July 19, 2016

7 Things I Miss Most About Nigeria

Can you believe I've been gone from Nigeria for almost 5 months?!?! It seems like just yesterday I was hopping from restaurant to event every weekend, and lamenting the traffic to and from work on weekdays. I do miss Nigeria though and I wanted to share some of the things I miss most.


  1. Small Chops!
    Ho Ma Gerd! There's nothing I miss more than small chops, specifically Larry Spice small chops. I promise you, they have the best small chops I've ever had. In fact, I used to be afraid to go to TPH (This Present House) and TWB (The Water Brook) churches because Larry Spice has booths there every Sunday. Choi, I'm salivating just thinking about it. 
  2. Random Weekend Events
    You guys who have been reading for a while know that my weekends were ALWAYS busy, hence my weekend recaps, which I miss doing to be honest. Every weekend, there was one event or another to go to - from plays to beauty/fashion pop-ups to hair meet-ups to concerts and more! It's not like they don't have similar things here - they do, but I'm still trying to find my footing. Plus traffic in Atlanta can be just as bad as in Lagos!!!
  3. My Office
    A. Even though work back in Lagos had its challenges, I can easily say I had the best team and direct bosses. When I was posted there during NYSC, everyone felt bad for me because the team was primarily made up of women (and women have a bad rap in corporate settings) but it was a great experience. There wasn't any of the cattiness and rhymes-with-witchy attitudes that are attributed to women at work.
    B. Last year while on my fitness routine, I worked out in my office gym. It was small but it helped me get to where I wanted. I miss the instructor and the camaraderie built between the other FitFammers. I miss my 2015 self and body - I was hawt o, nobody can take that away from me.
    C. I also miss my work friends. I made close connections with a few people that I'm sure will last a lifetime. I miss chatting over the in-house communication system, meeting up for lunch, and random visits to each others' desks.  
  4. My Friends
    Apart from my sisters and cousins, my core group of friends who I've known for over 15 years from Boston days, live in Nigeria. We would schedule outings to different restaurants like Sky Restaurant in Eko Hotel, Hard Rock Cafe, RSVP, or Spice Route. Even though I didn't see them regularly, each time we met up, it was always a nonstop gab-fest and just sharing our triumphs, challenges, happy times and sad times. I miss those days, and our sleepovers (yes, even after marriage). 
  5. Road Trips
    Do y'all remember all the many road trips I took with Cakes? They started while we were still getting to know each other, when we got engaged, and after we got married (a lot to choose from, but these were my faves here and here). The funny thing is I would complain about everything whenever the idea for a trip came up, but once we were on it, I was the one begging to stop on the road so I could take photos. I'm glad I got the chance to see different parts of Nigeria via road - stressful, but worth it. Shouts out to the travel bloggers that are taking Nigerian tourism by the horn!

  6. My Car
    This one is a little silly, because it's not as if I can't get the same car here. But my Rav-4 aka Onyx was all mine... that is, before Cakes' bakery became too busy and they commandeered the car from me. It's not the first car I ever had or ever bought, but getting that car was a big goal of mine back in 2013 and I was very proud to achieve that goal on my own. 
  7. Nigerian Music but mostly Flavour's voice
    It's no secret that I have a crush on Flavour's voice. I've mentioned it over and over again here on the blog. My friends know that his voice does things to me that even Cakes might be jealous of. Chai! I wish I could speak Igbo just because of Flavour. And Phyno. Anyways, for someone who used to complain that Nigerian music was always played too loudly everywhere, I'm seriously missing all the jams. Can you guys please tell me the reigning ones so I can pretend I'm back home for a few minutes?

    Speaking of music and my boyfriend, over the weekend, I was kinda forced to follow my aunt and sister to a party. I heard this one jam like this and I'm obsessed!

All this being said, I do like my life here in Atlanta. Being close to my family brings a peace that was missing in Lagos. I have no idea when I'll come back for a short visit. Until then, I can dream of eating small chops while listening to Flavour serenade me :D

If you live in Nigeria, what are things you like most about? If you're away, what do you miss?

