An Interesting Experience: A Journey I Can Never Forget 🛤️

IMAGE CREDIT BY ME

When I saw the Hive Naija Prompt about traveling and other interesting questions that seasoned the topic, I knew exactly the befitting experience to share. I have always been the overprepared type. I remember traveling to a nearby state recently. I was only going to spend two days, but the load I packed looked like I was going to spend a month. The funny thing is, when I am going on a journey that’ll take weeks or months, I pack less! This irony is featured because I sometimes feel I’ll buy stuff I can use on a long-term basis when I get to my destination instead of carrying big luggage, especially within new areas. The experience I’m about to share is my very exciting journey to the state where I served my father’s land as a youth corps member.

“Folu, have you packed all your goods? Have you also bought your ticket? What about the clothes you said you'd buy? ...” My mom wasn’t going to let me rest until I had packed everything I needed. She wasn’t even listening to all my explanations about packing heavy luggage. All she told me was, “…Don’t worry, you’ll get cabs to help you with that.”

As stated earlier, I was getting ready to travel to Imo State for my NYSC (National Youth Service Corps). I love traveling long distances and seeing new territories, so I was busy fantasizing about all that is to come. I have heard a lot about Igbo people; I have some as friends, but I have not been privileged to live with them. It’s a mixture of joy and uncertainty.

“What if these peeps are not that welcoming?” These and other thoughts strolled in the corridors of my thoughts. My dad had already asked if I would like to reassign my service location to Ibadan, but I politely rejected the offer all because I wanted to have the adventure. Why would I ever want to say no to a 9-hour journey away from my home? Their soup, their food, their language and culture, which I look forward to, kept motivating me and reaffirming my conscience that I had made the right decision.

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I knew there was going to be a problem when my mom asked if I wasn’t going to need a pestle and a short broom for Amala (Cassava Flour) and Ewedu (Jute Leave). I am not the type that really loves packing much for such a journey; I don’t know the routes, so I don’t want something too heavy, but she refused to accept my view. “A place you’ll stay for months? More reason you should pack enough.” To some extent, she was right. But deep down, I don’t want to pack so much. I had no choice but to agree, as my dad was going to drive me to the park.

I woke up as early as 3 a.m., and we got to the bus park as early as 5 a.m. We bought the bus ticket, and I was already on the bus by 5:25 a.m. What I noticed was that there were several other corps members just like myself, and fortunately for me, almost all of us were going to the same camp. The bus moved by 6 a.m. I can't forget the new friends I made on that trip, Endurance, Wale, and another funny guy called Akpos.

The whole trip was fun, as the bus was dominated by youth. It was more like a mobile road comedy show, as several funny talks were going left and right. We had two stopovers, one immediately after Ondo and the second at Edo. I ate a lot of meat and can’t forget how I almost forgot I came with a bus (lol!). Thankfully, my new friends came to call me when our driver was ready.

Imo people are very welcoming, and sincerely, they didn’t disappoint when it came to their food and soup. They have several categories of soup, such as Ogbono, White Soup, Okazi, among others. They have beautiful ladies and hardworking ones at that.
Traveling to Imo was a blessing; I can’t forget the trip or the whole experience during my service year!