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  • From thoughtful treasures to life-changing gestures, extraordinary ordinary objects and expensive purchases, our friends and readers look back on the most unforgettable Christmas gifts they’ve ever received.

    Gift red box on christmas background | 🇩🇪Professional Phot… | Flickr

    Ose, 31*

    This Christmas, I got a pair of brown leather shoes from my girlfriend. I’d needed to buy a pair of shoes, so I sent pictures of some shoes for her to help me choose. She persuaded me not to buy it as I already have a lot of shoes. Three days later, someone called me and said he was asked to deliver something to me. No prizes for guessing that the package included the shoes my babe had persuaded me not to. They came in a box labelled “Christmas Gift.” I cried like a baby. I received my first ever proper Christmas gift at 31! For context, I didn’t always count the clothes my parents used to buy for me as a child because those felt like an obligation. I know better now sha, as it wasn’t easy back then. But I’d never experienced getting something wrapped in a box and given to me as a Christmas gift. 

    Ikechukwu, 83*

    My wife died five years ago. Before she died, she gave me a bunch of notes-to-self she had written during the most tumultuous parts of our lives. I’d been a primary school teacher while she had little education. It’s almost as if she knew that she was going to depart from this earth soon; that’s why she wrote them. Her notes are love letters to me which I will cherish till my last breath. I had known her for almost all my life, and reading these letters reached into parts of myself that I never knew existed. I will die a happy man.

    Esther, 23*

    I’m always cold, so when I received a spa voucher and a blanket made of soft yarn with a note wrapped in it, I melted. It’s the most thoughtful gift. First, this person dropped the voucher on WhatsApp very early in the morning. I came online and was like, “Wawu!” The next day, they sent a dispatch rider to deliver the blanket and the note.

    Chiamaka, 28*

    This year, an ex gave me a vibrator dildo. We had a meeting, and he gave it to me. It was cute because he reminded me of how I used to talk about wanting one. It’s the best gift ever because, since gold, frankincense and myrrh didn’t reach my side, I’ll be using this one to hold my body.

    Okon, 26*

    In secondary school, my mum got me a bike. Technically, she bought it because I’d passed maths for the first time since forever. However, she waited until December 24th to hand it to me so it could double as a present for passing maths and for Christmas. I saw it hang in the parlour since the end of November and yearned it so much that I legit cried when she presented it to me on Christmas Day!

    Sira, 36*

    In 2015, I was dating this dude who was broke af. He wrote me a letter — a personal and soulful piece. I’m now married with two kids and nothing tops that till date.

    Kobi, 26*

    Two gifts come to mind; I received a cologne and tailored-fit pants last year and a complete barbing kit this year. The barbing kit came in just when I needed it. As for the cologne, I later found out that it’s very expensive. These Christmas gifts mean a lot to me because the givers — who are my colleagues — put a lot of thought into it and somehow knew exactly what I wanted.

    Mirabel, 22*

    My most cherished gift came to me this year. I hadn’t seen my family for over five years. They came to spend the holidays with me this season and it’s been the best thing ever. I don’t know what I’ll do with myself when they leave.

    Malachy, 43*

    My grandmother gave me a recipe book the Christmas before she died. It means a lot to me because African mothers — talk more of grandmothers — don’t keep cookbooks or write recipes, especially not someone of her age. Apart from being such a Western thing, she could not read nor write. She knew I loved to cook, so while others were feasting in the spirit of the season, she called me aside, and for the next few nights, she described her recipes and narrated how her cooking evolved through the years. She always had remarkable stories to spice things up. She has long passed away, and I no longer cook as much as I used to, but I try her recipes once in a while to relive the memory.

  • Nigeria is currently experiencing a wave of illnesses. While some Nigerians are concerned about a fourth COVID-19 wave, many others are chalking the symptoms to malaria and a change of weather. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded a significant surge in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks attributed to newer variants of the virus — the Delta and Omicron variants.

    Here’s everything you need to know about the newest Omicron variant and how to stay safe this Detty December period.

    1. What is Omicron?

    When a virus spreads rapidly enough, it is more likely to change. The process of a virus changing is called a mutation. In the case of COVID-19, the virus has undergone several mutations forming the variants: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta; the newest variant is called Omicron. 

    The Omicron variant has been detected in many countries, including Nigeria. 

