I’ve actually been too nervous to shout about this because it feel apart last year and I didn’t want to jinx it…but seeing as I’m currently on my way to Heathrow Terminal 5 having ticked off a thousand to do lists and wracked my brain for anything I may have forgotten… I’m finally prepared to believe that it’s going to happen – I’m on my way to Nigeria for the first time! So unsure I was about going that I didn’t even buy a suitcase until last week 😂 But I’ve got one now – only partially packed to ensure I can bring back as much as humanly possible.
I’m going to be honest though, I’m pretty nervous. The last big adventure I went on by myself was when I went to South America and much like then I’ve tried to think about it as little as possible in order to not freak myself out…until now! But it’s going to be amazing, I know it is. Full on, absolutely, but I know I’m going to come a new woman. I’ve been dreaming about this since me and my friend Bryony used to dress up my African 2 pieces in my garden in rural Wales thinking, ‘one day I’ll be able to dress like this every day and it won’t be weird’.
I’m so excited to meet all the people who’ve said they’ll talk to me about the different areas of Nigerian culture and history that I desperately want to learn about and hear about things I’ve never thought to ask.
First leg of the journey and it always surprises me how long it takes to do anything – getting from Bristol to. Heathrow Terminal 5 was looong despite everything arriving within minutes of each other. By the time I got to the Premier Inn – a bus ride away from the station (only 2 stops though and it’s free, which I realised after I’d tapped my card, doh) and I was in my room with the salad I’d bought at M&S. Honestly I was so knackered by the time I arrived that I just about enough energy to make 2 (rather exciting) phone calls, eat my salad and packet of Oreos (yes I’m that girl) with a bottle of cider and I was asleep by 9.30pm!
Was definitely what was needed though, after mum (knowing I’m late for everything) suggested I get to the airport for 7am in case there was problems with security etc. I set my alarm for 5.30am so I’d have time to shower and repack, grab my breakfast and go. Boom, I proved us all wrong by getting to the airport at 7am on the DOT. Was checked in and through security in 20 minutes flat…with 2 hours to spare…😳😩😂
All bless though – found myself a place to sit with a coffee and sat there finishing off emails and taking my time. Mum calls and we have a laugh about how ridiculously early I am and how I could have got more sleep but hey, ho. I hang up chuckling and think to look at when my boarding time is. Huh, turns out it was 10 minutes ago… Fucks saaake. Takeaway cup ordered for the second cup of naive coffee ordered, paid and power walking to the gate which of course turns out to be 10 minutes away!
Basically, let’s all just listen to our mums at all times – especially if they don’t work on black people time…
