I'm thrilled about this week’s community contest. I didn't have to think deeply and hard. The answer was right at the top of my heart because it is part of the things I long for.
1️⃣ If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?
I'm sandwiched between two places with this question. One place is sentimental to me and the other is one of my many wishes.
If I could live anywhere in the world right now, it would be in two places.
Florence in Italy.
Firstly, I find the Italians very refined. I think they are a people rich in culture and heritage. They are such strong and warm characters with a richness I can't explain. Their personalities are striking and conjuring. I believe that many of these traits are strongly connected to their origin and aesthetics. It is to die for.
I choose Florence in Italy because of its people and culture. It looks like a place I can dwell and call home. I want to immerse myself in the color of the city. I want to get lost in its beauty. To be inspired by its art, language, and people.
To experience the life of the Florentines, I'd like to walk the walls of the opera del duomo of Florence. To touch and feel that renaissance and glory would mean the world to me.
I'd like to wander the streets with sun rays on my face and be inspired by the arts, food, and music.
I would climb the towers regularly just to take in the beautiful view of the city. With all the towers from Giotto’s bell tower to the tower of Palazzo Vecchio, every day would be an adventure.
Living in Florence would be my panoramic fantasy come true. It would be a life worthy of postcard pictures.
Nigeria, a place I call home.
I want to live in Florence but I also want to go home. I can't even hide the fact that I'm being sentimental right now. I miss home. It is where the heart is. For me, the years are long and so is the longing in my heart. I miss the beautiful smiling faces come rain or shine, the exotic fruits, the tasty meals, and the vibration of the people.
Being far from home has reiterated to me that there is no place like home. Nigeria is a beautiful place to be in. In a country with over 214 million people and more than 370 ethnic groups, sweet drama, action, fun, and intrigue is the order of the day. Like a Margarita cocktail, it is the perfect recipe for a colorful life. You would find comic material at homes and on the streets. There is never a dull moment. It isn't even possible to live a day in Nigeria without something to smile and laugh about.
The spirit of life in the country is a contagious afro. You cannot help but tap into that energy. The daily hustle and bustle are the secret ingredient to the stuff Nigeria is made of. The people are warm, welcoming, and full of life. Our hearts vibrate to the voices of the wind. We wear the color of the sun on our skin. Nigerians are one of a kind.
The country is rich in history, culture, and heritage. Its uniqueness is how there is unity in so much cultural diversity. You can never get enough of the food, plethora of languages, arts, and entertainment. You walk into any state and I'm telling you the land is so green everywhere. A land kissed by the sun and a place so blessed with the hand of God. So much that we don't even know what to do with it. I think God was showing off when he created Nigeria and its people. It is such a gift to be surrounded by the talents and best brains in the world.
All of this is making me feel very nostalgic. I'm going home!