No place is perfect. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that every neighbourhood, every city, every country has its own mix of good and bad. You can’t find only sweet experiences anywhere without the bitter ones.
That’s what makes life interesting and what it is. However, amidst understanding this, we can’t run away from challenges; instead, we must learn how to enjoy the good things while seeking solutions to improve areas that need help.
I live in Nigeria, and my current residence is called “Ajibode,” located near the University of Ibadan in Ibadan.
The best part is that my place is not far away from the university, which makes the environment a mixture of students' area and other people who aren’t students but working class and business people. The environment is lively and calm at the same time.
One thing I truly love about where I stay is the peace. I have never heard stories of theft or serious criminal activities around here since I got here. Everyone moves around freely. You can step out in the evening without looking over your shoulder for fear of who might be trailing you.
Neighbours mind their business, but they are still friendly enough to greet you and help when needed. No one crosses their boundaries, and that’s what makes it interesting.
It’s such a quiet area that sometimes during the day, one would almost feel like it’s nighttime. If you drop a pin, you will hear it clearly. That’s how silent my place is. The birds are always chirping and doing their thing without being disturbed.
How about the trees? They sway gently and it’s soothing watching them from my window. It makes you appreciate the beauty of creation more. My room is close to nature, so I enjoy the free breeze instead of depending on the fan all the time. Honestly, the atmosphere here is beautiful and it’s what I admire about my residence.
The atmosphere helps you think, reflect and even pray better. I love the flow when I study my Bible, enjoying the rhythm it brings to my ears. This is the good part of my place, and it’s a peaceful experience that even money cannot buy.
Now, let’s move on to the not-so-good part. Remember, I said, there’s no perfect place. Every place has a ‘but’ just like we humans aren’t perfect. The bad part here is that the area where I live is located inside.
You would have to walk about twenty minutes to the main junction before you can get a bike or motorcycle to take you to town, unless you have a personal bike man who you can call anytime to come pick you up. It’s always harder going out than when coming back home.
And sometimes, you’re lucky a bike appears quickly while other days, you will stand under the hot sun waiting and hoping. Such an experience can be frustrating, especially when you are in a hurry.
The cost of transportation and prices of things in town can stretch your pocket more than you planned. Imagine needing to buy just a few items worth $2 and you will be spending more than $5 on transport.
One reason it takes me time to buy things as I make sure it’s when I need to get many things in bulk to save me more money. What you budgeted might not be enough by the time you finish buying what you need. These little stresses remind one that even peaceful places like this also have their own problems.
However, I am hoping. This is because there are now new houses being built. Development is slowly getting better in the area, and the roads are becoming accessible, unlike before.
This makes more people start moving in, and I believe that in a few years, Ajibode will be more developed and accessible, even more lively than it is now. I may not even be around to witness these because I can’t stay here forever.
I believe what’s needed isn’t much of a big deal, and it’s a simple one at that. Once there’s steady development and transportation is affordable, everyone becomes happy.
If the government and private investors can improve road networks and transportation, people would enjoy their lives much more easily. As residents, all we need to do is keep maintaining the peace we’ve built for ourselves and make cleanliness possible for everyone.
Nigeria is not perfect. My area isn’t perfect. But the beauty here is second to none that I have experienced. For me, while awaiting things to get better, I choose to enjoy the present good around me.
Images are mine
