Where Did The Time Go?
It’s just dawning on me that the reality of our studies coming to an end is that our little friendship group will split. And instead of just being able to see each other in minutes, now we...
Considering that this email will arrive late on Easter Sunday, I hope you had a good Easter celebration. I will also encourage you to take time off to relax on Easter Monday, especially if it is a public holiday where you are. I would have loved to tell you about my Easter, but this was written days before Easter. A boy has to enjoy his holiday. I can tell you this though, my Easter holiday will be spent with one of my closest friends in a German city, Bonn. My friend and I plan to cook fried rice and make a pot of white soup. If anything exciting happens, I will update you by the end of April.
So what happened in March?
2 Years in Europe
I left the Lagos airport around midnight on March 4, 2022. I arrived at Frankfurt airport at around 6 am on March 5. And after an hour's layover, I was airborne again, as my destination was Graz, Austria where I arrived some minutes past 9 am. I remember this day like it was yesterday. I was in Graz for an exchange semester which I completed in July. When it was time to move to Germany, there was a delay with my visa, so much so that I stayed in Graz till August 31st. I remember feeling so relieved when my German visa arrived. I remember arriving in Ulm at around 9 pm that day, tired from the stress of a 9-hour road trip. What was I thinking?
This month I reflected on my experience as a Nigerian in Europe. I reflected on how leaving Nigeria has changed my life. I took pride in myself for showing up for me. I celebrated every little win again. I reminded myself of the memories that I made. I can write a book on this. But today, I will express my gratitude to my family and friends whose support I leaned on while I planned to move to Europe for my studies. I appreciate the support I have gotten every day on this journey. I do not take any of it for granted. I’m also immensely grateful for the friends I have made on the way - some of whom have held my hand through every step of the way and showed up for me while I grieved. I honestly wouldn’t have been able to do it alone. Thank you!
Nearly Ate Rubbish
Friday, 1 March 2024, I decided to make a pot of ogbonno soup. That way, on Saturday, I would only have to clean. A week before that day, I had bought ogbonno from the Asian store where I got foodstuff. It was the first time I had bought Ogbonno since moving to Europe. I got into the kitchen, cut the meat into the right sizes, washed it, seasoned it and placed it on the fire to cook. I added some stock fish that I also thoroughly washed. When everything has cooked properly, I set a pot on fire to fry the ogbonno slightly and then add it to the boiling meat. I don’t always cook my ogbonno this way, but I have been trying different recipes and methods of cooking my favourite things. Trying to spice things up, you know? I noticed something was off about the ogbonno, but I didn’t think much about it and still added it to my boiling stock. That was the confirmation I needed that things weren’t right. The ogbonno didn’t draw at all. I convinced myself that the stock was too big, so I added more ogbonno to the soup and it was the same thing. The oil was hovering right on top of the soup. I just scooped out my meat, washed off the particles of the ogbonno and poured the whole thing away.
But today, I will thank my family and friends whose support I leaned on while I planned to move to Europe for my studies. I appreciate the support I have gotten every day on this journey. I do not take any of it for granted. I’m also immensely grateful for the friends I have made on the way - some of whom have held my hand through every step of the way and showed up for me while I grieved. I honestly wouldn’t have been able to do it alone. Thank you!
You would think that was going to be all. No! The next day, I went to an African store to buy ogbonno. Maybe the Asians didn’t know good ogbonno. I got home and got to work in an attempt to cook ogbonno. I brought out the meat from the previous day, seasoned it again and placed it on fire to boil. Without boring you with the step-by-step detail, this particular ogbonno was worse than the first. While the first one didn’t draw and had a smell I couldn’t make out once it mixed with the stock, the second one had the same terrible smell, but somehow settled in the bottom of the pot. I angrily poured it away too. Of course, I scooped out my meat. I had to go out again to buy okro and make okro soup. I was furious! I’m scarred for life. When a friend told me he was in the UK, I had to call one of my brothers to see if he had enough foodstuff from Nigeria to share cos once bitten, forever shy. Unfortunately for me, he has run out. I’m not sure I will ever buy ogbonno in Germany (if not the entire Europe). I will also not be buying egusi either.
PS: I need to learn to take more photos. A pictorial representation of the two disasters would have been great.
House Hunting
House hunting is the absolute ghetto. I do not recommend it! I never liked the place I live, even though I have been here since August 2022. It took about two months to find it. I was in Austria at the time. Months after moving in, I started house hunting as I wanted to move out. After weeks of effortless endeavour, I decided to stop. That gives you an idea of how tasking it is to find a suitable house in Germany. Now, I have to move to a new city within a specific timeline, so I’m back to house hunting. In terms of shege, I have seen plenty. It doesn’t help that I also have to find someone to take over my room as my contract was extended to September. So on the one hand, I’m showing people my apartment and hoping they like it, and on the other, I’m booking appointments to get shown places. The house I was shown today ehn, it was lowkey giving Lagos. God abeg! I can’t wait for this all to be over.
I’m also taking a break from German classes. As I’m moving to a new city, it doesn’t make sense to keep attending German classes here. So I decided to take a break from the classes. When I move, and get settled, I will register again and start from where I stopped.
But now she’s moving. I’m moving too. But while I’m just 2 hours away from Ulm, she’s moving 6 hours away. It’s just dawning on me that the reality of our studies coming to an end is that our little friendship group will be split. And instead of just being able to see each other in minutes, now we have to intentionally maintain the friendship.
Goodbye is Hard to Say
One of my closest friends here is also moving. I met her and another Nigerian at the orientation course when I started my programme. The three of us went to Austria together and have lived in the same building since we moved to Germany. We have cooked together a few times. We eat together sometimes. We periodically go out drinking or eating or whatever activity together. But now she’s moving. I’m moving too. But while I’m just 2 hours away from Ulm, she’s moving 6 hours away. It’s just dawning on me that the reality of our studies coming to an end is that our little friendship group will split. And instead of just being able to see each other in minutes, now we have to intentionally maintain the friendship. Phew!
Japa Podcast Season 2
Season 2 on the Japa Podcast went live on March 10. I’m glad to be back to recording the podcast and sharing stories of Nigerians in the diaspora. I also have noticed that I’m getting more comfortable with recording, and that is reflected in the episodes. If you haven't already, this is your cue to listen and share it with anyone who might find it useful or entertaining.
I started watching The Golden Girls and that is one helluva brilliant show. I would recommend you read Blessings by Chukwuebuka Ibeh. My favourite sound for the month is Dua Lipa’s ‘Break My Heart’ (and for good reasons). How did March go for you? What interesting things did you do? What book(s) did you read? What did you watch or listen to? It would be nice to hear from you.
In line with our 2024 theme of not greeing for anybody, stay kajad!
Thanks for sharing your life updates, big and small through your writing.
Love reading from you. Taking the "stay Kajad" seriously. All the best