I remembered the very 1st time I left the borders of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin, a neighbouring country.
I could not contain the feeling of excitement inside me. I had a smile that strected from one ear to the other ear.
I stared from the window as the car raced down the coal tarred road. I saw people going about their normal business and different shops along the road displaying their wares.
When I got off at my destination, I stood for a while look around me. Happiness was over and around me. I wanted to explore immediately. I wanted to see what philosophies the people there had about life. I wanted to know what we had in common and what was different.
But then, I was greatly challenged. I couldn't understand the language.
Damn!
I felt so little. My vocabulary was limited to "Bon jour".
How I wished I had one wish.
I wouldn't have thought about what to wish for at that moment. I would have simply wished I could understand all the languages in the whole wide world.
The people were so amazing. Despite that most of them didn't understand English, they returned my similes and tried to communicate using other means.
I loved everything about them. It was truly an amazing experience for me. One I won't forget in a hurry.

© Obinna Okereke