IS THIS GOODBYE?

When I started sharing this journey with you, I had almost all of you asking me about Agbonle, every time we spoke. Some of you asked me how to pronounce the name…lol. Many months later, I’m not even sure I pronounce it right. But by doing that, it subtly registered in your subconscious that there is a community in Oyo State by that name. That was not my intention, but in my little way, I’ve put Agbonle on the social map. Yaay! Round of applause!

A cousin of mine read through the posts about a month ago and totally enjoyed it. So much that he suggested I start an Instagram compendium, sharing the story with a wider audience. I loved the idea and I thought I was going to do something to that effect but there’s been a whole lot demanding my attention.

Look, I even stopped sharing weekly episodes with you; that’s how preoccupied with survival I’ve been. My roommate and a friendly colleague, keep telling me that I must write a book about our service year in this land and cross your fingers y’all, I might do a stories collection of Tales from Agbonle. (But if I do, be ready to pay. *wink)

 

The night I first set foot in this land, I had no idea how I was going to survive any of it. It was a dark night, and as it was rainy season, grasses covered the walkways, adding chills to the villagey aura. The only warmth that made that night, and the following months, bearable was the joy in the voices of our senior colleagues that came out to welcome us as we stepped out of the car. This same joy found expression in the way we made living fun and enjoyable for ourselves.

We found solace in our company. This happened not because we’re like minds but because somehow we realized that we all were faced with that challenge of adapting to a strange land. We were all temporary visitors and having come from some place totally different from here, though not the same location for any two of us, we found strength in the fact that we were all trying to survive. So, the ones that have been in the community for the longest time, gave tips to the newer ones. In every measure we could, we tried to foster the bond of unity.

I lived in a students’ lodge during my undergraduate days but even though I was friendly with my neighbours, I have never been this close to so many people…and I enjoyed it.

 

Of course, as humans, we have our perks and differences which sometimes resulted to arguments and quarrels…of course! But the hours we spent laughing over a WHOT game, or LUDO and at one point, Monopoly always brought us together again. The football matches, the early Saturday morning exercise drills, the cooking-and-eating together, these were cements that strengthened our human relationships.

Because we couldn’t browse in comfort, and by effect spend long hours chatting with some person thousands of miles away, we learnt to communicate with the person next to us. Personally, I learnt to share few laughs and I enjoyed it.

 

Does it sound as if I’m writing the last chapter of a book? Hahaha…maybe. I received the news that POP (fancy name for: ‘hey, congratulations for giving Nigeria one year of your life) is on the 25th of this month! I can’t hear you cheering, hahaha. And as expected, I’m so happy. That’s why it feels as if I’m tying up loose ends. Because, somehow, I am…

For the remaining weeks, I’ll try to catch you up on events that happened here that I forgot to share (some of my colleagues are seeing this, so no gbegborun…lol) and how they influenced my life. I’ll also take you on the ride through the last weeks.

 

I tell people that I don’t have any friend that would have agreed to serve here. I usually say so after we’ve spent minutes listing out the disadvantages and the harsh reality of staying here. But now I think I have been taking too much pats-on-the-back. If by God, I could find a way to make heaven here, and enjoy myself, I think anyone else can.

Till next time, friends…

#TalesFromAgbonle
That #OyoKopa

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