Hi Readers,
I have began the transition from WordPress to Medium for a few reasons. I will migrate some of my existing posts over, but everything new will be on Medium.
Here us the link to check it out <https://medium.com/@boydjine>
Thank you for your support.
Boy Djine
2023 came with ChatGPT, an interactive AI platform that can do a wide range of things like write essays, solve equations, answer questions, just to name a few. Oh and it even passed the Bar and Medical exams as per CNN. If you haven’t heard about it, check out this link.
The whole concept of AI or Robotics is to increase automation while reducing human tasks, which has led to many people losing their jobs. Of course there are a lot of jobs out there that cannot be automated, but you can lose your job as any given time for one reason or another. I’ve seen people complain how stressful their jobs can get and I sympathize with them because I do it too. Well I used to.
So what changed?
No matter how stressful my job can get, I started looking at it as a rewarding stress. This is because if I don’t work, I don’t get paid, I’m not able to have a roof over my head or food on the table to eat. I wouldn’t be able to fund the kind of lifestyle I want to live.
When I started looking at it from that perspective, I stopped complaining. Also, how can you be at your best when you’re always feeling stressed? Companies really don’t care about you. Know this and know peace. If they see that you’re not performing up to par, they wouldn’t hesitate to get rid of you find a replacement.
There are days where I shut down my computer by 2:30pm, some days 6pm and occasionally 10 p.m. Regardless of when I log off, the goal is always the quality of work rather than the time spent doing it. The idea is to make myself indispensable. I always tell people that, “when you get into a new company, work your ass off for the first few months so you’ll never have to introduce yourself.” Your work will speak for you.
Someone is always trying to take your place. Don’t give them that opportunity.
Paycheck hits, stress resets 🤣
Talk soon,
Boy D’jine
In my last post, <TIME> I mentioned New Year’s resolutions and one of mine is to write here at least once a month. I know I made this same promise last year, but I was in my twenties hehe, anyway I’ll do my best.
You know that feeling you get when you complete a task? That feeling of accomplishment. That weight or burden is finally off you shoulders. Now imagine trying to complete a task with one hand, in fact both hands tied behind your back. It becomes almost impossible.
To put it in context, we’re in 2023 so kindly leave 2022 and beyond where they are. On a serious note, life is already hard enough to want to carry extra “weight” so why do it?
So this whole “weight” thing… what exactly am I talking about? Is it the unnecessary baggage you carry along with you everyday. It be can be internal or external.
An Internal weight for example, would be holding on to the idea of a perfect future that one is trying to create for themselves, while knowing that life is unpredictable and as a result bearing the pressure to accomplish a goal based on pure fantasy. Adding to life’s unpredictability, ideas are like plants. Once you plant an idea in your head, it’s obviously going to grow. Depending on that idea, you mood can swing either way. Now imaging the compounding effect that will have on your everyday.
On the other hand, an External weight would be putting other people’s burdens before yours because you’ve planted this idea in your mind that only you can help them and in turn, you neglect yourself and your own burdens. I will not even elaborate on this because at this point I’m already annoyed because I am very guilty of this one. What I will add though, is that, detaching yourself from certain scenarios are actually more beneficial for the the other person. They might not see or understand the full extent of your actions in that moment in time, but later on they will.
With January now over, I am going to give a slap on the wrist for carrying any unnecessary weight; myself included. By now I’m sure you’re already thinking about making changes. Me too!
11 months of 2023 and the rest of a life enjoyment lies ahead. Let’s make all the necessary changes so we can be great.
D E T A C H
Talk soon,
Boy D’jine
Well well…
Here we are again. Let me start by addressing the elephant in the room.
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!
January is always refreshing. In a sense that all those things you put on the back burner can now be brought forward. Also, it is a chance to start over and set your goals, whether short or long time.
January is also my birth month, and this year would mean 30 years around the sun. Growing up, I never thought I’d get here. Not in a negative way, but just the fact that it’s 30 times 365. That’s closed to eleven thousand days.
My 21st birthday was probably the last one I really celebrated. Subsequent birthdays were treated just like any other day. I’d say a prayer right after midnight, thanking God for another year and ask him to see the next year. I might get a personal cake later in the day, but that’s just because I love cake and cake loves me.
