“We are home” my mom said as the plane landed in the Port Harcourt Local Airport in Nigeria. My mom brought my younger sister and me to Nigeria to live. I was not sure for how long but I knew I had to adjust.
As we were driving to the house I saw palm trees for the first time. It was quite exciting. Their height amazed me. The way it stood before the glistening yellow sun with its full green leaves. It was not just any old tree to me. We were being driven to the house we would live in from now on. It was located in the town of Rumuokwuta in the city of Port Harcourt. It was a small quiet town, similar to what we call a “suburb”. The house was on a large compound with a huge gate that enclosed us, the house and the large yard inside. Family members looked at me while speaking in their language. The joy they expressed was one I could understand in every way except their words. In response, I just smiled and nodded.
â–º QUARTER FINALIST 2012 TEEN TRAVEL WRITING SCHOLARSHIP
Soon after, I went to explore my new “home”. In terms of entertainment, we had a small television and a stereo set in the living room where my family members sang and danced to welcome us.
That night, I stepped out of the house into the yard. The generator was not on yet so the house was filled with kerosene fueled lanterns. I looked up into the dark night and saw stars – millions of them, oh how wonderful! In New York City, I did not get to enjoy natural sights like this because of the well lit surroundings.
When you come from an environment like New York City, a place like this humbles you. It makes you realize that it is not always about what you possess in life, but about how you live it and who you live it with. We came to embrace the small things we were taking for granted like good roads, steady electricity, and sufficient water supply. It was a peculiar feeling especially coming from a society where the affairs of the citizens are a major concern of the government and where much importance is placed on the quantity of material possessions.
Soon I went to my bedroom to get ready for bed. As I lay in my bed, I thought about all the things I had seen today. My eyelids began to fall as I finally understood what my mom said. It was a different environment and I was not used to it. However, it had a strange warm feeling like I was supposed to be here. “We are home”, I whispered before I closed my eyes for slumber.
Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.
