《Being Nigerian In A Foreign Country.》Friendliness
Advertisement
You want to know one thing I love about my beloved country Nigeria? I mean, we might be lacking in various other things, but this one, we do it and do it well. It's the hospitality and the friendliness amongst people. Like even if you don't know the person, there is still this sense of openness among the people.
The Nigerian Police might not be your friend o, but the people? They've got your back. They are in one way or the other ready to help you when needed. There tend to be very little personal boundaries amongst and people don't keep to themselves as much.
People are not "stranger-phobic" in Nigeria.
It's just awesome, I tell you! It's what makes us unique.
You might not totally understand what I mean if you haven't lived in a country like England. So it might seem like a 'normal' thing to you.
Think about it.
In Nigeria, you know your neighbours, your neighbour's neighbour. You know Mama Nkechi down the street. You know Alhaji and his family opposite you. You know Bolanle that lives three houses away. Not only do you know them, you interact with them, you converse with them on a daily basis.
And guess what, when you need their help, you can confidently ask them. You need someone to babysit your children? Ask Mama Nkechi, and she'll look after them till you come back. She'll even feed them before you come sef .
You're cooking and you've run out of maggi? Knock on Bolanle's door and she'll hand some to you.
But here in the UK, it's like people are afraid of each other. Me I don't even understand. The Brits are very conservative, very private. They like their personal space. Maybe they don't trust each other, I dunno. But everyone just minds their business.
Advertisement
And to be honest, I don't think it's good.
It's in England you'll find signs like NO TRESPASSING or PRIVATE PROPERTY. KEEP OUT. And they freaking mean it!
My dad was reversing his car once, (this was when we first moved to the UK,) and he accidentally drove on a neighbour's grass - that is, the wheels of his car went over the neighbour's front lawn. And she stormed out to meet my dad to address it (like she was just watching from her window all the while.)
"This is private property," she yelled. "I don't appreciate you driving on it. It takes me hours to make the lawn look this good."
Can you imagine? Ordinary grass o. Hmm.
Another time, my dad parked his car in front of a neighbour's house (a different one) because someone had blocked him from parking in front of ours. You'd think it's okay right? I mean it's only a parked car, it's not the end of the world. But not for the Brits o.
This neighbour called my mum and was yelling, saying she should tell my dad to come remove his car and that he wanted to drive off but he can't (It's not like my dad's car was blocking his car o). He just didn't like the fact that my dad's car was parked in front of his house.
Like I said, very conservative and private people.
I was speaking to someone the other day and he said he's been living in his house for more 24 years now and he doesn't know who lives in the next house to him.
And in my head, I was like "Chai!!! That one is too much na."
How can you live in a place where you don't see other people that live around you, where you can't greet them or have a conversation with them?
Advertisement
Can you imagine? Things like that won't happen in Nigeria. We are just too nosy to let that happen. And I think it's a good thing though. You know what they say: "no man is an Island." We all need to be there for and reach out to one another.
Or am I wrong? What do you guys think?
I heard about an old lady who passed away in her house for a long time, and all the while no one noticed her absence. No neighbour noticed or bothered to check - because no one bothers to check up on people anyway and people don't often see each other. One day, this was about three weeks after she'd died, a postman came to deliver a letter to the house and perceived a very strong stench coming from the inside and decided to call the police to check. That was how they found out she'd been dead for that long.
How sad is that? It's heartbreaking. That poor old lady just died, alone. It made me think, "Did she not have a family? And if she did, how come they didn't know? How did they not find out early enough?
I don't think you can hear of such in Nigeria o, because first of all, Old people don't live on their own, they're usually surrounded by family who looks after them, or they might retire to the village, and even then they're still not alone and they have the help they need.
In England, most old people are either shipped to a care home or they end up living in their house, all alone.
It's one of the things I miss about Nigeria, the communal living. The fact that everyone knows everyone (although there are some disadvantages - everyone would end up knowing your business). But the fact is, in Nigeria, you can knock on your neighbour's door and ask them for a drink of cold water and they will offer you willingly.
Try that in England first and you will not know what hit you. Before you know what's happening, you'll find your sorry ass sitting in the back of the police van. You'll be done for "Invasion of privacy", abi is it "Trespassing on private property" - and the fact that you're black? That one is instant deportation. lol
Guys!!! Wow! Long time no update. *bows my head down in shame* 😟😟😞
I know, it's been like forever since I gave y'all an update. Where can I start apologising from. Even if I apologise sef it's not going to make up for the fact that I haven't updated since the 11th of October 2017.
😩
ite about and compare with England, and my non-Nigerian readers, if there's anything you want me to tell you about Nigeria, just leave it in the comments and I will try and do justice to it.
🙏🙏
And please don't be a ghost reader, okay? Click on the yellow star.
Thank you!!! 😘😘😘
Advertisement
- In Serial18 Chapters
Shadow and Dust
In the late 21st century, Eloise Hue gives birth to a son, Arran, in a world depicted by synthetic biology and genetic editing – England’s fourth industrial revolution. Stirred by an ambition to rise to the top of their social class, who are the Aesthetes, Arran goes to great lengths to keep his real identity a secret. But this becomes more difficult when he has to learn to control his newfound abilities – a psychological skillset that may in the end become his own demise.
8 279 - In Serial329 Chapters
White Mage in Another World [Redux]
"You may think of healing as a blessing, but not all would agree. What would it take to make it a curse?" A fantasy adventure taking place in world where the power to heal is held only by those born with it, however all those who have this ability are cursed. Entering into this world is a visitor brought by forces she doesn't understand for reason she will never know. However, she learns that she also has the ability to heal. But is it the same as the rest? She is not afflicted by the curse, yet she seems afflicted by some other illness. Follow Andromeda as she discovers this new world and explores its dark secrets. Watch as she learns to master the forces some considered impossible, and witness as she becomes not a hero, but a healer. One might say, A White Mage in Another World.
8 377 - In Serial30 Chapters
Mystic Messenger AU [FF//ONESHOTS]
Mystic Messenger OneShots and Fanfictions :))[ D O N E ] 10/17/16
8 147 - In Serial16 Chapters
Choices
Life is all about choices. Choosing where to go, what to do, and who to be. Now I leave the choice in your hands. You are the protagonist. You choose where you go, what you do, and who you are. You choose the story. You choose the adventure. The choice is yours. Now choose.
8 178 - In Serial17 Chapters
I was invited here
The normal life of 19-year-old Bayezeid abruptly came to an end. When he opened his eye to find himself in a different world. But he soon discovered that he isn't the only one with this fate. Surrounding by all weird thing, He decided to find the truth behind his summon and the hidden truth about the First Hero and Demon Lord.
8 172 - In Serial34 Chapters
Bác Chiến | Trở thành vợ tình địch
" Thế quái nào cậu ta lại là chồng tôi?" " Thế giới này điên rồi!" Nhân vật: Vương Nhất Bác x Tiêu Chiến Thể loại: đam mĩ, hiện đại, niên hạ, trùng sinh, ngọt, sủng.• Chuyển ver/ Edit từ truyện Trở thành vợ tình địch của tác giả Thư Hoài •
8 250