My wife asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I gave her the usual answer… “nothing, I have everything I need.” This woman heard something else and starts talking about having a dinner party. Most of you know, I don’t like being the center of attention. I prefer operating behind the scenes, but the wife was very adamant about having this party. She starts asking me about my work travel plans and also which of my close friends should she invite. I hesitantly provided the information. I remembered on my wedding day when my little brother told me, “a happy wife is a happy home.”
It’s been 2 weeks since the birthday party and I can’t help but reflect, not just on that day, but the past 3 decades. There is a saying that, “give me flowers while I am alive,’ which basically translates to enjoy the people around you when they’re still alive. Cherish them, compliment them, spend time with time so you wouldn’t have to refer to them in the past tense.
Many people spoke on how I’ve helped them in one way or another. The honest truth is, that is where my happiness comes from. Being able to make an impact regardless of the magnitude in someone’s life. I truly appreciate everyone who made the event a success. Seeing so many people who care about you and wish you well is something not to be taken for granted. And my best friend flew in and surprised me. I’ll deal with him later
Time. The one thing we think we have a lot of, but we really don’t. So, make the best of whatever time you have.
And to my wife, you’re the best. Thank you for your strength and perseverance. Thank you for putting all of this together. It meant the world to me and more.
Talk soon,
Boy D’jine
In March 2022, Cameroon had to play Algeria home and away for the final of the 5 allotted spots for African teams at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The first game was on March 25 at the Japoma Stadium in Douala, Cameroon. The match ended 0-1 in favor of Algeria. The return leg was 4 days later in Algeria and Cameroon needed a victory and score at least 2 goals. 22 minutes in, Eric Choupo-Moting put Cameroon in the lead. That was the only goal score in the 90 minutes of regular play. Extra time was needed to decide who’d be going to Qatar. Extra time is 30 minutes split in half. Algeria scored in the 118th minute and before the fans in the stadium and across the country could finish celebrating that goal, Karl Toko-Ekambi scored for Cameroon with only seconds left in the game. The final score was 2-2, but Cameroon qualified because they scored 1 more goal in Algeria than Algeria did in Cameroon. This is known as the ‘Away Goals’ rule which is used to settle ties. Cameroon had done it; they’d qualified for the World Cup.
The draw for the World Cup happened on April 1st at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center in Doha. Cameroon was placed in Group G with Serbia, Switzerland, and Brazil. Now any football fan will tell you that Brazil is one of the best football countries in the world and they always come with the best stars. Also, there is some sweet history between Brazil and Cameroon.
The World Cup is the biggest competition in the world for countries. It’s so big, it only happens every four years. The first world cup I watched was the 1998 edition held in France. I was 5 years old. I always wondered how it was like to watch the games live, be among the fans, and cheer on your country. I’ve attended many games as I’ve gotten older but never that magnitude. When I saw that Brazil would be playing Cameroon December 2nd 2022, I knew I had to be there. Some of the heroes from when Cameroon won the 2017 African Nations Cup where on the team, (Benji’s Men) so this was another opportunity to see them.
The World Cup usually takes place in the summer but due to the scorching weather in Qatar during the summer months, it was moved to November and December when the temperatures would be more suitable for the games. My friend, Priscilla did most of the planning and research. She’s good at this kind of things. I just told her to let me know what we’re doing, when it’s happening, and how much I had to wire to her bank account. The travel party was priscilla, her dad, and me. Since we planned to only attend 1 game, we decided to stop in Dubai for a few days and then head over to Doha on December 1st, the day before the match. Unfortunately, Priscilla and her dad could not make the trip. This was because she got a new job and had to move. I was sad, but extremely happy for her.
Now I had to travel alone because I didn’t see myself not going on the trip. Luckily, my dad had finally rearranged his schedule to also attend the match. My sister too, who was in Cameroon at the time also wanted to attend the match. We quickly sorted out arrangements and got an Airbnb in Dubai.
I flew out of New York on November 27. It was a 12-and-a-half-hour flight which would arrive the next morning around 8 am local time. Shout out to Emirates Airlines for broadcasting the World Cup games on the flight. It was a very smooth flight aboard the Airbus A380. The food was good too.
