THE PRICE OF GOING ABROAD!
Going Abroad for greener pastures has always been the dream of most Africans. The quest to study, work and earn a living are all centred around “Comfort ability”. However, some Africans have paid a price for leaving Africa to live abroad and also the perceptions of those living abroad towards those back home are nothing to write home about and very disheartening.It is always the believe of people back home in Africa that ‘once you are living abroad, you are rich and living comfortably’. Hence! There are high expectations from you to either come back home with substantial Pounds or Dollars; luxurious car or become robust (Orobo Daddy/ Mama) coupled with foreign accent. However, the hardship some people are facing in Oyinbo land [abroad] are not known to those in Africa because while some are working over-time to make ends meet, some have mortgaged their lives abroad by buying houses, cars on credit or living on ‘loans’. Standing Order/ Direct debit is now the order of the day for most people living abroad (Suffering and Smiling Syndrome).
Many Africans on their return back home tend to stay in hotels to avoid the family house they grew up in even if such family house has got all the amenities to make them comfortable so as to avoid SEGEMENGE. Also, some returnees have been labelled to be ‘stingy’ for the little they could give out to friends and families.
Living Abroad is not a laughing matter because if the cold is not doing justice, working two/three jobs or over-time coupled with insults are the order of the day.................
THE CHICKEN WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SHOW ALL AND SUNDRY THAT IT IS SWEATING BUT IT’S FEATHERS ARE HINDERING THIS.
Written by Femi Kuforiji. [Extract from my Journal, 'On a Journey of Self Discovery']
