The Concept Of Love

From Drew

I woke up one morning with a question ringing in my head. I tried to shake it off but it kept coming to me.

I tried all the old tricks you do when you want to forget something, such as playing loud touching music, and getting yourself busy, but they failed miserably. The thought came back, this time much stronger, very provoking and more out put together.

Again, I tried to write it off, my job as a journalist is very stressful and I thought that would be the perfect escape route.

The plan was to get to work and start contacting sources to a story I was working on.

Need I say the plan did not work out? Well, at least it did for some time, but the moment I forwarded the story to my boss the thought came running back into my prefrontal cortex.

That was the moment I gave up, I knew it would not go away and the more I tried to ignore it the more justified the thought would be.

I knew I could not continue ignoring it. I knew it would be impossible for me to carry on with the rest of the day if I did not act on it. The urge grew bigger and stronger by the second.

So I picked up my phone and called by brother, we call him Trig, “What are we doing for daddy on his retirement day? You know we have to do something,” I said, the moment he answered the call. I do not recall even asking how he was doing.

Just as myself, he had been fighting with the same angel thought, and after a few more calls to the rest of the family members we realized that same thought had invaded our minds and taken over our thinking process.

It was after that moment that the covert operation to give my dad the best 60^th birthday and retirement surprise party ever began taking shape.

I remember the moment I had to lie to my dad to explain why chairs and tables had been arranged at the house, (we got him out of the house but he wasn’t all that well so he had to come home and the secret handler we appointed had no choice).

Lying to him was the only way to keep the surprise alive, I told him my former GIJ course mates were holding a meeting and my house was chosen as the venue. He did not get any hint since there was no food being prepared to indicate a party was being organized.

That day was the best day of my life; 31^st of May.

Richard Sam Komeiteh Botchway (we call him Ricardo) will always be our best friend in this world. We love you and thank you for being our inspiration of being better human beings.

I learned that no matter how busy we are, there are some people we just do not have enough excuse to not to show them love and in such instances there is no need fighting it. just go ahead and let the person know. 

REKINDLING OUR PASSION

From right: Lemuel, Jonny and Drew

From Lemuel

At the Ghana Institute of Journalism, one lecturer after another preached the importance of having and running a blog.

Then came Mr.Yaw Odame Gyau (aka Saanaa), who insisted we all create personal blogs. He said he would check on our blogs and give marks. Well guess what, most of us did create blogs. Even though he never got around checking, it was from there I became a blogger!

Last year's blogcamp was personally my very first and boy was it fun!

I never knew there were so many bloggers and people who are interested in blogging. Then a roller coaster of events occured, in which I won a prize, I wasn't even available to claim, because I had left early to run an errand.

This year, I’m prepared and I look to enjoy every bit of the programme. So at this point, I'd say, BLOGCAMP 2014, BRING IT ON!!

                                                                        ~

From Jonny

As Lemuel said, some lecturers at GIJ made attempts but my very first blogcamp actually succeeded in arousing in me a resilient craving to continue the blogging expedition I began but abandoned in 2009. As I left the Kofi Annan ICT Centre that night, I felt delighted that I made it because I had finally acquired that power to my elbow which absence halted my journey. 

The effects of the power was the conception of Fiction Files, Jonny Donkor and My Stolen Shots all of which I independently manage and Life Beyond University  which I co-author with my blogcamp freak friends. 

The journey has been pretty cool and each time I see many bloggers under one roof sharing their experiences, I feel more energized. To this end, I cannot afford to miss this year’s edition because I am running out of power and my elbow is jerking. I’m not a scientist but I have propounded a power theory which states that 12+4+2014 (12th April 2014) is equal to BLOGCAMP and BLOGCAMP is just a synonym of Power.

Want to test my Power theory? See you there.

                                                                          ~

From Drew

Gearing up for Blogcamp14, I am filled with excitement and nostalgia to the extent that I can’t seem to stop checking the calendar to April 12.