I was in Dubai for 3 days and on December 1st, I left for Doha. It was a one-hour flight. The plane was filled with fans from Costa Rica. They had a game that night and they were in high spirits the entire plane ride, singing and chanting.
After getting through security at the airport, I made my way to the train station. All the stadiums were connected by the rail. Lusail Stadium was where Cameroon would be facing Brazil and it was the last stop on the train. The hostel was advertised to be a 5 minutes’ walk from the stadium. I got off the stadium and as I made my outside, there it was, the incredible Lusail Iconic Stadium. It was magical. Bigger than what I saw on tv. After taking a few shots, I started the “five” minute walk. Not going to lie, it took me almost an hour because all I had was a picture of the place. My phone map was only so useful. I walked to two wrong buildings. I was exhausted by the time I arrived. Funny enough, the stadium was indeed in sight and walking distance.
My old man arrived a few hours later and we went out to the town center. That’s where all the fans were. It was beautiful. The patriotism on display was incredible. The city was very colorful.
The flags of all the participating nations were displayed on the streets and fans stopped to take pictures. After walking around, we grabbed some food and sat to watch the 10 pm game. By halftime I was tired, and I left and went to bed.
The next morning, the exploring continued. We wanted to see Doha by day, eat, and get souvenirs because that was the only opportunity. By the time we got back to the hostel, my sister had arrived. We all got ready and made our way to the stadium. I had on a white Cameroon jersey and a white Keffiyeh with flags of Cameroon which I bought earlier in the market wrapped around my neck.
The walk to the stadium was when it started to hit me that this was happening. I was actually about to watch my country play in a World Cup game. The closer I got to the stadium, the bigger it got. I got in and was speechless. The stadium can seat close to ninety thousand people, so you imagine the size of it. I made my way to my seat and started capturing pictures and videos. It was expectedly loud, fans were mingling, singing, and having a good time.
It was about thirty minutes to kick off when I got in. The players from both teams where on the pitch going through their warmup routines. I spotted some of my favorite players on the team; the captain Vincent Aboubakar, Collins Fai, and Andre Onana. The players cleared the field to go change and that’s when the ambiance started. Music and lightshows kept us entertained.
The referees led the players back out on to the field. The national anthems of both nations were played. I only know a few lines of the Cameroon national anthem. I hummed the rest of it. The game kicked off and there was a roar in the stadium. The game was very tight, but Brazil had most of the clearer cut opportunities to score.
It was still goalless at halftime. I remember a fan, late in the second half say, “I flew all the way from London, and I won’t even see a goal?” I wanted to turn to the fan and say cry more, but I opted to mind my business. As the game marched towards full time and with some fans already making their way out, twenty-four-year-old Jerome Ngom Mbekeli, who’d only been on the field for five minutes having entered as a substitute, crossed the ball from the right-hand side of the field into the penalty area and the beautiful head of captain Vincent Aboubakar was there to meet it. The ball hit the back of the net. GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!
I couldn’t believe my eyes, I stood up, yelled, screamed, danced, and celebrated. I was very emotional. I was waving my flag very high and might. In that moment, that very small moment, I was happy. Nothing else mattered. I used the Keffiyeh to wipe the tears in the eyes. The match ended 1-0. Cameroon had beaten Brazil. One of the Brazilians fans came to me and ask if we could swap jerseys. I agreed and we took a picture together.
I returned to the hostel, grabbed my things and got an Uber to the airport.
Dreaming of something and actually making it happen are two very different things. I’ve always dreamt of attending a world cup match, but never thought it’d happen to me. On the 12-hour flight back, I reflected on the whole experience. It was memorable. The people of Qatar were very friendly, the food was fantastic, and the vibe in the country was top notch. I am glad I made the trek to Qatar, and I am happy I was at a game that my country won. Even though we did not qualify for the knockout stage, it made the six thousand miles journey bearable. Like my little brother always says, “work hard, but enjoy harder.”
Nothing’s in Vain.
