“Travel is stress, travel takes your money and if you are not careful,
you will burnout.”
I sat through travel focused sessions during the just
concluded Social media week in Lagos and listened to the tour operators talk
about how Nigerians do not like to travel, how we do not know our beloved
country Nigeria beyond the cities and towns we live in and how Nigerians do not
visit beyond the UK, US and UAE whenever they think travel.
On my way to Johannesburg this January, the NDLEA and immigration
officers kept asking me why I was not visiting Obudu Cattle ranch and carrying
our money outside the country.
I remember saying this during the Q and A session of the one
of the sessions, that we are beginning to shame people who do not travel. That
we travel does not make our lives more fulfilled that those who do not travel.
We are also finding a way to shame people who travel as well for travelling
only to particular regions and not off the beaten paths.
My cousins have been living in the UK for the past 7 years,
they aspire to visit the USA and Canada and for them that is life. This is the
typical Nigerian dream.
Despite the fact that I have travelled to over 10 countries
that I am yet to visit the UK and US, I have not yet arrived. Living in Germany
is the not the same as visiting the UK.
The only place my mother aspires to visit is Saudi Arabia
for Hajj and maybe the UK. Going to
Saudi Arabia for Hajj is the ultimate goal of Muslims the world over, so even
if you never get to visit anywhere else in the world, that goal alone makes
your life fulfilled.
Even within the world of travellers, there is a lot of
shaming. You hear words such as don’t be a tourist, be a traveller and blab bla
bla. The number of countries clocked is now another form of shaming.
On my way to Lomé for the Easter holiday, I met another traveler who I have been
following for a while on Instagram @theajalabug. We got chatting about our type
of travel, she does not like stress and even though I might not call her a
luxury traveler, she is not a budget traveler either. I saw her itinerary and
she was more for comfort than anything else.
I used to think I was a budget traveller until this year and
I realised, that struggle life is not for me.
For me comfort and safety is key. Couchsurfing is not for me; does that
make me any better than the person who lives for freebies when travelling?
The fact that I have been to over 10 countries does not make
me better than that person who has never been anywhere or who only visits the UK
or USA all the time. Neither is the person who has counted over 20 countries
any more knowledgeable than me.
Travel breaks down barriers.
But the honest truth is travel is not for everyone.
Not everyone can afford to travel.
Not everyone can afford to travel.
Travel is all glamorous but expensive.
Pictures for the gram is so beautifully edited that we
sometimes forget the struggle and drama it took to get us to the destination.
Travel is stress, it zaps all your energy. Travel will take
your money and if not careful, you will burnout.
That I get to inspire people to explore the world does not
make me any better than that person who has never been beyond their current
cities/towns.
That you have clocked in so many countries on your passport
does not give you the bragging right to have lived a fulfilled life. Fulfilment
in life for you is different from another’s.
You should not be ashamed to only want to travel Nigeria and Africa. You should not be ashamed to tell that friend of yours who travels that you cannot afford the trip planned.
You should not be ashamed to only want to travel Nigeria and Africa. You should not be ashamed to tell that friend of yours who travels that you cannot afford the trip planned.
I will not shame you for your life choices neither do I expect
you to shame me for mine.
