LifeSightsSound

I always start my working week with a blog post, and I wondered what I would write about; last week was a tough week, but somehow I managed to keep my smile. I also had the privilege of speaking to some Nigerians that have just come to the UK with family and started attending lectures in January and seem to be anxious and some lost. I couldn’t help but feel empathy for what they were going through.

So many people underestimate the decision to leave the known to the unknown, as Nigerians are very communal. We are a “my brother, my sister” kind of people, maybe because of our multilingual or multicultural dynamics, so coming to a culture that is not communal can be a lot, and I understand; I have been there.

We are subjective people whether we like to hear it or not; every narrative has enforced that white skin is better than black skin, so you see a lot of us cringe. We do not like our voices heard unless we are pushed to the wall, and that has affected how we see ourselves. Trust me, I have been there, and I know how it feels.

We come from a society that has forced us to fight for ourselves, push for things and be a tad impatient. We tend to struggle in a society that forces patience on us through orderly waiting lists or long queues and waiting for the system that finally gets to our turn; strange for Nigerians, dare I say, frustrating but beyond our control, and it feels like a letdown, trust me, I know the feeling, and I have been there.

I want to tell you to keep going; I am sure you have questioned yourself; you have pondered in your mind that you were okay in your comfort zone; why are you here and facing this at this moment? I can tell you with all certainty that it gets better, it will get better, some things need to be shed and some new things you might need to embrace. Do not lose your DNA of being a Nigerian, and remember, situations do not last forever, so keep your head up and your chin up.

Have a great week.