Tuesday, June 5, 2007

My park and its inhabitants

My park is a place where one could sit for ages and observe. You can tell that just that alone, keeps me going back day after day. I started jogging in march and since then, I have come to recognise the different regulars on the scene. First of all, I'd like to give a quick descrption of where it is located. My park divides three distinct neighbourhoods, an all white middle class, an arab neighbourhood and a mixed neighbourhood (all immigrants included here), and so the park makes for interesting studies of people. Here are the major players according to their ranks in the park.

1) The football boys: These boys are there every single day, no matter the weather, they will be playing football. At first, my presence was amusing to them and for the first couple of days I put up with jokes and laughter from that area, infact, two of them used to "imitate" me everytime I jogged past, which they found very amusing, I am sure. These days, they no longer notice me, I am now accepted. No jokes, no laughter, infact I think I have seen a couple of nods as a form of greeting.

2) The mothers and their kids in the play ground: This group of people I would say are the most unwelcoming in the park, they are suspicious of new commers and guide their children like hawks. They also fight occasionally over swings and slides, its not a pretty sight. I avoid them.

3) Arab women in groups: These people work in threes, fives, sometimes tens, and they do not walk behind each other, they walk side by side, the whole breadth of the track, talking and laughing away. They were very intimidated in the begining, speaking their language and laughing as I jogged past, these days, a couple of them now have gym shoes under their flowing gowns.

4)Arab men in groups: Same as above, the difference is they chain smoke and destroy my lungs and also, they are fond of checking out my ass. Generally encouraging, clapping of hands and shouts of "jalla jalla" as I run past them.

5)Somalian women and their husbands: They are often engrossed in something, don't know what, I am yet to figure this group of people out. I'll give an update if I find anything.

6)White women and their dogs: The same people everyday. Same time. Boring. Nothing here.

7)Old people on benches: My favourite people, they smile as I run past, very nice, sometimes I exchange a few words with them.

8)Young men on benches: Or should i just say the neighbourhood potheads? sitting and smoking and staring. Nothing interesting here.

9)Young women on benches: There to check out the guys, they basically just sit there and giggle or play with their mobile phones.

10)Children on bicycles: This group, I am not so fond of, they never look where they are going and often attempt to "race" me as I jog, they are accident prone, and I wish they would just leave me alone.

11)Dumbasses on scooters: The sign says "no scooters allowed", I wish they'd obey the law, I have been tempted to call the police a couple of times.


12)Fellow joggers: All skinny and looking fit, not friendly at all.

13)People under hedges or in shaded area of trees: I assume rough play and hanky panky going on.

Those, my friends, are the regulars in my park.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

hehehehe! can imagine that. hey can u remember our park experience(sisterly bonding) last summer...hehehe! was so cold and funny eh,eat ....and smirrrrrrnof hahahaha! so cool men! holla back soon lets do it again. yeah am first! yippppeeeee

Uzo said...

You notice quite a bit....LOL

Anonymous said...

Your park and it's ethnic description and mix reminds me of a park in Birmingham, Uk. So whereveer you might be remember that there is a similar tucked away in birmingham.

Nice piece, enjoyed reading it since i do try to figure out people myself.

LondonBuki said...

There are a lot of interesting people out there o...

Very funny post.

Those footy boys used to imitate you? Nonsense! And I HATE it when people don't move out of my way when I am jogging...

I don't like seeing dogs when I go running, and they seem to be everywhere.

Keep on running :-) Well done Waffy!

ababoypart2 said...

East London?

Admin UD said...

Sounds more like an all inclusive park to me. Anything and anyone goes...lol at the peeps under the hedges in shaded trees, dat one am very familiar about...lol!

Waffarian said...

@anonymous & ababoy, ehehehh, I will never reveal where I am, but I will help you guys out, I am not in the U.K.

Jamilah said...

lol... in the parks here...kids, mothers and most importantly..

LOVERSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS...LOL

its like a place wer lovers do watever..its either they are making up, kissing or doing one thn or the other..damn.. i ave even seen a deaf and mute couple b4...
plus street food..lol thats wer my friends an di buy street food and eat...some people also drink...yeah sometimes my friends and i drink, play guitars and singg..lol.. i love my park also..lol..plus it the nearest landmark to my place..lets meet at the park..lol

BiMbyLaDs** said...

lol.. damn babe, u r observant o... but that sure makes an intersting run..

LG said...

Whatsup girlie.
Your park makes me want to go check out our local park and see whats going on there.

kramer said...

Its been a while i left a comment on your blog, but rest assured, I read all your posts:-)
Your park seems to be quite a busy place, must be nice....
The park closest to my crib, the one i have to walk through everyday, isnt big enough to do anything in, but it is also `ethnically` diverse. You will find gypos in the majority (very `interesting` group of people - I wont go into details, but Im sure u can imagine why), the drunks, the rowdy teens, the buffed up macho men wannabes and the dogs with their owners. Get the picture.

laspapi said...

I like the descriptions of the activities of the different sets. A kind of United Nations, with different races, different genders, and ages.
I didn't notice a criminal presence, which is good.
You could feel the heat of the eyes of the Arabs on your backside? They might have been looking at your gym shoes (or your nice calves).
Think pure thoughts, waffy. hehe.

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ziariz said...

lol.. you could actually write out a whole lot of stuff from things people hardly notice... really nice... i saw your tag...yes oh..

Idemili said...

I'm taking the first leg of my travels this summer. Where will you be?

Diva-sta said...

well...u absorb ur surroundings quite...INTENSELY love yr blog xx

IJEOMA said...

chei.. the way you seperated them sha.. interesting..

yeah i notice that Arab men always go out in groups.. even for walks..

Ms. Catwalq said...

I am going to look for a park around here and see what I find. D thing though is we are mostly surrounded by bush so I am guessing when I come and give u an update, I will be describing deer and possums and yes the occassional tree hugger.

shhhh said...

broken down well well

Unknown said...

You are quite observant. LOL at the other runners in the park not being friendly. There are several regulars in the one I run in. We have never spoken to each other. Not even eye contact as we run past each other. They try to avoid my eye. I wonder why. I attempted to speak to one when I was there newly and noticed that he took the longer or different route in the park whenever we were approaching each other so I never bothered talking to anyone after that. Life in the diaspora huh? LOL!!

Tell me about the little kids - they've done that to me too a couple of times. Imitate you badly and laugh out loud as you go past. LOL!!

Confused Naija Girl said...

very well written girl . how have you been?

diary of a G said...

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AbujaBabe said...

Na wow oh! This is w=one place i have trully missed i have not been here in ages .. i have sooo much catching up to do here oh!...

Meanwhile Vote Abuja Babe! for your Blogville Idol!!

Ciao..xxx

jadedjune said...

coool....the park near my house is full of annoying kids and oyibo people fooling themselves playing tennis ;-)

Idemili said...

I feel like I have not seen you or heard from you in a while even though you sent me an email. Thank you for that. Don't be a stranger.

And as Las said, 'Wharrapen?'

I know I have been madly busy but what have I missed? [I know, I know. My name is not Laspapi].

Unknown said...

Lolll your park is such a hive of interesting people and stuff! If you asked Buki and I what we'd observed in our park when we go running, I doubt we'd be able to tell you anything half as interesting!