WHAT I LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN NIGERIA!!!

Hey Guys,

It feels like I haven’t blogged in ages and I guess its cuz this past week has been really busy for me especially with sorting out final NYSC clearance and turning up the last two days (as per passing out celebrations) here and there lol. Anyways it’s all over now and sadly, girls have to get back to reality.

With regards to my previous post (What I miss about living in the UK), I was asked by some friends and fellow blog readers about what I miss or rather, what I love about living in Nigeria since I listed a few things I miss about living in the UK and it would only be fair to also list the things I love about living in Nigeria. So, I decided to share quite a number of things I love about living in my mother land.

The number one thing I love about living in Nigeria is:

THE FOOD:

I am glad I mentioned that I’m a #Dorofoodie (a lover of food) in my profile so it shouldn't be surprising that food is the first thing on my list even though it shouldn't be cuz man shall not live by bread alone but by the combination of unique spices, herbs, vegetables, meat and orishirishi to produce a delectable dish called Nigerian food. lol just kidding. Jokes apart tho, Nigerian food is amazing ranging from classics like Jollof rice, Fried rice, Ofada, (don’t forget the dodo and chicken), to regional specialties like Kilishi, Suya, Gala, Agege rocky bread, Ijebu garri and Groundnut, Asun, to traditionals such as Nkwobi, Semo and Eforiro, Pownded Yam and Egusi, Amala and Ewedu, Starch and Banga, Acara and Pap, Moin Moin, Abacha, Smoked fish, Boli(smoked plantain), the combinations are endless. Nothing beats a Naija home cooked meal for deliciousness. Unlike the British food where there is almost no spice, there’s always that tasty balance with the right amount of pepper, seasoning, thyme, onions and other tasty spices in Nigerian foods which is why when you eat them, you don’t forget them for a while.

THE WEATHER

The weather is another thing I love about living in Nigeria. I know the Nigerian sun can be so scorching that sometimes one can feel roasted especially if you have to walk or work under the sun for hours. Never the less, I think Nigeria is blessed with a good and friendly weather. The weather is really beautiful and you can wear anything you like under the sun. There is no need to worry about snow or hurricanes or tornadoes and earthquakes. Also, a lot of exotic plants and fruits such as mangoes coco yams and palm trees can survive under the Nigerian weather.

THE CELEBRATIONS:

You cannot but love Nigerian celebrations. Nigerians know just how to have the best and grooviest celebrations you can think of. Talk about weddings, house parties or even Owambe parties. Nigerian parties are famous for some reasons: the fashionable clothes, foods, music, friends and families. Owambe party is a norm in Naij and whether you like it or not, you will always find yourself in one celebrating with families and friends, dancing, eating and drinking.

THE TV SHOWS

Nigerian TV shows and reality shows are actually incomparable with American or British TV shows because they have this unique thing that just makes them different and relate-able. Some of the TV soaps have good stories and once you start watching them, you would most likely get hooked as they tell a lot about life style and how to tackle most problems we encounter in our daily lives.

THE STREET SHOPS/STREET SELLERS

I definitely love this aspect of living in Nigeria cuz it makes life a lot easier. It is only in Nigeria you can most likely get anything you need at any point in time. The street shops and street sellers provide you with almost everything you may need early in the morning or late in the night when the markets are closed. On the streets, you can find Aboki or Malam with a small kiosk selling a variety of house hold items or a small pharmacy store right at the corner of the street. In fact, sometimes, you just need to sit in your house and wait for the snip-clink sound of the tailors scissors or the beating pattern of the shoe makers work box to amend your clothes and fix your shoes. Whereas, you don’t find that in the UK. If your shoe goes bad, you either get new ones or go on a journey round town in search of someone to fix it. This brings me to the next thing on the list.

THE COST OF LIVING

Life in Nigeria may not be so rosy when compared to the UK or to the life outside the shores of Africa, but when you calculate how much you spend in the UK generally, and what half of that money can fetch you in Nigeria, then I guess you would want to jump on the next flight back to live in Nigeria again. The cost of living in the UK is ridiculously expensive especially for non home based. You pay tax almost on everything you spend your money on not to talk of the bills, the accommodation and everything else.

THE FREE CAR PARKS

Unlike the UK where you have to pay for a parking space, you don’t need to worry about traffic tickets in Nigeria. There is no police ticket for you when you default in your parking space. It is either you are called out to re park your car or you are warned.

THE MARKET HAGGLING

You may never really know what you have until you've lived abroad for a while and discovered how difficult it is to bargain on most items. In fact, you can’t even bargain cuz most items come with price tags. It actually annoys me when I walk into a store in the UK and pick up an item only to realize that the price tag says £69.99. Like seriously?? Why the heck would it not just be £70 or better still, be left as £69. Why must there be that extra 99p? What if I had no coins or I only had £69? That would mean me not being able to purchase that item just because I’m short of 99p? I feel bad most times because I know if it were in Naij, I would have gotten that same item for probably £59 if not less, just by bargaining. In Nigeria, you have the freedom of down pricing every product with the sellers which is what you may never experience abroad.

THE VERNACULAR PIDGIN ENGLISH

I love the fact that in Nigeria, anyone and everyone can communicate on mutual grounds using the Pidgin English regardless of social status, tribal or educational status. For example if you are new to a city, for instance, Abuja, and you are lost at a certain strange place, you can just stop any random person, if you are lucky enough, one who understands English. If not, you can just say Oga/Madam, abeg, where I fit find Yoruba mosque for maitama districtand you would be directed in the same manner. Pidgin English makes communication very easy amongst Nigerians. Living abroad sometimes makes you miss some favorite slangs like how far? Wetin dey happen? And many more.

THE UNDYING SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE

I love the fact that even in the midst of hell itself, Nigerians don’t easily lose their cool or give up their humor, joviality, friendliness and happiness. Life goes on for them no matter the situation and you wonder why you almost never hear of suicide in Nigeria even though life is hell: Police harassment, petrol increment, nepa wahala, unemployment and Nigerians never go on rampage. Also, because everything in the UK or abroad is so developed, life can be somewhat monotonous, devoid of drama and spontaneity. Most times the only excitement you get in the UK is probably during the weekends when you go partying drinking or doing whatever you find pleasurable. Whereas, in Nigeria you can get excitement every day from street jamz to daily agbero scenes to visits by friends, families, relatives and Many more. Life in Nigeria can never really be depressing and lonely there's always something to give you jokes and make you laugh. Home will always be home and in the end, there's actually no place like home.