23 Comments
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Iteoluwakiishi's avatar

This was refreshing to read and I could relate to it.

I haven't had to move away from my country but I've moved away from family, in the last 3 years, I haven't slept in the same house with my mother for more than 2 nights at a time, I haven't seen my favorite cousin since the pandemic.

When I moved to my current city, I moved in with a friend and it felt so different from when I lived in Lagos. I was lost at sea in Lagos.

I worry about having to build a life from scratch when I leave this country, the fact that I won't be able to hop on a bike to see my friends when I need them or bring my sister to my house to come cook for me.

Oriade, I wish you a kinder sea in your new life and that you get to meet people to make a home with.

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Happiness Ogwamhenlu's avatar

Your writing is so warm and inviting. I felt like i was on the plane with you

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Oríadé's avatar

Thank you 🥺

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Kanyito Chira's avatar

I’m so glad you’re back, Oriadé!

Your writing is such a beautiful thing and I am grateful for your decision to share your gift with us as often as you can.

I wish you all the best and “may you not be lost at sea IJN, Amen!!! (Read in African mother speak)”.

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Oríadé's avatar

Haha...thank you so much for writing back. I appreciate it and don't worry, no one's getting lost here.

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Kanyito Chira's avatar

😊🫶🏽

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Sadie's avatar

I'm so glad you're back

Looking forward to reading more of your newsletters🌸

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Oríadé's avatar

Thank you 🥰🥰

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Heritage Ooreoluwa's avatar

This was so heartwarming to read. Love how you carried us along so well.

I am glad you are back now, I look forward to more newsletters.

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Oríadé's avatar

Thanks for reading 🥺

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Shared Pages's avatar

I was the one who sent you a DM on Instagram.

Welcome back🎉

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Oríadé's avatar

Yayyy thanks for the motivation

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Christ & Therapy's avatar

Enjoyed every bit of this! Off to read the previous issues. May your stay in Doha be peaceful and lovely.

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Abdulquadri Oyerinde's avatar

First of all, I love your writing style! Poetic!

Moving away from home or the city you had grown up comes with a lot of missed feeling. However, I think we all will (should) make that move at some point in our lives. It's a form of education. Learning the different kinds of normals for different kinds of people is a way to form more empathetic-insightful life philosophies and build personal operating systems, if that makes sense.

The longest I've been away from home at a time is 18 months- The clarion call; NYSC! I've always been moving and coming back for 10 years- for school, then work. This time looked like it was going to be forever...

The first time I would wake up in the morning and not hear "E kaaro" or the Adhan for a MOsque nearby lol.

I'd rather hear; "Ndewo" "Otutu Oma" and others I can't quite remember.

Still, I enjoyed everyday I spent in Igboland!

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Seun Oyeniyi's avatar

What we have to let go in pursuit of a goal. I left home when I was 16. My family was in Abuja but I was in Ibadan trying to gain admission into the university. I did not see them for four years. How would your family become strangers? I did not forget home but I could not be home. Home understood but the long distance from was not okay for me. The prayer is to always find home even away from home

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Mercy's avatar

A soothing read. I wish you all the best in London!

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Temitope's avatar

Goodluck in your new abode!

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Esther Miracle's avatar

This was so relaxing to read.

I wish you well in your new life in London.

Please come back home soon.

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Rahmat's avatar

This was such a great read!

I haven’t been back in 2 years, and it feels like I’ve lost track of everything that reminds me of home. I can't imagine being away for 14 years!

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On the Path to Becoming's avatar

This was beautiful to read. Almost like it was an adult lullaby 🥹

Oriade of London 🥂

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Olive Letters 🫒's avatar

Loved reading this.

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thenimidaniel's avatar

Oríadé the Londoner 🥂

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