    2. How quickly does it spread?

    In November 2021, 111 people attended a party in Oslo, Norway. Out of the 111 attendees, 80 of them caught COVID-19. Sixty other people who later dined at the same venue also caught the virus. When a virus spreads so quickly at large gatherings, such an event is called a superspreading event. A study from the University of Hong Kong suggests that the Omicron variant infects and multiplies in the body 70 times faster than other variants of COVID-19. This information is crucial in Nigeria, as we are in the season of potential superspreading events — owambe parties, music concerts and Detty December celebrations.

    3. Does the Omicron variant cause different symptoms?  

    Right now, all the symptoms of Omicron seem to be consistent with other variants — cold-like symptoms which include:

    • Runny nose
    • Headache
    • Fatigue (either mild or severe),
    • Sneezing
    • Sore throat.

    Early results suggest that Omicron may not be as severe as the Delta variant, but it is too early to conclude. The World Health Organization (WHO) insists that more data is needed and warns that Omicron should not be dismissed as “mild”.

    4. Do COVID-19 tests detect Omicron? 

    Yes. PCR and antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests detect COVID-19 infection, including the Omicron variant.

    5. How can we protect ourselves?

    While Omicron spreads rapidly, we can reduce the risk of exposure. To protect yourself and your loved ones from the virus, make sure to: 

    • Wear a mask properly — make sure it covers your nose and mouth. Also, be sure your hands are clean when you wear or remove your mask.
    • Practice social distancing — keep a physical distance of at least 1 metre from others. 
    • Avoid crowded spaces or poorly ventilated rooms.
    • Wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face. When you cannot wash your hands, use a hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol.
    • Get vaccinated. WHO-approved COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. 

    This is a developing story. Check back for updates and follow Zikoko on Twitter.

  • If you’ve been online recently, you’ve probably noticed all the tech bros talking about things like Web3, NFTs, etc. With buzzwords like these, it’s easy for us non-tech humans to get confused. But one thing is evident in the midst of all the white noise: something about the internet seems to be shifting.

    In this article, we’ll explore the exciting (and often overwhelming) world of Web 3.0, cryptocurrencies, NFTs, IoT, blockchain, metaverse and all the other buzzwords taking over social media.

    So, what is Web3?

    You know how apps have version numbers? Well, imagine if the internet (the world wide web) were an app.  Simply put, Web3 is the next version of the internet. And to properly explore Web 3, we have to first explain Web 1.0  and Web 2.0. Think of each version of the web as the internet’s life span through a period in modern history.

    Web 1.0 – The read-only web

    In computer science classes back in primary school, we were introduced to the concept of read-only memory (ROM). Data stored on a ROM could not be modified — this is what the internet was like back then. People consumed content on the internet without any form of active engagement, and only a  few people were able to create and broadcast content on the internet. Web 1.0 lasted from the end of the 80s till around 2004.

    Web 2.0 – The read-write web

    Around the mid-2000s, the internet shifted from web 1.0 to Web 2.0. Social media became a thing, and service-based applications like Uber and Netflix streamlined human communication. The world grew smaller, and the internet shifted from the old broadcast-style medium to a more creator-led system. Think of Web 2.0 as the interactive version of the internet we now use, where everyone can create and interact with content — every like, comment, share, retweet, etc., counts.

    While the internet now permits creation, interaction, and collaboration, this gift has not come without a curse.  We have to give up our data to the big tech overlords who monopolise and profit from it to enjoy the internet.

    Web 3.0 – Read-write-own web

    Web 3.0 (also Web3) will distribute the power held by the corporate internet behemoths to everyone on the internet. It is the version of the internet that works for everyone without having to rely on any entity. 

    In Web3, the internet has its own native economy. You don’t need to yield data to companies to gain value on the internet. You have full ownership of your content and can use internet-native currencies (such as cryptocurrencies) to trade with other content creators.

    Think of Web3 as the internet of democracy, where no single company determines what happens to user data or content. The blockchain is free and accessible to anyone and can only be changed if an overwhelming majority of people decide to change it.

    Let’s define some popular buzzwords in Web3

    • First, what is the blockchain?

    The blockchain is a public database that maintains a list of public records called blocks arranged in a chain (get it?). The records include money transactions and other forms of information that change their state over time. The interesting thing about blockchains is that older entries are not altered or manipulated, and everyone can see the history of the information as they change over time. 

    TLDR? Here’s an explainer video:

    Why is the blockchain so important? 

