...We took various pictures at the tower which I am yet to dig out! Next day, we represented the NFS at the UNESCO head quarters in Paris.  

After the  fashion show, I remember  dancing  my head off at a  party in a ship at the French docks. It was my first taste of hard rock, I didn't quite understand the movement/rhythm... worever ...I felt like the the whole music was chaotic... but I managed to dance! ha-ha.. hey! it was my first time, besides I later found out I  was right!  just dance against the rhythm!!!

People: posh and stylish they eat a lot of bread and love the cafes.

 One French word I learnt? Bonjour monsieur ! je veux du pain...OU puis-je btenir les vins?  ehhmm never mind.

 

 Milan: 

I was here for a fashion show as well. This is  Milano the city of style and fashion. Italians look, look and look yes, the men certainly! Was I strange? Maybe… I don't know. They are stylish, nicely loud, talk with their hands most times, and great dressers! I window-shopped a lot though… I was at a fashion show here. one of the shows  supported by UNESCO.

Venice:

I went on holiday to Venice  for a few weeks. It is beautiful and  it  does feel  traditional.  you see lovers walking hand in hand almost every where...there are restaurants  too and of course  waters... No cars to drive though, only the gondolas. The gondolas were great and the hotels are immaculate.

People:  are stylish quieter than Milano, the men stare like you just landed from planet mars.…

One Italian word I learnt?  bellisimo

 

Lagos:          

 

 

 

 

 

 

The hustle and bustle hits you as soon as you land  at M. Mohammed airport in Lagos. It's hot, its bustling, its alive. Yes you  could tell  you are in Africa! this is Nigeria one of the most populous country in Africa. It is  busy, noisy and every part of this city has its identity. Lagos  is  the former capital of Nigeria, the current capital is Abuja. 

Although Abuja have seen new infrastructures and  maintenance yet, Lagos still screams. Day after day, night after night! The parties, the bars, the markets-- cms and yaba oh! this is Lagos! The city also  boasts of  the Akodo and bar beach.

If you are looking for serenity? go into the small suburb, the unique villages, its a world of its own. you will experience the true African traditions, kids smiling at cars like it's a new invention. There is  true innocence, Strength, tradition and  a certain hustle...

People: Extremely friendly, straight forward loud and happy

One Nigerian word I learnt? How far?...lol, how you dey?  erhhmm, wetin u dey look?  isn't it amazing its all questions, well that's because I am a curious cat.  well there are  than four hundred languages spoken in Nigeria.

 

South Africa:

Jo burg and Cape Town. I went for a  photo shoot here and I could not resist the table mountain in Cape Town. I spent a month in SA...doing what I love best erhhhm enjoying the city!  I was in Jo burg (as it's often called) for two weeks and another two weeks in Cape Town.  A place to visit any time, it felt like a mix of  the British countryside and Holland. I will never forget a colleague I met while at a casting, Funmi  who was so kind to show me around the city, took me to the movies  and introduced  me to  Yvonne Chaka Chaka. I also met Jan Malan of Mnet.

People: friendly and helpful,  I love the bald hair style... and  I am really hoping I would have the courage to do same some day.  Most women have big bums... ha-ha it's.. true.

One word I learnt? basically every one spoke English...I wish I could learn some  Zulu! (thanks Mandy!)

 

Germany:      

     

The buildings are magnificent, great  work  of art. It was my second time in this country this time I was here to support Michael Schumacher at the grand prix.

The pubs are similar to the British pubs accept that the glass cups are a lot larger in Germany. Speed limit?.. erhhm I need the privacy.

People:  I  didn't quite see them as friendly but then again didn't stay too long there. Many of the men are blonde haired and they love fast cars. Women look very strong and capable.

One German word,  I leant?Ich bin ein madchen bin ich bier triken...!

 

 Holland:  

         

After driving  000 miles an hour from Germany, (don't forget the privacy) I arrived at the green land. I felt like Michael Schumacher on my way though. Yes, a green land, with lots greenery,  water and loads of bicycles. I visited Amsterdam and bought the famous black and white Dutch cow statue. (it Seats in my kitchen cupboard today).There was also a festival at Rotterdam a city with one of the biggest ports in northern Europe..I bought some great shoes in Hague and Utrecht.

