Hello, my dedicated Hivian bloggers. It's a nice thing to be back again. Thanks to those who noticed my absence and tried to reach out but couldn't. Life can come with unexpected surprises. I'm happy to be back again on Hive. My last month came with a blend of good and bad experiences. You know this happiness that comes with what you have been anticipating is around the corner, and when it finally happens, something tragic happens. That was what I experienced last month.

First short with my new phone

I had always dreamed of serving my country one day through the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). After I wrote my final exam, I waited an extra two years at home due to delays beyond my control, and finally our results were passed and we began the necessary preparation.

When the posting letter was accessible online, I saw Bauchi, and my countenance changed. Bauchi is a northern state in Nigeria, and the fear of never having been to the north was the reason. Since the call-up letter was released late and the journey was two days from Akwa Ibom State, I packed my bags with sorrow, ready for a journey with no expectations.

Myself

My journey from the pack to the NYSC orientation camp started smoothly. The bus ride was long and fun, as I was opportune to sit with loving souls that pampered me like an egg and provided me with everything I ate, which made it bearable. There were six corps members in the bus; five were posted to Bauchi, while one was to Jos. Jos was the first bus stop we needed to stop at to board another vehicle that would convey us to Bauchi.

My phone was my lifeline during the trip, keeping me connected to my family and friends. However, my excitement changed to despair when we got to Jos. When we alighted the bus, we boarded a taxi, and in a matter of seconds, my world was turned upside down. The taxi driver, while taking our loads, unzipped the bag the phone was in and immediately insisted on not going to the location again. We all asked him why, but he never answered, and the thought of my phone never crossed our minds until we got to the place we wanted to have some rest.

As my friends were taking out their phones, I decided to do the same, and I noticed my bag had been unzipped in a very small manner. My first thought told me something bad had happened, but I tried to console myself because I didn't want to believe my phone was taken. With a beating heart, I summoned courage and unzipped it completely, only to search the whole bag but find nothing. We started calling the number, but he refused to pick it up.

We kept on, and he finally did and mentioned the name of the pack. We went back there, hoping maybe he meant we should come there and get it. We got there and called him multiple times, but to no avail. Even with the help of others in the pack, nothing changed. My only means of communication and connection gone.

Arriving at the orientation camp without a phone was daunting. The first few days were the hardest. I felt I was in the wrong place; many were snapping and making videos, and I was left with no phone to share my experiences or even hear from my loved ones. Apart from the bad feeling the phone caused, the camp's activities were engaging. Losing the phone was like losing a soul. Every day I wake up without my phone by my side, with no notifications, no calls, no blogging, and no engaging and conversing with my online friends.

carnival pictures with friends I met in camp

Despite the challenges, the camp experience was transformative. I appreciate the people I went to the camp with, allowing me to call my family with their phones, and the moments we shared. I learned and practiced interpersonal interactions. Although the absence of my phone and my online community was a constant reminder of how much I had lost, I still found joy in the camp to some extent.

After the 21-day orientation, I was posted to Bauchi Capital for my Place of Primary Assignment (PPA). As I settled in, I immediately set about getting a new phone. Using my earnings on Hive with other resources, I was able to purchase a new device. The moment I held it in her hands, my happiness knew no bounds. I was finally reconnecting with the world I had stayed away from for days, weeks and months.

Logging back into Hive was like a homecoming. The notifications, initiatives, contests, and having a place to share my experiences and read and learn from others once again are exciting. I never knew I could survive without a phone, but the experience taught me resilience, staying off media, and adapting to the presence of others, which is the importance of human connection.

The new phone

I'm super grateful for Hive; maybe I would have still been without phone till now if I had no savings on Hive. I'm also grateful to @captainman, who was there for me from the beginning until the end of the ordeal, until I was able to purchase a new phone. Also, to @justinpencilz, for your support and generosity; you all were the reason behind my coming back to Hive this soon.