Happy New Year,
Boy D’jine
The titles of five out of the last 6 blog posts were track names from Youssou N’Dour’s album, ‘Nothing’s in Vain.’ Youssou is from Senegal, and he is known for his upbeat “mbalax” kind of music, but this album was more acoustic and reflective… almost like a love album. I guess that depends on how you interpret each song.
Flash back to 2020. A year after getting my master’s degree in IT, but I was not where I wanted to be. I was approached by someone who I now refer to as “Tonton,” which basically translates to uncle. He told me about a program he was getting ready to start teaching and knowing a bit about my background, wanted me to be part of the pilot session. I hesitated as any other human being would and told him I’d need some time to time to think about it. Eventually I said why not and signed up.
The program was forty-five days long. It involved theory and hands on training. The first week was the hardest and longest, because everything was brand new. I struggled, even with my accounting background. Nonetheless, those 45 days came to pass. Although, there was not a final exam in the class, the next steps were to take a certification exam and then start preparing for interviews.
Since this was the first edition of this training, we didn’t have any existing notes or templates to help us, so everything had to be from scratch. The teacher suggested that we record ourselves presenting on a particular chapter in the book and share with the group for feedback. One not so fun fact about me is that I hate listening to myself in playback, so whenever I shared a recording with my classmates, that was the end of it. I just shared and waited for feedback.
Fast forward to present day, about 18 months working in the field and we’re on a professional trip in Miami with students from my and subsequent classes. For some, it was the first time seeing each other outside of Zoom. One of the group activities we had to do was telling our journey from first day of class to getting hired.
One of the students from a later class mentioned that those recordings I made helped him a lot when he was prepping for interviews. The irony here is that he became a close friend of mine and we even started working the same day at the same company; but he’d never told me any of this. He was very emotional and appreciative. I even got emotional, but I knew his story and everything he’d been through. I am very proud of him
Bottom line here is that, always do your best. Do it even when no one is there to see it; do it when no one is there to motivate you; do it, even when you think it does not matter. Do it! You never know who’s looking up to you for inspiration, or who might benefit from what you’ve done or you’re going to do. Nothing’s in vain, ever.
Talk soon,
Boy D’jine
The very first time I boarded a plane was on November 30th, 2005. It was when I left Cameroon for America via Paris, France. This was not when my love for aviation and travel began.
As a kid growing up in Bamenda, Cameroon, seeing planes fly across the sky was a treat and this was because of the rarity of it. Every single kid had their own logic on how planes were made, what kept them in the sky, and naturally, a lot of us also aspired to be a pilot. That was my dream job then. The irony here is that none of us ever thought we would see a plane up close, let alone get on one.
Getting on that Air France flight in 2005 did more to me than I could ever imagine. Being up in the sky opened a world of imagination and I knew then that I wanted to see more of what the world had to offer. Now as we all know, traveling is not cheap, but with good planning, you can spend less than the average traveler.
I have been on quite a few trips over the years, but I’ll start with returning to Cameroon in 2015. This was my first time traveling alone and I really did not know what to expect. The whole visa process was crazy, but that is a story for another day. I spent roughly forty days in Cameroon visiting many of the places I did while growing up, enjoying a lot of food, and catching up with some old friends. Good thing about me is I still remembered every single place. It’s like I never left.
One thing I noticed few months after leaving home was a newfound love for it. The reason is actually very simple. I had all the access to learn not only about Cameroon, but also Africa, and the World. That was the spark. The internet is a thing of beauty when used right. Being able to see the beauty every country has to offer was all I needed to book flights and go see for myself. It is always better to go see places than to hear about it from someone else.
I found myself back in Africa in 2019. This time I was in Conakry, Guinea. It wasn’t another forty-day trip as the one in Cameroon, but it really felt like it based on everything that we did. I traveled with one of my American friends and it was his first-time being Africa. I was originally going to travel solo, but he insisted he really wanted to visit Africa, so I agreed to take him. My friend, Mory (Le Guinéen (The Guinean)) who was in Guinea was going to meet us at the airport in Conakry and be our tour guide the entire ten days.
