Adventures of a Texas Omoge Pt2. : East or West

IN my 12 day visit to Nigeria, I got to meet a bunch of people. Many of my Dads coworkers, church folks, family members and what not. And it seemed as though they all planned it because people kept saying things like "East or West, Home is the Best" or We need you people to come fix this country, and all these other hints to the benefits of moving back to Nigeria. Of course, most of these people are folks who have never lived (long term) outside the country. Many have visited the U.S. or U.K. for short periods, but never lived for 9 years, which means their perspective is a bit thwarted.


This brings me to the point about the word "HOME" what exactly is home, for someone like me. I can make some great arguments about Nigeria being home, seeing as its where most of my family is, its where I was born, it is my motherland. BUT I can equally make some great arguments for the U.S. being home. My friends and life is here. I LOVE it here, life makes sense here. School, work, relationships, spiritual home and everything else. I appreciate many things about both countries, and I am UNIQUELY blessed to be able to experience two very different places because it gives me a very unique perspective.


For my parents and their friends, I know the ultimate goal is to return and make a life in Nigeria. This is a future that is not really tangible to me. Please don't misunderstand me, I would never say never, but as at right now, the level of anxiety that I had being in that country for 2 weeks, is much too serious for me to pack my bags and go to Nigeria and do......what? Will that change...? Potentially, but until then I am on the path to getting my law degree and planning a life that is here in the United States, and making frequent visits to my home country, and maybe exploring some possibilities. There is ALSO the small fact that I am a woman, who would like to be married someday, and depending on when that happens and to whom it does, that decision will probably not be mine to make alone.


UNTIL THEN! I am a Nigerian American living and LOVING it in America, where, fortunately LIFE MAKES SENSE.


See my next post about some of the things that dont make sense in Nigeria.