CHAPTER TWO
FIRST JOURNEY TO BENIN REPUBLIC
Previously
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I was exicted about my admission to the university, and the best part it was outside my Country Nigeria. I began to make arrangements on what i need and when to set off, i had so many thoughts on what to expect over there, they had a completely different currency and i heard their main language was french not English which made me remembered how i never paid attention in french class in high school (secondary school) lol.
The was to meet an agent in Edo state (a different state from where i actually live in my country Nigeria) on a Saturday, then on Sunday we would take off, we traveling by bus. I got to Edo state and meet up with the agent who later carried 2 other students who got admission into the school, a lady and a guy named Comfort and Emmanuel or Emma for short.
Sunday morning we where on our way, the journey took hours, we had to get to Lagos state, one of the major and busiest commercial states in Nigeria. Getting there we need to take another bus that would carry us to the border. So the agent asked me and Emma to take a bike to the next bus station, why he would go with The lady Comfort. We took a bike and on our way going we got lost, lol yes we couldn't find our way, the bike man who took us has forgotten where the park was located. I began to panic like this was not what i planned for, i have not even been to school am getting lost in my own country, lol luckily for us i still had some battery on my phone, the agent called us and had to locate us. We got to the part and took a bus that would lead us to the border, which was another long journey on its own. We finally got too the border at night around 9:00PM. on getting there another issue came up.
Being a young teen who has never traveled outside the country before or even thought about it, i had no travel documents, but we where told that was not an issue that since its an African country sharing border with us it can be sorted out as long as we can present proof that we where given admission inot their schools over there. But the issue now is that we got there too late, and the officials we where suppose to talk too has left for the night.
It took us about an hour before we where able to sort everything out, being the first time i had actually left my country i had so many thoughts on what to expect like tall buildings with crazy designs, cars like i have never seen before etc. But my dreams was destroyed instantly. Lol there was no difference , the air was the same, the roads where the same, notting special. I dont know what i was expecting but i was dissapointed lol.
Finally i was in Benin Republic for the first time, based on time and the fact that the school has not prepared our hostels yet, and the school was actually on the other side of town. We had to go spend the nite at one of our Lecturer's house Mr Victor (note this man would play a major role in my life later on)
There are two major cities in Benin Republic, Porto novo and Cotonou. The school in located in Cotonou. The country is actually a very small and developing country, its no where near as big as my own country Nigeria, and i would say Nigeria is more developed in most areas. But they had good water, and the most important good and stable power supply which Nigeria lacks.
we spent almost a week at Mr victors place me and Emmanuel, the lady had to sleep at another place being a girl. We where told the school is still looking for accommodation and making other preparations. I had to buy a new sim so i could contact my mom. Their call charge to Nigeria was freaking expensive but i had no choice. After a week plus it was finally time to move. The school was done setting up things.
We all met at the park, my self, Emma, comfort and 3 other agents. We took a bus which stop at the entrance of Cotonou. We where about to take a bike to our hostel, we decided to share it two on one bike, an agent would be with each of us, since we where new. Suddenly the police just came with their loud sirens and intimidating heights and uniform, they where speaking French so i couldn't understand what they where saying. But i think the issue was its an offence to carry 2 persons on one bike. I could remember i was so scared, what ran through my mind was my first time coming to another country to study, hsve not even seen the school and am about to be arrested. Where do i go from here, what do i tell my mom lol.
Lucky us they let us go but we had to use one bike, i was finally able to breath. I had escaped that trouble but little did i know i was about to enter another. The agents gave each bike men the directions of place and made sure they knew the directions.
We started moving, i was amazed by the country, it was actually nice, with good roads, tho it looked abit similar to where i was coming from, but the difference could be noted, it was beautiful, they lived a free and easy life then it occurred to me..... Oh crap we have been driving for minutes now i have not seen the others i was ment to follow, i was lost...
Nice article