    It’s simple: you don’t need any central authority to confirm the validity of any recorded information on the blockchain. For example, you don’t need a bank to send a debit alert to prove that money has successfully transferred to your friend; you can see it happen in real-time.

    • Cryptocurrencies

    Right now, we rely on middlemen payment processing companies like Paypal or banking apps to transfer money. The processes involved in wealth transfer are slow and expensive. In Web3, you don’t need no other body. Cryptocurrencies, which are based on the blockchain, cut out the middlemen. 

    • NFTs

    NFT (non-fungible tokens) is defined as “a unit of data stored in a smart contract on a blockchain.” But that’s a lot of geek-speak. 

    Simply put, NFTs are a type of cryptocurrency that cannot be changed or replaced by something identical. That said, NFTs are a sort of certificate indicating the uniqueness of a digital item. With Web3, creators have intellectual property (IP) attached to every piece of digital content they produce. What an NFT does is that it marks this IP and stores it on the blockchain. Today, NFTs are popular because they can make digital files content unique, allowing creators to sell them as scarce & tradeable assets. TechCabal has a simple explainer article diving deep into the unreal world of NFTs. Check it out!

    • Internet of Things (IoT) and the metaverse

    The Internet of Things (IoT) promises that everyday objects will have the ability to send and receive data through the Internet. Common examples of IoT devices today are smart home security systems, wearables and shipping container tracking systems. In a world where everything is going digital, the metaverse is a purely online world where people can interact, bringing us into a fully simulated virtual reality. IoT and the metaverse are pretty much digital twins.

    In conclusion: Web3 and the internet of the future

    The idea behind Web3 is to build an internet that benefits everyone. Web3 is powered by peer-to-peer networks, user-controlled data and monetisation. Advancements in blockchain technology, machine learning, the metaverse and IoT, all have vital roles in bringing Web3 to life. 

    Machine learning algorithms are already changing the way we live today through data and predicting decisions close to what a human being would make. Combined with the exciting possibilities of blockchain technology, Web3’s goal to create a more democratic, more connected internet is on the horizon.

    With that being said, the evolution of the internet from web 2.0 to Web3 will probably take decades, as much of the founding blocks of Web3 are still currently being built. You don’t have to feel left out or sink into the despair of cluelessness when you see tech and crypto bros pontificating on Twitter — there’s still a lot of trial and error to be made. However, we do hope that this article gives you an entry-level perspective into the internet of the future.

  • urban, building, town, metropolis, city, nature, nigeria, lagos, roof, 43 ilaje rd, outdoors, landscape, human, person, smoke, sky, fog, architecture, dirt, bariga, building exterior, built structure, cityscape, residential district, high angle view, crowded, crowd, copy space, street, clear sky, city life, community, townscape, settlement, 5K

    For millennials and GenZers, real estate agents are the people we love to hate. I talked to Oluwaseun Lisk-Carew, a certified real estate agent based in Lagos and Ibadan, Nigeria, about why there are so many costs involved in renting a house and why the hell inspection fees exist.

    Why did you become a real estate agent?

    I’ve always loved buildings. In 2020, friends and family encouraged me to give real estate a shot. At the time, it seemed like a lucrative business. I heard agents brag about their commissions even if they didn’t mention figures, so I didn’t hesitate to try my hands at it.

    I understudied a few experienced agents for a while and found that I loved touring properties and helping people decide where to live. They showed me how to register my business and get certified as a real estate agent. There is this joy I feel after I close a deal; I can’t explain it. I also picked up interior decor — I’d helped my brother decorate his house even before I broke into the industry.

    What does a typical day as an agent look like?

    Incredibly unpredictable. Every day is different. Some days, you may be fully booked, but all your clients cancel last-minute, and then you end up not going anywhere. Some days, you decide you don’t want to leave the office but spend the whole day inspecting houses all over the city. Other days, you find yourself arguing with client after client and fighting fires under the hot sun. Except on my off days, I have to be prepared for anything.

    What’s the most frustrating part of your job?

    Most Nigerians dislike real estate agents, and it breaks my heart. But I get why.

    First, there are too many fraudulent agents, so most clients are naturally suspicious; they think all agents are the same. On the other hand, some Nigerians don’t like to hear the truth. They want heaven on earth for small money. So when they meet a genuine agent who is straightforward, they baulk at the price. They’d rather go to roadside agents that will waste their time. No, Kayode, you won’t get a two-bedroom apartment in Bodija for ₦250k.

