If my friends and I call each other by any name other than our real names, it is most likely an inside joke, and it doesn't stick because we don't do nicknames. Of course, there are many inside jokes. However, there was one that stuck. So, when I saw this topic as one of the options, I didn't have to think for long because only one person came to mind, My Cote.
So here goes my favourite story: I'll start from the beginning.
I first met Ethel in 200l in PreClinical school. Of course, we greet each other, and that's it, but little did we know we would be amazing friends. Due to our voluminous syllabus, I needed a study group, so I joined a tutorial group of four other ladies. Guess who was one of the four? Ethel!
It would be best if you kept in mind that I find it quite easy to connect with people and make acquaintances, but making actual friends is something I do very carefully because I'm mindful of the people in my circle. So I'm selective about the kind of energy I want around me.
Apart from being this Ibo girl (from the Eastern part of Nigeria) who I thought looked like me in a way ( I wasn't wrong because people say we pass for sisters). She was this very sweet woman with this motherly nature, and I loved that she was mature with many things. I kept her at arm's length, though, because letting people in is difficult for me.
She was one of a kind, and I got to experience her first-hand when we became roommates in clinical school.
But, left to me, I didn't want to be her roommate.
Do you know this saying about being roommates with your friends causes a rift eventually? I can say it's a lie!
Living with Ethel was beautiful. Yes, we had our moments of conflict, but who doesn't?
Her thoughtful actions, like taking it upon herself to cook for both of us ( I'm not someone who enjoys cooking like she does, even though I can, I'd rather buy food). I loved those short and sweet messages in the middle of postings telling me there's food waiting for me in the room and not to buy food on my way back.
The saying that the way to a man's heart is through his belly should apply to everyone.
She also dances well, especially to Indian songs; she learnt their dances. If you have ever seen "Khabi Khushi Khabi Gham", she never misses a step in that dance. I'm tempted to add one of her videos, though.
Her laugh gets me the most. It's carefree and high-pitched; you can't hear her laugh and not join in even before you know why she is laughing.
She named herself King of Boys before the actual movie ever graced our screens. It is because she has three brothers, and guess what? They are super amazing too. She calls them her soldiers. I have met her family, and I love them; they love me too, so it is safe to say I gained a new family too.
I will always bless the day she asked to be my roommate because I gained a sister; I didn't know it yet.
Now, to the interesting part:
She wanted to learn Yoruba, my language, so it's easier for her to communicate with patients in the clinic because we were in the Southwest region of Nigeria, so I offered to teach her.
The thing about people, or maybe I should specify, my friends, when they decide to learn a new language, they start with the "insults".
So, this day she murdered a word, and it cracked me up, and I called her Cote. Having lived in Lagos all her life, she understood that Cote was a type of fish, so she called me Sawa; Sawa is another type of fish.
I can tell you, none of us ever thought it would stick. I don't remember how it stuck either, but any little thing, we were calling ourselves by that. It's been ages since we called each other by our real names.
My Cote is such a beautiful and amazing human, and I love that I got to share that with you this weekend.
All images are personal
