Living in Nigeria requires a special kind of grace and madness. We’ve adapted to so much chaos that we don’t even flinch anymore. Then you travel or talk to a foreigner and realize… wait, this isn’t normal. Examples: 1. Using your phone torch to find your way to the bathroom because NEPA took light. Daily thing. 2. Budgeting for fuel separately because running your generator is part of house expenses. 3. Telling bike man “no problem, manage” when he’s carrying 4 people plus a gas cylinder. 4. Seeing “This house is not for sale” painted on every wall and knowing exactly why that warning exists. 5. Going to the local pharmacy and describing your symptoms to the attendant who then recommends something for you. My Canadian friend visited and asked why we have iron protectors on every window “even on the 4th floor”. I said “to prevent flying thieves.” He thought I was joking. We laugh, but it’s also sad. We’ve normalized survival mode and call it “cruise”. But abroad, people would call government officials over these things we see as normal. So let’s do this: Drop one thing you do in Nigeria that would make someone from abroad call emergency services. Most shocking answer gets pinned. I’ll start: Using nylon as plate cover to “keep flies away” then eating from the same nylon after.