Blogcamp, organized by BloggingGhana really opened my scope of knowledge on the internet and how I can contribute to the development of my country using the World Wide Web. I must say that before my first blogcamp i was a blogger, however, that was for academic purposes. 

This supercharged blog came into being after attending an inspiring Blogcamp13. Looking forward to Blogcamp14, as a co-author of this blog, I’m hoping  to be more motivated and gain more knowledge and understanding on how to make this blog a success!

A TALE OF TWO TENANTS

From Jonny...

The Marriage of my three big sisters, my brother's job, the education of my two younger siblings and recently  the demise of my dad have turned the once noisy and lively house  of ours into a quiet place with  just my mum, myself and the dogs occasionally slumming doors and barking respectively.

The idea of renting some of the rooms out though bitter to swallow became necessary since I am hardly in the house to keep my mother company due to the nature of my work as “a professional gossip”.

I have heard fascinating compound house stories from friends, relatives and seen their enactment in TV series such as Neighbours, The Tenants, Living with Tricia and a number of African movies and so I consider the arrival of the new tenants as a chance to experience and confirm these tales.

I was battling with the 26 letters of the alphabet in search of a suitable title for a news story I had just completed when a truck pulled up in front of our house amidst corn mill -like noise.

My three dogs I collectively call Girls- Girls began to bark.  Two persons; a man and a woman alighted from the front of the truck just as I came out of my room to find out whose arrival had woken up my girls which were brooding over the loss of their little one, knocked down by a car after seeing me off to work earlier in that morning.

I could not immediately make them out from the distance because I was not in my glasses. But after drawing a bit near the truck and seeing the sofa, the queen size mattress, the dressing mirror with some “tapole”, ladles and other assorted cooking utensils peeping from a big basket tightly tied together with a variety of household items at the back of the truck, I immediately confirmed that the newly married couple who had rented some rooms in our house   were ready to move in.

Behold, the status of our private residence of over 25 years is about to change to become a compound house with all the wahala that comes with that change.

I am going to miss our private life especially the washroom moments. I can no longer spend long hours on the water closet reading a novel, newspaper, browsing, whatsapping or even generating some stories and ideas as I “download”. I can no longer sing like it's nobody's business as I shower but it's not bad at all because after all I am the landlord.

I see the change as part of life and as the two tenants move in with their bags, baggage and bundle of behavior, I am prepared and poised to share “my washroom”, utility bills and take up the responsibilities as a landlord.

 A tale of two tenants has begun, Life beyond university continues.

DEATH HACKED MY DREAM

From Drew

2009, I paid little attention to him. I started listening to the BBC Radio after June 2009. I could listen 24/7, but I always looked out for the BBC’s World Today (now News Day).

I always loved waking up at dawn, lie on my bed and listen to Komla’s voice, not so much of the news when he is on air, just the voice.

I had always wanted to be in the news media, until recently that public relations started cropping into my heart. Listening to him, while he was miles away in London, I knew I had made the right decision to divert from business

to media and communications.

He wasn't my only inspiration though; Oprah Winfrey is also one of the people I looked up to, to gather the courage and go into the media. Oprah once said, “You need to find a way to make money from what you love”.

I love the media, it is hot, fast, no room for delay, very little room for error, adrenaline and testosterone flowing everywhere, camera, lights, pen, paper, microphones, attention (yeah attention), incredible power to determine the subject of conversation of people I will never meet or know, and most of all, the ability to loose yourself in a story and shape people's opinions.

So it was just right that I get a career and earn money from doing something I really, really, really loved.

I have never told my friends about this, but I always imagined myself interviewing Komla and Oprah (not at the same time) and of course the Queen, sometimes I sit in my room and talk to myself, pretending like I'm interviewing one of them. 

You might not get it, but it's just like what aspiring musicians do, when they stand in front of their mirror and sing pretending they are singing to a crowd of people, when really, the only audience they have is their own image in the mirror mimicking them and not paying attention to their incredible or not so incredible voice.

Just like myself whose dream of interviewing Komla is now going to be just that (a dream), I know Komla also really wanted to interview the man himself, Nelson Mandela (he never got the chance too).

