Flight To Abuja | The Ink Well Creative Nonfiction Prompt #69
The Japa syndrome has taken over the leftover space in the mind of an average Nigerian youth. This syndrome of seeking greener pastures around the world, especially in Europe and America has made many promising young countrymen and women embark on a journey with no idea of what life holds for them in their new aspiring abode.
In 2003, I made efforts to Japa as well. During this period, it was a lot easier to make such a move as the finances needed were not high but difficult to come by. I had just graduated from the university and was looking for a well-paying job that wouldn't come because I was not connected to the high and mighty even though I was qualified.
My first move was to acquire a passport. On the fateful day that I went to apply for a passport, what I saw made me know that many other Nigerian youths were thinking just the way I was. There was a very large crowd of able-bodied men and women who were also applying for the Nigerian passport. Good enough, my passport was delivered to me about a month after my application. I was glad to finally have the Nigerian passport, it was an indication that I could be leaving the Nigerian border anytime soon.
I gathered some money, enough to see me through the visa application process. Just then, the visa office was moved to the Federal Capital city of Abuja. Since I hadn't been to the north before, I decided to board a plane so that I could meet up and return to work to avoid being sanctioned for absenteeism. Through a friend, I booked a ticket and joined the famous Lufthansa Airline to Abuja. It was my first time traveling by airplane.
At first, when we were boarding, I loved the sight of the huge plane and the caliber of people who were going to be flying with me in the same carrier. Right behind me was my hostel governor during my university days.
Hey man. What's up?
Adjei tapped me from behind. On seeing him, I jumped and we had a warm hug then we boarded.
Don't tell me you have been in Lagos all this while.
I asked, knowing that he was from the middle belt.
My brother, where can we not go or live? I came to officiate one match at Onikan Stadium.
It didn't occur to me that Adjei just said that. What the heck does he mean? A lot of questions arose in my heart.
You mean you are a referee? A football referee?
He looked at me and said
My brother, anything to keep body and soul together. In this obodo Nigeria, if you do not have a side hustle, you may find it hard to break through.
Now, I understood where he was coming from. Officiating soccer games has since been a side hustle for him and he gets paid for it. I had to tell him my purpose of traveling to Abuja and whatnot.
Well, it's my first time flying. I already have butterflies in my stomach.
Adjei was two rolls behind me. Our conversation ended before the plane ignition came on. A female voice said from the cockpit:
Put on your seat belt and be ready to voyage.
We started floating in the air. Believe me, that was the most amazing part of the flight. We got into the sky and I couldn't see anything except the clouds again. Then, a shaking ensued. The plane started to jerk. It felt like there were potholes in the clouds. This was my first time and the only thing that came to my mind at that moment was the scene from a movie that I had watched where an airplane got lost due to bad weather. This couldn't be happening to me. All I did was close my eyes. Each time I opened my eyes, I saw fear in the eyes of other passengers.
In fear of a plane crash, I started to sweat profusely. At that instance, I started to think of those big dreams and goals I had written down to accomplish.
Is this how all my dreams will end?
My heart was already in my mouth. For one straight hour, I was half-dead. I journeyed back and forth from death to life.
After a while, everything became normal. I looked back and my eyes caught Adjei smiling. He certainly enjoyed the ride. He gave me a thumb-up. I looked forward and saw all these folks who were dead frightened like me, resting their heads against their seats.
We landed safely at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, with pounding in my chest as I exchanged phone contacts with my friend, Adjei.
When we landed, I swore never to return to Lagos on a plane. Traveling on the bus was what I was used to and this new direction of boarding a plane was not certainly for me, it was simply a burden.
At the end of the day, I was not offered a visa to America. The experience I had that day killed my dream of seeking greener pastures abroad.
LoL 😂 I wonder how I would feel when I finally board a plane, na so o everyone wants to Japa 🤣 o because the hardship of this country is not making anyone think straight.
This Japa stuff ehn, that's the next big thing for an average Nigerian person. Now that rice has clocked 70k per bag, it has given us more reason to Japa for real.
Honestly, I haven't boarded a plane before but it was easy to picture everything and how frightened you were.
Travelling out of the country is one many Nigerians are looking forward to at the moment and if I get the opportunity today, I wouldn't hesitate to leave.
After travelling by air for a while, I believe that I will get used to it.
When the opportunity comes, I won't hesitate to take it. Though my first experience traveling by air, it is usually not that bad.
I enjoyed reading your entire story, thank you very much for presenting us a beautiful post.
I'm super glad you liked it. Hope to see you around again.
The first time on a plane is an intimidating experience and if the incident during the flight is added to this, it can be traumatic. Fortunately you arrived home safely.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Good day.
That's the best part of it, arriving at the destination safely. Thank you so much for your comments.
You had quite a scare on the plane and it's too bad you couldn't get a visa for the United States, it's not easy. I liked the way you narrated your experience, it was very enjoyable to read.
Greetings @mrenglish
My heart was literally in my mouth. I was so scared that evil thoughts started to occupy my mind.
This was an enjoyable read, Ishmael. It was nicely developed, had good balance, and was diligently edited. It flowed well as a piece of writing. Your story was interesting and peppered with humour. I particularly enjoyed this line:
Having driven on many roads in Africa, I have to say, what a fantastic simile!
Thank you for sharing a story from your life in The Ink Well.
Wow! Thank you, @theinkwell. I am so had you enjoyed it.
I loved this! You write with a lot of humour, and you made me giggle a few times. How sad that your first flight put you off getting up in the air again. If you ever get the opportunity to travel abroad and have to take a plane to do so, I'd implore you to do so. You may just be rewarded with a very pleasant experience, both in the air and on the other side.
Many thanks, @samsmith1971 for your encouraging words. When the opportunity comes, I certainly won't decline traveling by air.
Funny 😂 just that one experience made you run away from air travel? But I guess I get it, it's very difficult getting used to something new, especially when it's something as complicated as travelling on an aeroplane. But if your Visa plan had worked out well, you would have still used the same plane you were running from to travel to the US 😅
Seriously, I would have had no other choice to travel via an aeroplane. But that was over ten years now. I am open to such opportunity now.
A saddess part of seeking a job is to not have a connection to the upper heads, and even you try it very hard to be employed it not always work and the people have comnevlction to high people ranks they are the one easy to be employed but does not have enough skill for their hired position😅
The butterflies that will be flying in your tummy at that time will be more than thousands. I can relate to how you feel
I was more than frightened. The butterflies flew and even laid eggs 🤣🤣🤣
Lolz that's hilarious
Your story is filled with humour. Japa syndrome is on the rise among the youths, no thanks to the nosediving economy. A first experience on the airplane can be dramatic.
It seriously can. It was a huge one for me. I guess I wasn't the only first timer on that plane.