Ilaje, My Home Away From Home

Life is so unpredictable and you could say that is what makes it more intriguing.. it is shaped like a rollercoaster of emotions and the fun part is no one knows where it is heading too or what the final destination looks like. There are certain times in life when we move to an entirely different location for the very first time yet this brand new environment resonates so well with the soul that it starts to feel just like home.

Sometimes we even arrive at this new place with a sceptical mindset and intentions to quietly stay for the intended time without creating any form of relationship but life happens and the very place you expect to hate becomes the very thing that makes you happy. The air smells just like childhood memories, the natives of this new place treat you like they've known you all their lives and everything makes it extremely difficult to discern if you are truly a stranger or you were meant for this place all along.

To a lot of people, home is perceived as a place, a walled structure laced with numerous memories. But as we travel through life's journey, we realize that a home is far more nuanced than that shallow description. A home is a feeling, a sense of belonging, approval and sometimes someone who can make the heart experience true peace. The traditional definition of a home being a place where the entire family resides limited by a lot of things and experience has even shown that not all family houses feels like home. A home is supposed to be a place where one feels happy, at peace and safe so where ever can meet up with these criterias can be easily referred to as home

Moving to Ilaje August last year for the mandatory one year service by every graduate below 30 felt like one of the worst things that could happen to me for 2025. This is because I did not want to serve far from home due to the plans I had drafted out for myself and things I intended to accomplish while I served my country but unfortunately fate had other plans for me. To make matters worse Ilaje seemed like the last local government area in Ondo state as it was extremely far from home so chances to visiting home often within the 12 months of being a Corp member was off the table. While we were still in camp, stories were flying about how Ilaje was actually the worst place in the entire state and anybody who gets unluckily posted there should prepare to enjoy life as a fisherman as the entire place was a riverine area... This completely ruined any chance of liking the place yet I still found myself posted there and since I had no one to help me with relocation, I decided to prepare the worst of the worst when I get there.

The shock I got when I got my place of primary assignment was overwhelming, the headquarters of the local government Igbokoda was nothing like I was made to believe. It was not a riverine area, the environment was super friendly and safe, the cost of living very affordable. I have been in Igbokoda for roughly 6 months now and it is safe to say this is my new home. I remember travelling back home for Christmas and in less than a week I was already missing my family back in Ilaje...... I don't even look forward to leaving and if everything works out well, I hope to start things off here because of the people and how safe the place is compared to where I came from.

Home is found in places that calms the mind and Ilaje has done just that, I have found peace in the people and the environment. I left home and found another in a place I least expect..... I will forever be grateful for this experience. Thank you.