BRIGHT SMILE, BRIGHT FUTURE

There really isn't really anything fun about being in the hospital but it just so happens that my brother's Rotary group meets in St. Vincent's Hospital lunch room on Wednesdays so I have been privy to two of their lunch programs. 

Each year the West Little Rock Rotary Club sponsors exchange students to the Little Rock area and this year Oluwaseun Moyosore from Nigeria, a smart and witty 17 year old with a gorgeous smile, was the lucky recipient. She created a powerpoint to share her cultural insight both at home and here during her American experience so far.

Fascinating to learn that Nigerians have very long names. In fact Oluwaseun has 15. Names given to her by her parents, siblings, clergy, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Her given name means "I rejoice under the gift of the Lord." Very beautiful indeed to match her beauty.

Another linguistic factoid  is of the 180 billion Nigerians, 500 ethnic groups exist, each with their own dialect. The main languages are Housa, Igbo and Yoruba, the latter being Oluwaseun's in her hometown of Mushin in the Lagos Province. Nigeria has the largest population of all the African countries,  1/7 Africans being Nigerian and 1/43 people of the world population. WOW. There is a very high incident of twins too. Oluwaseun has two sisters, one of whom is a model. Many folks think she and her model sister look alike which she denies.

Some other interesting facts included her country's presentation were Nigeria's oil production, a bridge 12 kilometers long, one of the wealthiest men in the world, Aliko Dangte worth about $16 billion. But it was probably the diversity of and number of butterflies that impressed me the most. 

Religon wise half of the country are Christian and the other half Muslim. Oluwaseun is attending Little Rock Christian Academy during her U.S stay. She spent her school's internship weeks at an architecture firm since her interests lie in sciences and engineering. She loved  the  'cubby' space allotted to her which she called her 'first office.'

Claiming to enjoy trying different kinds of food. Her favorite cuisine here is fried food, ried rice and fried chicken among her faves.

The Rotary has opportunities for the students to meet each other  so she has travelled to Tulsa and Chicago where she experienced snow for the first time. When asked what American culture surprised her the most, she replied how fast people walk.  Also senior homes surprised her. In her country elders stay with their family and teach the young about morality and life through stories.

What does the future hold for this young lady after her exchange year is completed in 6 months?  Prepping for University and application completion not only at home but here in the States too. Let us all send special wishes for a lovely young lady with her whole life ahead of her. Smile and the world smiles with you.

Bright smile, bright future