This post is part of the Verastic In Nigeria series.
I’m back from Nigeria (and still very jetlagged)! I came back on Saturday afternoon, and all I have been doing since is unpacking and sorting and eating and sleeping. I’ll start working on the videos this week, and I’ll publish my first one next week. But before I do, I want to tell you about the rubbish question that this woman asked me on the plane to Nigeria.
I flew Lufthansa, and it was my first time flying it. I chose Lufthansa because they land in Abuja (which is closer to Plateau State than Lagos), and because their stopover time [in Germany] was not too long (four hours). I had a really pleasant time flying with Lufthansa, but that’s not what I want to tell you about. I want to tell you about this White American woman who was seated behind me.
For the purpose of this post, let’s call her Jane. Jane was seated behind me with her two kids, age 3 and 5 (she told me), while her husband was seated next to me in front and there was an empty seat between us. They were moving to Germany for three years because her husband is in the military and Germany is his new post.
Jane and I got to talking and I excitedly told her that I was going to Nigeria after being absent for 16 years. When I say that I excitedly told her, I mean that I was very, very excited to share this information. Jane cocked her head to the left, nose-squeezed, and asked me, “But is it safe though?” I was hot from the inside.
Me: Well, it’s just like America.
Jane: How so?
Me: People don’t want to come to America because they’re afraid they will get shot.
Jane (voice a little higher than usual): It’s not even like that!
Me: Exactly.
Her (two seconds later): Oh, I see.
I am Nigerian. I am not ignorant of the problems my nation faces. I know that we are not where America is. I also know that we are only one-quarter of America’s age. And I am not in any way implying that we can use age as an excuse, nor am I trying to encourage bad behavior. But as a Nigerian and African living in America, I am so sick and tired of the single Nigerian/African story. People look at us and our entire continent with pity because they think we are all dying and their money is what’s keeping us afloat.
On my About Page, I describe myself as a cultural ambassador, and it is exactly during moments like this one that I remember why I describe myself as that. Yes, Nigeria has a lot of problems. Yes, our youth get frustrated from lack of employment and go into armed robbery. Yes, we have a terrorist group called Boko Haram. Yes, Nigeria has a lot of problems. But Nigeria is my country, and I will defend her.
You go girl! Very nice response 🙂
Thank you oh!
well said
Thank you!
Thank you.
And Nigeria is safe.
Thanks Verastic for the defence and the give away
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Favour!! Thank you, doll. Still waiting for a picture of you in your shirt 😀
Welcome back and thanks for answering that silly so well!
Thank God for giving me small sense that day. Lol.
Good job, Vera! You were able to educate an ignorant person. Hopefully, she’ll spread the word…wishful thinking, I know but at least you were able to make her see that people are afraid of their safety in America just as Americans are afraid of their safety in other countries.
Definitely wishful thinking. But at least she knows better now. I hope.
Ose
Thanks, boo!
Nice reply from you Vera. Peoples imaginations and perceptions about Nigeria some times is cold and sad.
They are ignorant and naive. They don’t reflect that their so called ‘safe countries’ are now viewed as unsafe by African countries. I am not mocking Britain or USA but many places are unsafe there through horrendous activities of some of their citizens. In Manchester in Britain, a caucasian citizen dialled 911for help, two policewomen arrived on the scene only to be blown up by bombs! The poor policewomen couldn’t have seen that coming but the fact that a Caucasian decided to act in an unsafe manner is appalling! So, among the people castigating Nigeria, their people are making their country unsafe. Anyway, those are my two cents. Peace
Unfortunately, it is up to us to tell our own (positive) stories. Or else, they will continue to tell it for us, and when they do, it won’t be the truth.
Yup. And we’re not helping. When people do these fraudulent things, they make the rest of us look bad. Still sha, people just like to judge us.
Yeye woman. Is anywhere really safe on planet earth ni??? Great response.I can imagine her face turning red.
Thank you. It’s imperative that we show them how ridiculous they sound.
Oshe jare Vera, mama Ada Verastic. I have memorised the response you gave in case some daft person badmouths Nigeria ‘in the abroad’ where I am.
Lol. Feel free to use it biko. They need to know.
Great response as always Vera! I suppose her fear was out of ignorance; that is what happens when Nigerians are not the ones telling the world about Nigeria.
What are you putting up your vagina?
No doubt; it was definitely out of ignorance.
Jane now knows to be sensitive to other people’s feelings when talking about their countries’ predicaments especially when similar to that of the USA.
Wow, i’m really impressed by your response. Well answered 🙋🙋🙌