Allow me drive you down the lane of my Saturday experience...
We had a school test to write on a Saturday morning; truth be told, the course in which we were to write happened to be the course I find hard to comprehend: PHILOSOPHY
We do hear about exams fever which is always characterized by mood swings, mind going blank, feeling sick, decrease concentration amongst others during exams time but, what I had was a test fever, I meant real fever .
The test was scheduled to start by 7:30 am WAT. That was going to be the first test for the first time in the first semester in the school that I had to write. I had read before going to bed on Friday night so that it would be much easier for me to do a review on Saturday early hours of the morning before going to school.
On Saturday morning by 3:00 am WAT, the goal was to read till dawn so I could prepare and leave for school before 7: 00 am. I needed to get there early enough because I did not know how the arrangements would be -- considering my first time in the school.
Waking up by that time, I developed a temperature (don't laugh) , I felt a severe head and eye ache. Knowing I had a whole lot of chapters to cover , I could not pity myself. I do not like taking drugs but I was forced to start looking for one, at least, anything that could calm my temperature--- a paracetamol. Unluckily for me, I could not find any because I never kept them. I thought of another thing to do and resolved to using a wet towel to keep on my head.
This process helped a bit, I was not as hot as before and my eyes were no more aching as before. I started reading but this time I employed mostly the skimming method. I was not totally satisfied with that but at the end I found out it helped after all.
It was time to prepare for school. Still feeling the headache -- I was so dull at doing most things. I could not fix anything to eat that morning, so I left with the intention of getting snacks that can sustain me till I get back.
On my way to school, the road was so dry as it was a Saturday morning. Most people were home probably trying to do laundry, some were still sleeping being that it's a weekend ( the perfect time for some people to have a good, long, deep sleep). I met few students on the road too.
On reaching the school compound, I could count the number of students I saw from the gate. It was so dry but as I kept going, I could see people training on the field-- those were probably the students in the department of Physical and Health Education. As I went further, I saw a gathering of singers and I assumed there were students in the department of Music. I stopped for few minutes to listen to the harmony in their voices. It was such a good view to behold, it some how calmed my nerves-- music always does. They were singing the Hillsong 'Oceans'. I hummed to it as I left and somehow felt some strength from within.
By the time I reached where I assumed the test will take place, the venue we do have lectures for the course, I found out that was not the venue for my department and it was already 7:15 Am WAT.
The students there told me the respective venues meant for the test for me to go find were my department is -- as they did not know.
I began the search, I could no longer walk so I ran. I went to three different halls before I could locate mine. By the time I found it , it was already five minutes to the scheduled time. On reaching there, some students were already on sit. The sitting position was funny-- instead of sitting from the front to the back as they did during lecture time, they sat from the back and left the front for those who were coming in after them.
I went in and sat on the second row. A bench was supposed to be occupied by just two people with each sitting on the edge but I was the only person on mine.
Long story cut short, before the test could start it was about 9: 05 am WAT, more than one hour pass the scheduled time. I was not happy at all considering the fact that I left the house so early, I did not eat and could not stop to eat outside for the fear of getting late and to add to that, I ran all around looking for the venue with my health condition. While waiting for whatever kept us waiting, the supervisor brought out attendant list for us to start endorsing our names, registration number and signature.
By the time we started the test, another person had joined me. Infact most of the front seats to the middle had up to three occupants. The supervisor shared the question papers. We were asked not to open it until it got round. On opening it after the process, I found out it was a subjective question-- I hate subjective questions. It means it must have one answer which must tally with what the lecturer-in-charge has.
I scanned through all the questions and found out I knew the answers to all except two. I smiled.
When we were asked to start, I took my time to ensure that I understood the questions right and wrote the correct answers in the space provided. While writing I could feel the song I heard when I came into the school compound playing in my head. It didn't take up to thirty minutes before the test ended.
I was happy I can out from the test hall smiling. I thanked God that I was able to write it amidst the fever I had. After exchanging pleasantries with my course mates, I headed straight to the pharmacy. I got diagnosed of malaria and typhoid. Medication was prescribed for me. On my way home I entered an eatery, ordered rice and took it home. On reaching the house, I ate the food, took the drugs and gave myself a sound sleep.
That is how my Saturday experience ended. Thank you for reading through it.
The photos you see were taken by me.