    I would also like to clarify a common misconception: most people believe that the agents fix the price. We don’t.

    I’m listening.

    Think of it like this: I’m trying to close deals as fast as possible in a crazily competitive market. Why would I raise the prices above what people can afford? The thing is, landlords talk in their circles and set their prices. We agents actually try to persuade them to keep prices reasonable. Sometimes, they agree, then later, their friends and colleagues encourage them to increase the rent. It’s not my house. I’m just an agent, so I cannot just put any price on a house. Agents simply do not have that kind of control. 

    RELATED: 9 Things You Should Be Warned About Before Renting a House in Ibadan

    What about the total package issue?

    The landlords also determine these extra prices. The agent only takes agency fees (usually around 10-20%). Other fees like caution, agreement, legal fees and service charges are out of our control. The landlords fix these fees. If a lawyer is involved, there will be legal fees. The caution fees are typically refundable, subject to terms and conditions. The caution fee is insurance of sorts for fixing things in the apartment. If you are moving out of a house and everything is intact, you are entitled to a refund of the caution fee. Most people don’t read agreement forms, hence the misunderstanding. 

    Interesting. There’s another one: inspection fees. What’s the deal with that?

    To be honest, I don’t even like collecting inspection fees. But you need to understand that agents are human beings too, and this work that we do is a thankless one. When I first started, I did not demand inspection fees. Clients took advantage of me; they would waste my time checking so many houses even when they were not ready to do business. I was spending around ₦10k a week for time wasters. When I started collecting inspection fees, the number of time wasters reduced. 

    Helping people rent houses is a very dicey job. Agents demand inspection fees as a form of commitment to cover logistics and because time is money. 

    So it’s a cause and effect thing…

    To be fair, renting a house is not for the faint-hearted, but I wish renters would realise that agents are Nigerians too. The market is affected by the economy. Prices of everything in Nigeria are soaring every day, and it shocks me that people are shocked housing is following suit.

    I usually have a list of questions to narrow down prospective apartments for clients. It turns out some renters don’t even know what they want. In large cities like Lagos or Ibadan, people want to check out numerous houses in different parts of the state. And they want me to take them to all those places, expending my time, energy and money. Renters need to be able to manage their expectations. Some people want plush apartments with constant power and water supply in beautiful estates at the centre of town for ₦300k Buhari naira. In 2021, come on!

    RELATED: Interview With Lagos Apartments

    Tell me about one time that a renter frustrated you.

    I usually put out notices of available apartments, including photos and pricing details, and people reach out to me. There was this renter who wanted to check out several of them. They wanted to check out apartments in Oluyole, Jericho and Bodija. I told them to pick the location they preferred and to pay an inspection fee to visit all those places. In Ibadan, inspection fees typically never exceed ₦2,000 for these kinds of requests. The renter hesitated and went, “I don’t think I want the Bodija house,” and “The one at Oluyole is too  expensive. Maybe we should check Jericho.” 

    Okay, since you know you don’t want Bodija, why did you want to check it in the first place? 

    Inspection fees help with clients like this. People will think twice before spending money because nobody wants to pay multiple inspection fees for different houses.

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    What’s the craziest experience you’ve had with a renter?

    Oh, I have lots of this, but one really stands out, and a renter who had found an apartment that he liked. The house cost ₦900k. We got back to the office and were about to sign a contract when the renter said he needed to step out. It turns out that once the renter left the office, someone approached him and promised to get him the house for ₦50k cheaper. They must have taken him to a fake office because they ended up duping him, and he never saw them again. 

    In this economy?

    Yes, people do this a lot. 

    Hm. How does one detect fraudulent agents?

    If someone offers you a deal and it looks too good to be true, chances are, it is. They typically promise mind-blowing stuff for cheap, but decent housing is not cheap. 

    Registered agents have proper documentation processes and are more than willing to answer questions. Genuine realtors are licensed — fraudulent agents are unlikely to have the required licenses to operate. Most of them are not actual agents —  they are middlemen determined to get money by hook or by crook.

    Also, any agent who demands payment into their account is likely shady. Never pay to a middle man. People need to draw up a checklist of must-haves when house-hunting; making sure to see the house themselves and communicate with the landlord before payment should rank high on this list. The red flags are always there, and sadly, the system isn’t well regulated. There are laws governing these things, but they aren’t being enforced. So many roadside agents are not accredited. Hopefully, one day, the government will set up infrastructure that will help curb the widespread fraud that has permeated the system.

