[Photo by Tembela Bohle](: https://www.pexels.com/photo/plates-and-wine-glass-on-table-1114425/)
Olumide stood at the balcony of his apartment in New York City, overlooking the big city, enjoying the view of the city skyline from his own side of the upper echelon. He couldn't help but feel nostalgic as he remembered his childhood Christmases back in Nigeria. He smiled often as each beautiful memory of his Christmas in Nigeria hit his mind. He felt the goosebumps rise on his skin.
He closed his eyes and sniffed, pretending to perceive the scent of roasted yams and jollof rice and chicken wafting through the house, which was being cooked with firewood in his grandma's kitchen and how he sneaked in to steal bits of meat. On some occasions he was caught and while some his grandma would give him more chicken just to keep him away. But it didn't really keep him away. He remembered how the voice of carol singers emanated from his fathers tiny little radio, and the sight of his family gathered around the dining table, stuffing well cooked foods into their mouths and making merry. If he was ever told that he'll be spending Christmas years back in a foreign land, he was sure that he would have argued it.
Gradually Olumide's eyes welled up with tears as hlit hit him how much he had missed those special moments. He wished he could go back in time and relive those happy days with his loved ones. But it felt like it was too late, as he was the only remaining survivor of his family after a tragic accident that claimed the life of his parents. He had lived with his grandma later but a few years after she left the world too due to old age.
Few years later Olumide got a scholarship to study in New York and that was the beginning of a new beautiful chapter for him. Now he doesn't feel alone in this world anymore, he has his beautiful family, his wife Yetunde and kid and to him that was all that mattered now.
Just then his wife joined him. She was a beautiful Nigerian woman in her early twenties who he had met while he was still in school. They were both students on scholarship in New York but who had worked so hard to be where they are today in their respective fields of work.
"Ife mi( My joy), are you okay?" Yetunde asked, hugging him and letting her head rest deep on his chest.
"I'm fine my dear, just thinking" he replied, holding her tight to his chest as he planted a kiss on her forehead. "Just remembering Christmas in our country".
"Beautiful memories, isn't it?. Going out to see the masquerade dance, the concerts, the local football matches and friends coming over for some local delicacies" Yetunde said.
"I sincerely miss them"
"Me too babe"
There was silence for a while as the both looked out into the night across the skyline of the central park city. It was beautiful no doubt, the decorations for Christmas. But somehow they craved that local feeling. Something they grew up knowing.
"I got an idea ife mi," Yetunde said, looking up to Olumide.
"And what could that be"
"We can still make this foreign land feel like home"
"How?"
"Let's invite friends over for dinner. We'll do well to prepare some of our traditional local delicacies. It would feel more Nigerian. What do you think babe?"
"Nice idea love. Maybe you should call your friends I'll call mine too"
It wasn't the same as being back in Nigeria, this they knew but they found comfort in knowing that they could still celebrate and connect with their culture, no matter where they were in the world. And the looked forward to sharing his joy and traditions with his friends, creating a new set of memories to treasure
So, the couple gathered all their courage and called up their closest friends, both Nigerian and the one their American friends. They would invite them over for a special meal of jollof rice and egusi soup. After the meal, they'll all drive down to a nearby Nigerian restaurant and bar to enjoy the local palm wine. Although it wasn't brewed in Nigeria, it was the only thing close to reminding them of Nigeria. The rest of the day will be spent watching a Nollywood movie.
As the d day of the gathering approached, Olumide and his wife couldn't help but feel emotional of what they had set up. Few hours later, their friends gathered around the dining table, filled with delicious Nigerian dishes. They ate and made merry, they could literally feel the warmth of the holiday spirit filling the room.
Then olumide clinked his cup signalling that he wanted all attention on him.
"I wish I can let you guys see how happy I am for you to grace my invitation. I'm grateful for all of you," he said, looking around the table at his friends' smiling faces. " Just like I wanted, you guys have made this place feel like home, and I'm so thankful for that."
The room was filled with a sense of warmth and connection, and for a moment. "Cheers to long life and more Christmas to come. Mind you, the party just begun"
And with that they clinked their glasses as the party soared deep into the night. It was a beautiful night, just what the couple wanted.