Despite the beautiful landscapes and architectural brilliance of all the places I’ve been over the years, the rewarding thing has always been the people. I remember asking my friend, Priscilla what she loved most about traveling and her response was, “…to see how other people live and putting myself in their shoes and understand their day-to-day so I can learn, connect, and create a connection with them.” My sister, Winky, travels so many times in a year and I cannot even keep count. Best thing about it, which is very admirable is she takes her three kids with her on these trips. The oldest is ten and the youngest is just now having to pay for her own seat. These are priceless opportunities for them to see what world has to offer. Something I plan on doing if I am blessed with kids.
Many times, when people travel and encounter the locals, it usually and quick transaction and that’s the end of it. I remember last summer; I was on a snorkeling trip with my siblings and some of my cousins. We got on the boat and the captain welcomed us, introduced himself and then his assistant took over. The tide was low as it was still early in the day, and this caused an opening in the ocean. We docked and literally walked on water. While everyone was heading into the water, I stopped and chatted with Captain Diblo and he said he was stressed. Reason being the influx of tourist has reduced due to the pandemic causing business to be slow. I said well, I’m here and he laughed. I took his picture, shook his hand, told him it’ll be okay, and went after my traveling party.
This was similar story shared by many people who came to the hotel to sell their craft. They all talked about their struggles and how it became worse when travelers stopped coming in their masses.
Most of the humanitarian projects I take on is because of how I grew up and the simple fact that, “…when I was young, I always received. Now that I am old, I want to work so that I can give.” – Emmanuel Jal
I cannot change the world on my own, but the small that I can do goes a long way. I remember when Mory and myself gave out candy to some of the kids in the neighborhood that he lived in. it brought so much joy on their faces, and I never wanted to leave.
Just like Youssou N’Dour says, “Rokku Mi Rokka” which translates to “Give and Take,” everywhere I go, I like to leave a piece of me there, as I am taking something. A subtle balance.
It is not the world that changes you, it’s the people.
Talk soon,
Boy D’jine
It’s 12:30 in the early hours of Wednesday and I am just getting back from the movie theatre. I try my best to make Tuesday nights about me and as a movie fan, I treat myself with a trip to the theatre. Life is to be enjoyed right?
The movie I saw was ‘The Batman’ and one thing that stuck out to me was the development (character building) of the main character. Life really has a way of throwing curve balls at you and throughout the movie, the Batman, Bruce was in a constant battle looking for answers from in past to help him in the present and future.
Sounds familiar? Yah Yah. I’m sure it does.
One certainty about life is that it was never intended to be easy. Even people who are born with a silver spoon in their mouths have their own difficulties. The reason we tend not to see these difficulties in people whether fortunate or not is because of how they chose to deal with the hand that’s dealt to them.
It’s very difficult to go through life without you past coming back to you as I earlier wrote in AS IN A MIRROR. Everyday actions, big and small can trigger memories both good and bad, and even though you find yourself in a brief moment of happiness or pain, you must snap back to the present. You cannot do anything to impact the past. All your actions are for today and tomorrow. Forget what was, and plan for what is and what can be.
As Bruce battled through his pain, he thought vengeance was the best course of action. It wasn’t. He later sought to become a symbol of hope to the people around him. A worthy lesson all of us can take. You never know who secretly looks up to you, wishes they were just half as cool as you, you really never know. So why would you want to do something to break this person’s heart?
No matter what kind of hand you’re dealt, you can always work to change the narrative. Every day we wake up is another chance to make the best of what we have and that, ladies, and gentlemen, those are the makings of respect.
Talk soon,
Boy D’jine
It’s a brand-new year and I hope everyone is doing well. Time to begin to chapter 3 of our series, “Nothing’s in Vain”. If you haven’t read the previous two posts, here are the links: HEAT, BREEZE, TENDERNESS and FOR THOSE DISPLACED.
Back in 2017, I wrote about one of the great nights I’ve had in my life. It is a night that I could never forget. I was part of my college’s soccer team, and we played a match under very emotional circumstances and came out victorious. I don’t want to go into details, but you can check it out in Brighter than the Sun
I bring this story up because, as years go by, the experiences that we go through become memories. 2021 just came to an end and all we can do about it is reflect on the things we did. Perhaps one might think about the things that they could have done. The unfortunate thing about life is you cannot go back in time and accomplish the things you have failed to do. Life is not always black and white, but perhaps prioritizing your happiness should be. Making genuine efforts to do the things that make you happy, things that make you feel alive, things that bring the best out you should always be your priority when you wake up from bed in the morning.