Recovering from the sad news of his death, one thing I cheered myself with was that, “Komla just couldn't wait to interview Nelson Mandela, and that he had to follow him to where he is”.

         ~~Rest In Peace Komla, from my LBU friends and myself~~

2013 IN PERSPECTIVE

Lemuel…

www.lifebeyounduniversity.blogspot.com is the blog, no sorry, that's the one we can call our blog! And when I say "our" I don't mean just the three self important guys that founded this blog but it includes you our dear, fantastic and amazing reader.

Yes! We say "our" because we feel you've been with us since our first post. With more than a thousand views throughout the world we know for sure that you have both read and identified with our stories. We can't thank you enough.

Drew…

My growing-up-year is how I describe 2013. Lots of things occurred that changed my life, one of those amazing things is this blog. It has allowed me to use my own life as a test book for the subject of life to the benefit of myself and all the incredible friends who log onto this site daily.

I am grateful for everything that happened in 2013. I mean, I graduated from the Ghana Institute of Journalism! With my crazy friends, ha! Oh, and one of them; Lemuel Nortey won best student! I also enjoyed the mini birthday parties of my dad, three big brothers and of course myself. Have I mentioned that I was posted to Graphic Communications Group Limited for my National Suffering, sorry typo, National Service?

Actually, all those events did not require a lot of growing up from me like the last quarter of 2013 did. Two of my friends, Eric Ninson and Jonathan Donkor lost their mother and father respectively. Actually, Jonathan told me of his dad’s passing the very day I was returning from Eric’s mum’s funeral. I had to learn how to support a friend in emotional pain. I can’t say I did a fantastic job but I did my best.

I look forward to 2014 with much optimism and hope that it will be a good and challenging year. Why wouldn’t it be challenging if I have to secure a job and go back to school after National Service (happy I got that right) and simultaneously establish a company in the agricultural business. Agriculture in this country is not an easy industry and I know I will have fun breaking into it.

Jonny….

Whew! What an expedition. Time really flies. The last time I remember, I was writing the very first entry in my fantasy diary for 2013 ; pledging myself to be at my very best socially , academically, morally  spiritually and  all the “ally’s” but here I am on the last page giving a retrospective view of the year.

2013. Hmm! (searching Google and flipping through the dictionary) the hunt for the most suitable adjective to describe it has been tough. How I wish I could combine “CHALLENGING” and “FULFILLING” and simply say “CHA-FILLING” because the combination of the two best describes my 2013.  

I chose CHALLENGING because death whisked away two of people closest people to my heart; granny and daddy. Their demise hurt so much that Life beyond university somewhat came to a pause; even graduation did not turn out as planned because the family photo would not be complete without these two people.

Alas! The FULFILLING moments came as love lifted me. Albeit my new found love cannot fill the vacuum created by the departure of daddy and granny, she has created her own which cannot also be filled as I have cast her to play lead in the new seasons of my love life.

I am not privy to what 2014 holds; whether another “CHA-FILLING” one or I would have to create another word   but whatever it is I am optimistic because in Christ Alone I place my trust.

 Lemuel here again; I personally feel especially honored to be a host writer on this blog, together with Jonathan and Andrew. However, it shouldn't have to be just us, be a part of this phenomenon, be a writer, be our guest writer! It’s totally therapeutic to tell your own story to the world, believe me I know.

On that note I sign out with the utmost conviction that we have entertained and benefited you since our first post on the 11th of May, 2013. Continue to pass by each time you are online because Life Beyond University just got better. Till our next and 12th post; This is www.lifebeyonduniversity.blogspot.com.

GOOD SAMARITANS DO EXIST!

From Drew.

Every now and then we fall on our friends and family to help us get through the difficulties of life. We may rely on them for financial help, education, health and/or other essential areas of life.

I used to think people only help the people they know. The person may be a high school friend, or even that guy in the neighborhood you may never have spoken with, yet helping such a person would seems much better, simply because of the fact that you are familiar with the person to some extent.

