Where Are My Friends?

When I was moving here to New Zealand I was warned that one of the biggest challenges I would face would be that of isolation. Wikipedia describes one of the "uniqueness" of New Zealand as being its geographical isolation.


Boy were they right or what?

I found out exactly how right in my first few months here. I was used to having Africans as a large part of the immigrant population in my previous domiciles. Here in New Zealand, Africans are still quite few enough that it is almost an obligation to say hello if you bump into them on the high street. Although you are more likely to spot them from 500 metres away seeing as a dark skinned person stands out so much!

I have a lot of acquaintances in New Zealand and quite a number of friends already. The small Nigerian community is very tight and any excuse will do to have a get-together and gather everyone around. Music, food and speaking Yoruba or Pidgin English does wonders for your sense of community and homesickness.

But this post is about my friends. The ones in the Northern Hemisphere

I have been missing them a lot.

My MSN name and Facebook status asks where they are and I have gotten responses from quite a varied number of people (346 'friends' on Facebook and 225 contacts on MSN afterall). So this post is dedicated to all my true friends. Being who I am, I count quite a lot of people as friends so in the next few weeks, I will be sharing my friends with the whole world (such as it is) and why they are so special to me.

And perhaps... just perhaps... as I profile people here on my blog, consciences will be pricked and my phone will ring a bit more and my email box be a bit more that interesting to open up and read!

__________________________________________________________________

Name: Kenechukwu UMEASIEGBU


Time I have known him: 9 years

Location:
Global HR "something or the other" with Cadbury Schweppes, London United Kingdom

Most memorable moment with him:
Ask anybody who knows him and they will tell you that every single encounter with Kene is a memorable one. One of the most intelligent persons I know, Kene is a deep thinker who is very comfortable addressing a room of thousands or one-on-one with an indivdual. Whichever it is, he commands and gives you full attention until the end. (Switzerland, Festac, UNILAG, London)


What I Like Most about Him:
His conversation skills. It doesnt matter what you talk about, who initiated the conversation or how long you talk to him. Kene has an opinion about almost everything and he has never been shy or reticient in letting you know EXACTLY what he thinks. If you are having a dinner party, need a speaker for your annual conference or just want to unburden your heart... he is the man!


Other comments:
One of the people I look up to in a lot of things, Kene has been instrumental in shaping certain convictions I have. And certain questions I am still in the process of getting answers to have their root planted by Kene. (If you are reading this Kene, its not what you think! haha)

Kene is also the person most likely to ring me up (after my immediate family) just to say hello! (Which is why he gets the first post) And when he rings, its not in the middle of the night like most Northern hemisphere residents do but at a decent hour. New Zealand hour that is. I count myself very lucky to be Kene's friend and again dude, if you are reading this, I have not forgotten I still owe you 200 pounds!