When you remember your past, do you want it filled with joy or do you want it full of regrets? How you answer this question will determine the steps you will take every day of your life. No one is going to do it for you, as the owner of your life, the ball is always in your court.
The longer you live, the more memories you’ll collect and I’m sure you don’t want to “become an old man/woman filled with regret, waiting to die alone.” I stole that quote from the movie Inception by the way.
By now, I’m sure you’re already thinking about a few things you did in the years gone by and perhaps even the things you wanted to but didn’t get the opportunity. Well, this year just begun, and it is the perfect time to start creating some beautiful memories that will stay with you forever.
Don’t wait too long, time tends to run out faster than you think.
Happy New Year once again!
Talk soon,
Boy D’jine
For a very long time, writing was a daunting task for me. I wasted much time thinking about what the title would be before even knitting my thoughts together. Fortunately, I don’t make those silly mistakes anymore. Speaking of titles, the two previous posts, HEAT, BREEZE, TENDERNESS and For Those Displaced are part of a series called ‘Nothing’s In Vain.’ I am still debating on the number of posts that should be in this series, but the last one will be dropped at the end of April 2022.
As for this post, it is a standalone post, not part of the ‘Nothing’s In Vain.’ series. I wanted to end the year with something else and pick it back up in 2022.
So here we are, the last post of the year as promised.
In life we are told to always keep moving forward, that is true. However, it is imperative to look back at your journey to see how far you’ve come, grown, changed, achieved, and all the rest. Take some time to think about the year 2021 and reflect on the things you were able to accomplish. Side note: Feel free to share it in the comments if you feel inspired. For some people, their biggest 2021 accomplishment was staying alive, doing all they could to stay healthy and alive. Just as we thought COVID was being handled, a new variant said not so fast, as you can see life has its own mindset. Shout out to all front-line workers, researchers, scientists and everyone playing crucial roles keeping the rest of us safe.
I’ve never been a motivational speaker nor a fan of it because it doesn’t work for everyone. Why might that be the case? Well, if your inspiration does not come from within, it will be very difficult to be inspired from outside. I bring this up because the first day of every new year is when people tend to make resolutions, things they’d change and things they’d implement during the new year. I find this funny because why wait for a particular day to make those changes? What happened to today? What if you don’t make it until tomorrow? My favorite resolution example pertains to the gym. The first few weeks are always flooded with new faces, then little by little, we start losing them. Though it is easy to make assumptions or think negatively about these dropouts, I am not going to because there is a possibility that some of them within those few weeks might have achieved their goals, others might have realized that the gym is not for them. This goes back to what I said earlier about inspiration coming from within.
Earlier on twitter this morning, someone was getting ridiculed sharing their opinion on a topic. Apparently in the world we live in today, if your opinion goes against the masses, you should just shut up. I find this quite annoying at the same time hilarious because it’s something I’ve personally spent a lot of emphasis on in 2021. I believe in giving individuals the benefit of doubt and allowing them to flourish within society. Yes, society is always going to have its own expectations, but it doesn’t mean conformity to them is a requirement. We must be selfish with our lives and also stand for what we believe regardless of who thinks otherwise.
I know I said earlier that I am no motivational speaker, but just bear with me please. As you enter the new year, no, as you read this post, whether before or after December 31, 2021, remember; there is no one else like you on this earth and that alone is your biggest asset. Take with you what you must into the new year but leave the baggage’s behind as they would only slow you down. Take a closer look at the things you do and the people you do them with. Reflect on those as you turn the page.
It’s been quite a crazy year for us all, but we have made it to the end. If only Covid could end with it too. My wish for all of you is good health, personal and professional growth, and of course abundant happiness.
Thank you for allowing me to share a few of my thoughts with you and thank you for reading and sharing yours with me.
Happy New Year!
Thank soon,
Boy D’jine
Boy D'jine 