When I went to Takoradi for my National Service, I was struck with much surprise in a mesmerizing way, by how the people, whom I have never met before, were enthusiastic to helping me find a place to stay or perch for a night.

The people I met there were really kind and very welcoming. I was drawn to tears at a point when somebody offered me his three bedroom house for free! Nobody was staying in the house, so he wanted me to stay there for at least two weeks while I look for my own place (he was helping me find a place).

I never had to move to the three bed room apartment because an old friend of mine got me another place. Once again my host did not know me.

I am surprised by all these because I was wondering how I could invite a total stranger to my dad’s house in Accra to sleep over. My contemplation was not about whether my dad would allow it or not. It was more about whether I would opt to do that favor in the first place.

I want to believe that I am a kind person but I do not think I could do what those people in Takoradi did. I think one needs a certain divine inspiration of some sort to be able to be that kind.

They have inspired me to help people more. I realized I don’t have to always be in my comfort zone before I can help someone in need. They opened up their homes for me and they demanded nothing from me, nothing, except of course, to be a good person just so they don’t regret showing an act of kindness to a total stranger.

Prior to my National Service I had given up on the idea of helping people because some people (most of whom are members of my extended family) I had helped had disappointed and disgraced me in the end which sometimes made me curse myself for helping them.

I have a different perception for people now. I have got a renewed Do-Good-Spirit. It doesn’t matter whether or not I know the person who needs my help all I can do is help when I’m approached.

This will be one of many positive things that I can attribute to my national service with Graphic Communications Group Limited.

Thank you to Mr. Agyekum, Cyrus, Ralph, Micheal and my own aunt; Aunty Efuah and her family for their warm welcome to the oil city of Ghana!

When someone calls on you for help, all you need to do is to try and help. You may not be able to achieve the desired results in the end, what is most important is that you at least tried.

PS: Please make sure you are not awarded one of these.

Have you been on the receiving end of some amazing act of kindness? Tell us about it!

LIFE EXPERIENCES

                                                                              

So we went to school, did our best and passed our exams; coming out with flying colors and then we got a job. We both got a middle class houses on mortgage while we were pretty sure our jobs was secured. A good one for that matter and then we started taking our girlfriends serious. We started discussing marriage and then we got really serious and did the unthinkable; we met the parents.

After a month or two, one of us took the lead and went for the engagement list and he realized he doesn't have enough savings so he started buying them in bits and when he realized that he had bought two third of the items of the list he set a date for the engagement and the wedding date too.

Two weeks to the day his wife and him started buying the rest of the items but then their savings begun showing in the red, the next natural thing to do was to start contemplating whether to postpone the wedding or borrow money to pay for the rather lavish celebration they have planned. Postponing was taken off the list because their parents have invited all their people from the village and they have embarked on the three day journey already. So, the only option left was to borrow. He did not ask us for the money but a business associate instead.

Well, the wedding was great; there was plenty of food and drinks. The music was superb; he hired the best live band in town and got the most sorts after venue for the reception. The marriage ceremony was everything he had read about from the fairy tales books during his childhood and now, it is his reality.

The honeymoon was unimaginable, a four star service, but when they got back, his friend business associate from whom he borrowed the money to pay for the rest of the wedding had left him a voice message on the answering machine. His lender was in a serious financial mess and could do with the money he borrowed him, preferred deadline for payment; three weeks. What a start to a marriage life, gasped.

This is a real life story but not ours, follow this blog for real life stories about us, (three university graduates) as we cope with life after school. We will tell you everything concerning our hustle in life from our career to our love life, nothing is off limits.

Most importantly we hope that these life stories of ours will help you live your own life……. Sometimes we think we are alone in our misery but most often than not there are thousands more also wearing the same issues as us.

It is our wish that you learn from our real life experiences and do not repeat our mistakes….

Our names are Lemuel Nortey, Jonathan Donkor and Andrew Tetteh but we prefer that you know us as Lemuel, Jonny and Drew.