30 comments:

  1. Larry Spice small chops! He catered at our wedding. Amazeballs. I miss my office too, and the camaraderie, the gym there. I miss my car (still haven't passed my test here in the UK) and my friends.
    And I agree with you. Travel bloggers are really doing so much in Nigeria!
    Interestingly I was thinking of this recently that you must be missing all them Lagos events. You always had a lit weekend.

    www.KacheeTee.com
    8 Interesting Types of Dancers You'll Find at a Nigerian Wedding Party


    ReplyDelete
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    1. Yaaaaaas! A Larry Spice believer!

      I was just looking at photos of the Eat Drink Festival from over the weekend and shaking my head, cos you know I would have been all over there and posting sweet photos!

      Delete
  2. This is a great reminder for small chops. :-) I hope you'll be able to visit soon. I'm glad to hear that you have a bit more peace in Atlanta.

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    Replies
    1. Please buy 2 packs and have one on my behalf :(

      Thanks Uzo.

      Delete
  3. Lol at small chops! Sounds like something I would miss too. What kind of small chops are they? Samosas? Meat pies? Small chops make the world a better place.
    Road trips are always a lot of fun!
    I wrote some months back about the nine things I miss about Cameroon. You can find the post HERE.
    At least you get to be closer to family now and that is really good.

    PreciousCore.com

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    Replies
    1. The typical pack of small chops has puff puff, spring roll, samosa, mosa, gizzard, and chicken. Add-ons can include shrimp, fish or peppered snails.

      Being close to family is great!

      Off to check your post now.

      Delete
  4. Aww Berry just had to laugh at the fact you put small chops first. Loved this post reminds everyone of all the lovely things here - hopefully you visit soon.

    www.wurassecrethair.blogspot.com

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    1. There's nothing I miss more than small chops o. Fashi, if I had to choose between my friends and small chops, the latter would win!

      Say hi to hubby!

      Delete
  5. Oh my! I had no idea you had relocated. *sobs*

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  6. Awwwwwwwww.... I can imagine. My friends, family and the in house gossip. Nigerians are very dramatic abeg






    SORRY! HEART CLOSED  

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    Replies
    1. LOL, that's what we love about ourselves, innit?

      Delete
  7. Such a lovely post, thanks for the update.

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  8. Lovely post ...


    www.tessyonyia.com

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  9. Being with family beats everything else. Glad you had a good time in Naija.

    My Small World

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  10. we miss you tooo!! I miss my popping down to your floor to catch up and laugh...sigh I went to your floor today and when i saw a gentleman on your seat I was like....booooo that was Berry's seat lool.

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  11. Replies
    1. LOOOOOOOOL, of course you had to give yourself a special category.

      Delete
  12. Definitely family.Can't think of anything else honestly because the country tire me.Maybe when I leave though some things may come to mind.

    www.cheecheelive.com

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, I think after leaving is when some things come to light.

      Hmm, maybe I should have put one more thing I just remembered.

      Delete
  13. Miss you too Choco Berry Boo. Lagos is not the same 😢. Keep hoping you'd pop up for a surprise visit.💔. Love ya

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    Replies
    1. LOVE YAAAAAAAAAAAAA. MISS YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! Hmmm, surprise visit... I just might do that one of these days!

      Delete
  14. This post reminds me of some of what I miss about Naija. I wish I knew about the small chops guy when I was home in May. Atlanta traffic is getting ridiculous but there is so much to do out here. Once you get your foot in, tons of events all the time and you can definitely continue your travel series with your hubs.
    Titi's Passion

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooh, Larry Spice small chops is the best!!!

      And yup, Atlanta traffic is not what I remember it to be! Ah well, when we get to meet up, I'll definitely get some tips from you.

      Delete
  15. I smiled while reading this. Small Chops Queen! Lol

    It's always nice to look back with gratitude and then look forward determindedly, embracing the future and the change that comes with it.

    Surely, you do not miss Lagos traffic! :-)

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Lagos traffic ke? Well, if I'm being honest, Atlanta traffic can be exasperating as well. It's moving but everywhere is far from everywhere else.

      I miss Lagos small chops :(

      Delete

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