    EDITOR’S PICK: What It’s Like to Rent in Nigeria As a Nigerian Woman

  • Spoiler alert: love nwantiti isn’t number one

    CKay

    From having one of the most-watched music videos in the world on YouTube to dominating TikTok and Shazam, CKay has had quite the year. 

    Exploring street-thumping bangers to sultry slow whines, we ranked the five best songs from CKay so far.

    5. Way (feat. Dj Lambo)

    CKay’s released his first EP to a lukewarm reception. However, he began his road to redemption with this dance tune from his sophomore EP. He and Dj Lambo did a madness fusing Beethoven’s 5th harmony with Afrobeats. Nigerian musicians are experimenting with genres, and we’re here for it!

    4. love nwantinti

    TikTok catapulted love nwantinti to global acclaim. However, despite its meteoric success, love nwantinti ranks so low on this list of Ckay’s top 5 songs because all it has going for it is that it’s a cute song. The lyricism of the original song is a tad lax, but the drums will make you dance, and the hook will make you sing along. For a more immersive experience, listen to the remix with Kuami Eugene and Joeboy.

    3. Mezebu (feat. Oxlade & KiDi)

    In Mezebu, Ckay’s honey-soaked voice compliments the boldness of the drums. The song for finished men, it’s like being served breakfast with a delicious treat. You may want to listen this song before you date an Igbo woman. Regarding features, CKay hit the jackpot with Oxlade and KiDi; these men were delightfully down bad!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNHXe7PGi74

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    2. Kiss Me Like You Miss Me

    Kiss Me Like You Miss Me basks in the rush of ecstasy that new love brings. It’s the kind of song two first-year Unilag lovebirds sing when they see each other again after a semester’s break. Retaining elements of soul and R&B, the bass guitar, bold percussion and a burst of free-flowing piano chords meld with Ckay’s falsetto to bring forth a delicious hook. Produced by CKay himself, everything about this song has sappy, chocolatey vibes; you know CKay just entered the studio to have fun.

    And when he said, “Put me for your status,” I felt it!

    1. Felony

    If love has not washed your head before, then we need to question your dating credentials. Felony is the quintessential love song, the song that put the boyfriend in his Boyfriend EP. It’s like listening to Coldplay on an Afropop beat. Again, while CKay’s won’t win any awards for lyricism, his ethereal vocals blend seamlessly with the piano chords, the violin (omg, the violin!), drums, everything!

  • Jeremiah*, 30, worked non-stop 18 hours a day for 18 months until his health forced him to take a break, but his boss had other plans. From earning in dollars to living on vibes, read how the ting go.

    I spent my NYSC in Abia State serving as a teacher in a public school. During that time, I saved up my monthly allowances to buy a laptop and learnt how to build websites through tutorials. In 2018, after my youth service, I saw an internship opportunity online. The company promised that after the internship, I would be offered employment. I took a leap of faith and left for Lagos.

    The internship was a breeze because I already knew most of the things they taught. I was just there for networking and making connections. I was the first person to get a job from my set — I was hired even before the end of the internship. I’m still at that job to date. The company works with the government, so there are usually lengthy intervals (about four months) between projects where there is no work. I had to find a way to fill in those downtimes. Early 2019, I found an online software engineering peer-review cohort, applied and got accepted.

    How I became a workaholic

    I was the least experienced during the cohort, but I made the extra effort to upskill. I would spend up to 12 hours writing code. I desperately wanted to level up, and so I gave it my all and some extra. At the end of the cohort, I interviewed with a US-based startup and got a three-month internship contract.

    The cohort facilitators would supervise the contract. The initial pay was $400 monthly. If I performed well after the internship, I would be offered a full-time position and my compensation, doubled. I couldn’t believe my luck.

    I resumed my internship and found out that I was the only other person in the startup. The founder was a back-end engineer; I’m a front-end developer. 

    My internship contract stated that I was only meant to work a maximum of six hours daily, but I wanted to prove my worth and get more dollars at the end of the internship period. I ended up working twice longer than required. I built the whole front-end of the application from the ground up. 

    At the end of the internship, the founder refused to offer me a contract, but he did not let me go. He claimed he was still testing me and asked me to intern for another two months. 

