Four days into my return to Nigeria I realize a few things:
1. The factors that led to my departure are still imminent and have not been removed. I know now that I cannot avoid them or try again to run away from them.
2. That success is measured in different ways. My sojourn into the unknown, into my space and claiming that space for myself can be claimed to be success for me. The opportunity to choose my own space and have it be of such luxury, to pay for that space and enjoy it, and to meet so many people, experience every day, different cultures, different experiences, different moments. It was blissful even as it was brief. That type of success I wish I could have again. I cherish it. But success for others is measured in the number of kids and the size of their houses. Which is admirable, but success of a different caliber. How do the hobos live, when they don't have any kids, houses or possessions to measure their time with, they live with experiences. And that was my success.
3. I realize that I may have to choose what type of success I want to take with me. I love my country and I appreciate my country but I don't know if I can live in my country if it keeps being like this: myopic, unduly pretentious, blatantly inexperienced, pitifully dirty and at times majorly depressing. It needs to change. I wish I could be the one to change it but it requires more than one person, more than one person to acknowledge the truth.
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