The Nigerian experience is physical, emotional and sometimes international. No one knows it better than our features on #TheAbroadLife, a series where we detail and explore Nigerian experiences while living abroad.


Let’s face it. The world? Not looking so hot right now.

infectious diseases bill

After suffering through months of several home-cooked meals, grainy zoom meetings and the perpetual fear that that cough was 100% your first symptom of the coronavirus, OMG call the NCDC careline! ⁠— countries all over the world are attempting the early phases of a re-opening of their respective economies with the physical resumption of workers to workspaces.


Ever one to feel among, Nigeria is also within this fold and will begin a gradual easing of the lockdown come May 4th
Mark your calendars and take your immunity shots.

Because we’re all about silver linings and lowkey just want we to hear what everyone’s plans post-rona so we can steal the best ones for ourselves, (why is Boyin talking in first-person plural?), for a super short and sweet abroad life this week, we/I caught up with 4 Nigerians slumming the now ending lockdowns abroad, to hear all the super turnt plans they have once Miss Rona quite literally let’s go of our necks and respiratory systems.

Tinuke, California

I’ll be honest, I am so, so tired. And it’s not even a physical tiredness. I’m just over constantly waking up with this corona cloud over my head.
Look, it might sound crazy, but the first thing I’ll do once this thing is finally over and (I’ve given it an extra two weeks at home to make sure the coast is really clear), I’m booking a flight to Nigeria. I miss my family and my friends so much.

Soon as I touch down like this, I’m rushing to a spa and I’m going to treat myself to a spa day every day of the week. Then I’ll head to one of those gentrified Nigerian restaurants in Lagos, get over priced amala and ponmo and feel alright with my life. I just need this to end.

Dexter, Ireland

Before the Coronavirus came and turned 2020 over on its head, I had made plans to visit Rome, Italy (haha) and Zurich, Switzerland early in the year.

I was planning on unveiling my beach body this year oh, but look at God. Instead, being an essential worker, I’m at work every day of the week, juggling my happiness at the security of having a developed country’s health options with the fear for my family and friends back in Nigeria.
When this is over, I’ll take my trips and honestly just breathe a sigh of relief.

Jane, Ghana

I’m currently at home, very grateful for the fact that my workplace didn’t require us to resume work when Ghana announced it was relaxing the lockdown. This whole period is so scary and uncertain, the future is really the only thing o look forward to.

When this is all over, the very first thing I’m going to do is go to the beach. I miss the beach so much. Then my sister and I, we’ve lived in Ghana for many years, but we’ve never really explored the country. We have a plan to explore all 7 regions by 2022. We picked 2022 because really, there’s no telling when this will end.

Wuyi, Canada

I am done this period! I can’t wait to wake up in the morning, get in my car, and drive to work. I even miss physical work meetings and trying to stay awake in the really long ones.

When I finally get to see my gym? Let me not even get into that, I might get too emotional. Massage appointments, I miss my massage guy, Hyuh I hope you’re doing okay?

Look, more than anything, okay maybe not anything, but I really really just can’t wait for the FPL to start when this is all over. The Spanish League, Champions League, I cannot wait!

I’m really looking forward to all my friends sending me invites to parties and get-togethers. It won’t be like pre-corona where I never showed up because I was too busy doing nothing over the weekend. Invite me for everything when when this ends!

What are you looking forward to when the coronavirus is finally contained?

Want more Abroad Life? Check in every Friday at 9 A.M. (WAT) for a new episode. Until then, read every story of the series here.

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