People: maybe the tallest guys in Europe. friendly, and lovely people I could not pick up the language easily though.

one Dutch word I learnt? Goodumoneken

 

London:       

      

This picture above was taken on Oxford street, London during the summer. An extremely cosmopolitan city. It was sunny that day.  Nevertheless, the first time I was here, it was in the month of  October so I hit  the city right in the winter.  Gosh cold! cold! cold! I was told earlier that the weather was like this all time in the year, could this be possible? not with the  picture above...

When I was a kid, I watched movies and I always wondered why everyone wore a suit in London and walked so fast??? I  often thought, that it could  be because everyone worked in an office...just because every Londoner wore suits in the movie...lol  hmm  that was my kiddie mind! I believed no one farmed or used tools, or maybe they did but with bigger machines...besides the only person I knew that was quite serious when it came to work was my dad... when he wore his uniform he smiled less plus his nick name was  James bond!

The people I saw in the movies obviously did not farm like my grand father? my grand dad often smiled, walked slowly, drove slowly and told a lot of stories. lol... he often  tells stories of  WW2 in which he is a veteran. Maybe work in London put a lot of pressure on Londoners? ''why didn't they smile?'' These were questions I asked myself as a child, until  I came to realise that not everyone works in the office after all.  Some  people were farmers  too, and they used tools too big tools which is even easier to use than the 'abrakpa' that grandpa used. So why do people not laugh like my grand father does? ha -ha  ask  the pressure of modern, fast pace life! well some do...briefly maybe 2 secs!

People: They love football and  beer ehhm, they have humour too, and drive on the left hand side of the road! Londoners can  do with a lot more laugh  though...if you want that... just go to the pubs.

One English word I learnt? behave yourself! or a slang Hiya...hello mate...u alrigh...

 

Greece:     

      

My first encounter with Greece was in the bible, I was only 7. The great Paul of tarsus was  a renowned Greek scholar. It was said that he was well read...So I had expected  everyone would be wearing suits looking serious and constantly being too posh.  Years later I went to see for myself.

Errhmm nope! its all OPAH!!!   Dance! dance! dance! on the table, you can break plates too...and clap while at it!  Eat!  eat! eat! Drink! drink! drink!...  Smoke! smoke !smoke! They call it halara! Gosh  it's  fun fun fun.. everywhere. There were times when 3am felt  like 2pm! the modern Ios Island and the other very  traditional island Foleghandros!

Yes of course I went to Athens as well. I visited the great Acropolis and the Olympic ground. The city is very historic yet full of fun. Erhhm I am on my way back...yes Rhodes and Santorini Islands.

People:  Easygoing, friendly and loud, they talk with their hands too. Women love make up, men love show off.

One Greek word I learnt? opah! and you have to say it really loud!

 

Japan:

 

Tokyo: The land of peace and quiet, height of high -tech, fashion, style, respect for strangers, you name it! Everywhere I went I was the tallest and darkest  person  walking around, lol... Yet, everyone was fine with me. They smiled a lot and helped me to find my way  around whenever I got slightly  lost. They could not speak English but they always made an effort to help me. I understood that humans  do not really have to speak the same language to understand each other...they just do.

Tokyo is great during the day but amazing at night too, the lights come on in Ginza and it seems like heaven. The people of Tokyo are  very creative  and stylish, they are  peaceful and  welcoming.

People: Beautiful, peaceful helpful and serene.

One word I learnt in Japan? asiamaseee...they also say it with a smile.

 

 

Edinburgh:  

    

I have been to various places in the world but Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful city  of them all...The  buildings  with a  castle/doll house look,  is breath taking. The fields that stretch out to no bounds is mind blowing. The  city centre which is 5 minutes  away from the country side  is amazing. The sheep that continually  graze on the fields like nothing else exists is calming. The Atlantic ocean that spreads into some parts of the city. The great Scottish history, which led me to the Edinburgh castle where I saw my first man in skirt, (above)... and of course, the  other men in skirts!

people: They are quite friendly, easy going and  love to have fun... and yes I saw for myself...the men wear nice skirts. erhhm they call  it kilt. Never say skirt to the Scots.

One word I learnt in Scotland? every one speaks English with a sweet accent I thought I wouldn't understand  the accent, but it was quite simple.   ai aiiii!!!

 

 

 

more updates to come...   New York, California, Sweden, Australia, Brazil, India, Spain, China, Ghana, and  the Gambia.

 

 

 

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