As we waited for our flight to be called, I remained in a reminiscent mood. My mind wandered back to three years ago when the immigration process was simply a fragment of my mom’s imagination. With some persistent pressing, my dad came on board with the idea. My sister was still a little toddler then so wherever my parents went, she was sure to go. And then there was me. What did I think about relocating to this place called Canada?
I loved where I was (in Nigeria), and did not for a moment think that I was ever going to leave. I was of the mindset that change was negative and unnecessary. I had a bunch of friends, my extended family members with all their quirks and distinct attributes, and a connection to this land that I just couldn’t quite put into words. And I was simply just going to let that all go for an uncertain future? I had not made up my mind, but my parents had made up theirs, so I reluctantly succumbed.
We were also accompanied by a few family members and friends who had come along to say their final goodbyes. The emotions that their faces displayed gave me the impression that they were never going to see us again. The wave of compliments was initiated by my best friend David who said, “Make sure you come back and visit, and don’t forget to bring some snow for me”. “I’ll try” I replied with a little chuckle and a smile. It was only typical of David to find a way to lighten the mood. I had shared my feelings about the relocation with him, and I knew that I could always rely on my main man, Dave. It took every ounce of my strength not to break down in tears.
My aunties and uncles were next. They all took turns embracing my parents and I found it somewhat ironic that my dad was almost the youngest in his family while my mom was the eldest in hers, yet there was hardly a difference between their relationships with their siblings. Either way, everybody chipped in something in order to make the move a success, so seeing their sacrifice and hard work come to fruition must have been gratifying. Nonetheless, it must have still been disheartening to see them leave.
Finally, my grandparents stepped up and hugged my parents as tightly as was physically possible. Their children were going to be living abroad. Knowing both my grandmothers very well, this translated to artillery they were going to use to make their colleagues, friends, and gist partners jealous. But beyond that, they could not be any prouder of what their children had accomplished. My otherwise withdrawn maternal grandfather could be seen sobbing as he struggled to maintain his composure.
During these emotionally tasking times, I was taken to the side by my father’s father who was commonly referred to as the “wise one” by his peers. I had a feeling he was going to tell me something I did not want to hear, but needed to hear regardless, as was so often the case. He said to me, “The only constant thing in life is change. One has to be able to adapt to their surroundings.” I paused, waiting for the translation. “It means that you have to make the most of wherever you find yourself. You have been given an opportunity that most people would love to have. Don’t waste it. Instead, approach it with a good attitude and mentally, and you never know what’s in store for you.” Those words took deep root in my heart, and I pondered on them for a while.
A few minutes later, after another bucketful of tears were shed, we heard “Flight to Canada now boarding!!!” That was our cue. It was time to go. It was time to leave my homeland. It was time to leave where I was born and raised. It was time to leave where I had spent over a decade of my life. It was time to leave all I had ever known. But it was also an opportunity to start afresh, to make new friends, build an even better reputation, succeed, and make myself and my family proud. As the wise one once said, “Approach [this golden opportunity] with a good attitude and mentality, and you never know what’s in store for you!” I had now made up my mind that that was exactly what I was going to do.
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