    After the two months had elapsed, he wanted to extend the internship yet again. The cohort facilitators had to intervene. They demanded that he sign me on full-time and update my monthly payment or let me go. He eventually conceded. He was supposed to double my pay, but he only increased it by $200. He also delayed payments by weeks. 

    The situation wasn’t ideal, but I needed the money. I am the firstborn, and my family depends on me for finances. $600 a month wasn’t nearly enough for the amount and value of my work, but when converted to naira, it wasn’t so bad.

    Here’s what my typical workday looked like:

    Remember that I took this job to supplement my other job. 

    I would wake by 7 a.m. and go to my day job by 9 a.m., working till 5 pm. Then I would rush back home to resume the remote job. Ideally, I was supposed to close for the day at 1 a.m., California time, but I often found myself working until 6 a.m. the next day. 

    I worked like this for another year. During that time, the startup launched and started getting customers and revenue. My workload quadrupled, but the founder refused to hire new hands. I’m a front-end developer, but he forced me into doing backend work as well. I wouldn’t have minded, but it was how he went about it. He never acknowledged his faults, always looking to blame me even when he was wrong. He also refused to hire a designer, so I was ideating designs as well as implementing them. 

    I worked like this until my body shut down

    I didn’t get any paid leave; I worked during Christmas and the New Year. I was on my laptop 18 hours a day with no breaks and no time off. 

    Last year, when my father fell sick, I took a break from my Nigerian job and travelled to visit my family in the village, but I still had to work at the remote startup. The power supply is poor where my parents live, so I would go to a late-night restaurant to work and sometimes stay there till dawn.

    There were days when I would break down in the middle of a workday (night) and weep. My physical and mental health fell off, and my productivity nosedived.

    It was brutal.

    One day, I explained to the founder that I needed a break. The work was taking its toll on me, and I feared I could fall sick or slump at any time. He refused. I begged and begged until he reluctantly agreed, but there was a catch: I had to complete a few more tasks before I went on leave.

    I told him I could not handle anything new. At that point, my hands were trembling from stress and lack of sleep, and I couldn’t focus on anything.

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    I got the sack on my second day of leave

    Any developer who has ever worked at a startup knows that things need to move fast. Founders want to ship products and updates, and they typically don’t care about code quality. Many times, developers have to do lots of patchwork and sellotaping to keep up with demand. 

    I’m a workaholic, so I blocked out some time to clean up the codebase and make it more readable even while on leave. I also wanted the codebase to be easy to read for future hires as the company was expanding.

    On the second day, I went to GitHub and discovered that the founder had removed me. He also deleted me from Slack and revoked my access to every other company channel.

    I didn’t receive a termination notice or anything — I didn’t even get fired. I got dumped.

    The aftermath

    After the initial shock, I just went to sleep. I slept like my life depended on it (honestly, it did). For two weeks, I slept like it was the only thing I was born to do. 

    Two weeks later, I hadn’t heard from the founder. He fired me but was stalling on paying me. I reached out to the cohort facilitators to help demand my outstanding remuneration. He resisted at first but eventually paid up.

    A month later, I got a recommendation to work for a startup in Nigeria. I’m also building this one from the ground up, but I like this one so far. My CTO is a designer, and his designs are delightful to implement. 

    What I learned

    I now value my mental health more than anything else. I take care of myself and make efforts to be at peace. It’s a long, winding road, but I have made progress. My current income is not great, but I now have the semblance of a healthy work-life balance. 

    But it’s not been smooth at all

    While I’m consciously rebuilding my life (and mental health), I’m not happy. As the first child, I’m the primary breadwinner. The startup I currently work at has run out of money, and I’m being owed for two months. I’m only staying put because I believe in the business, and I have stock options. They also rate me highly. However, I need money to sustain myself.

    When I got fired, my father got into trouble. He lost a huge amount of money from the community esusu; I had to pull every last penny of my savings to get him out of trouble. Right now, I’m pretty much rebuilding my life from scratch.

    Looking forward to something hooge

    I‘m actively looking for a well-paying job. I constantly second-guessed myself at my previous job, but I’m great at what I do — I have built functional software from scratch at two startups. One year later, my code still powers the company whose founder dumped me; it is my work bringing them revenue, and I have nothing to show for it. I will not let another person make me feel small. 

    I hope to get a big break soon.