MY JOURNEY FROM THE LAND OF THE SUN TO THE ARTIC ZONE
The turning point for me was one unique Saturday morning in August, when I suddenly realized I was tired of looking for jobs and managing the small Philanthropic job I had at an NGO, a job I accepted because I had nothing better to do. I started probing myself that day, on what my goals, dreams and aspirations were. Suddenly I had an epiphany. I had the potential to be more than just a admin officer/ personal assistant, I was not living up to my potential.
In my teenage years, I had always yearned to be a Public Relations expert in the entertainment industry, because it was something I enjoyed talking about, something I did for fun and I loved it, I didn’t think it could be a Job, because right from childhood my parents had already given me this impression that you can only go to school to study professional courses, like Law, Medicine or Engineering.
Although somewhere along the line things changed because I didn’t get the opportunity to study Law at University like my Parents wanted, but studied Linguistics. Now out of school with no real Job.I searched for the next line of action.
On one occasion, a colleague encouraged me to go for a post grad degree or masters. She said ‘your young, go do it now, before some man comes along and marries you and keeps you in his house then you’ll no longer have the time to do it’. Also some of my relatives echoed it. I became inspired and decided to further my studies, which would lead to growth and career advancement. I contacted a travel agent immediately to find out all that was needed to make this dream of mine come true. I also consulted my parents who gave me their blessings and the go ahead, who by the way are awesome. I love them to bits.
THE BIG LEAP
I have always wanted to travel out of my country and my choice to study gave me this opportunity to do that, I always wanted to see the world, experience different cultures, food, ideologies. I applied to Centennial College after researching. After three weeks I got a feedback from my agent that I had to come take a test in his office as part of the application process for my course. That even made me feel tense and nervous, but eventually I did. Two weeks later I got a reply that I was admitted into Centennial College. I was so excited, my dream was gradually coming to pass. The next phase was to apply for a Visa, which I did subsequently.
Its so difficult getting visa from Nigeria because of the country’s image, it became a prayer point at home. Now am in Canada I have actually become some sort of travel agent/ consultant for friends back home who want to come over (lols).
At the VFS office they informed me that visa processing takes a minimum of four to six months. ‘I prayed it would be ready so I could start school on time although this was not the case it was ready in three months instead of six’.
I obtained my visa in January, I was ecstatic, I felt like jumping, screaming and danced about the place. I gave the security man such a huge tip one would think he had a hand in granting me the Visa. Nevertheless before I could organise myself and get my flight booked and sort myself out, a week had gone by. I set out on the 14th of January, I was to leave on the 13th but my flight got cancelled thanks to an incompetent travel agent who booked for me to travel through Texas when she knew I didn’t have a U.S visa. So I eventually had to rebook. My elder sister and younger brother accompanied me to the airport that day, I felt like crying but still I was enthusiastic about the opportunities that lay ahead of me.
‘Goodbye Nigeria, Hello Canada’
I got a rather cold welcome when I arrived in Canada. I think the weather was -6 degrees that day but it felt like -20 degrees because it was my first experience of the Canadian winter especially because I was coming from a country with warm temperature. I was shivering the moment I stepped out of the airport and hurriedly ran into a taxi without negotiation .When I arrived at my friends place I had to battle with my luggage and the ice glaciers on the ground, I almost slipped before my friend opened the door and gave me a hand. In no time Coffee and hot chocolate became my best friends.
The next day the first thing I did was to go shopping for my winter gear to avoid been frozen to death.
In my teenage years, I had always yearned to be a Public Relations expert in the entertainment industry, because it was something I enjoyed talking about, something I did for fun and I loved it, I didn’t think it could be a Job, because right from childhood my parents had already given me this impression that you can only go to school to study professional courses, like Law, Medicine or Engineering.
Although somewhere along the line things changed because I didn’t get the opportunity to study Law at University like my Parents wanted, but studied Linguistics. Now out of school with no real Job.I searched for the next line of action.
On one occasion, a colleague encouraged me to go for a post grad degree or masters. She said ‘your young, go do it now, before some man comes along and marries you and keeps you in his house then you’ll no longer have the time to do it’. Also some of my relatives echoed it. I became inspired and decided to further my studies, which would lead to growth and career advancement. I contacted a travel agent immediately to find out all that was needed to make this dream of mine come true. I also consulted my parents who gave me their blessings and the go ahead, who by the way are awesome. I love them to bits.
THE BIG LEAP
I have always wanted to travel out of my country and my choice to study gave me this opportunity to do that, I always wanted to see the world, experience different cultures, food, ideologies. I applied to Centennial College after researching. After three weeks I got a feedback from my agent that I had to come take a test in his office as part of the application process for my course. That even made me feel tense and nervous, but eventually I did. Two weeks later I got a reply that I was admitted into Centennial College. I was so excited, my dream was gradually coming to pass. The next phase was to apply for a Visa, which I did subsequently.
Its so difficult getting visa from Nigeria because of the country’s image, it became a prayer point at home. Now am in Canada I have actually become some sort of travel agent/ consultant for friends back home who want to come over (lols).
At the VFS office they informed me that visa processing takes a minimum of four to six months. ‘I prayed it would be ready so I could start school on time although this was not the case it was ready in three months instead of six’.
I obtained my visa in January, I was ecstatic, I felt like jumping, screaming and danced about the place. I gave the security man such a huge tip one would think he had a hand in granting me the Visa. Nevertheless before I could organise myself and get my flight booked and sort myself out, a week had gone by. I set out on the 14th of January, I was to leave on the 13th but my flight got cancelled thanks to an incompetent travel agent who booked for me to travel through Texas when she knew I didn’t have a U.S visa. So I eventually had to rebook. My elder sister and younger brother accompanied me to the airport that day, I felt like crying but still I was enthusiastic about the opportunities that lay ahead of me.
I got a rather cold welcome when I arrived in Canada. I think the weather was -6 degrees that day but it felt like -20 degrees because it was my first experience of the Canadian winter especially because I was coming from a country with warm temperature. I was shivering the moment I stepped out of the airport and hurriedly ran into a taxi without negotiation .When I arrived at my friends place I had to battle with my luggage and the ice glaciers on the ground, I almost slipped before my friend opened the door and gave me a hand. In no time Coffee and hot chocolate became my best friends.
The next day the first thing I did was to go shopping for my winter gear to avoid been frozen to death.
