I am writing this on transit hoping that once I am done, I'll have a good network to publish it. It's a journey to Ondo State. I know, a few weeks ago, I was on a journey to Taraba State. Well, it seems February was a traveling month for me. It had been a fun and exciting experience though.
It's night already, we were supposed to leave Abuja in the morning, but we couldn't. Our scheduled bus wasn't on standby as we thought it would be. We had to leave late in the evening.
My friend, Dorcas, had been announcing this journey right from the first week I met her. This should be somewhere around late November. We promised to be there with her and her family to celebrate the departure of her granddad. Therefore, it's a journey that I had been mentally prepared for.
The journey to Taraba wasn't, it was a sudden one, I took it because of the promise of seeing a new place, and exploring the city. Now, I had a week's break from Taraba State before hitting the road again today.
I wouldn't lie to you, that one week hasn't been enough. If I had my way, I would have said no, to going to Ondo State. I just couldn't look my friend in the eye and tell her, I can't make it. While I was at Taraba State, she kept reminding me of this journey...lol. Even before I left Abuja for Taraba, she was worried I may not be able to make it to her State. I assured her she had nothing to fear, I'll be back on time to join her.
And here I am with all the stress my body is feeling, hopping off to a different state, just to please a friend. I had thought I would regret this, judging from my experience so far, I am enjoying it, instead. Throughout today, I kept telling her, once we return on Saturday or Sunday, I'll take two weeks' breaks from her and everyone else and just rest. That way, I'll be able to regain strength, and vigor for March.
I have a feeling Ondo State will be fun, it's already showing signs that it would be. I am prepared to be a part of everything, absorbing the environment, and the lifestyle of the people. Gosh, you have to be worried about me, I might not understand any of the things they are saying... hahaha. Yes, it's a Yoruba-influenced State. I will be lost...I mean so lost.
Source
This means the various lists that will be flying around will be bouncing off my ears. And I'll have to keep asking, Dorcas, "what did he or she say?" God have mercy. Whoever brought the idea of the tower of Babel has to be sued.... hehehehe. No, don't judge me yet, that decision is affecting me as we speak. I am sure you understand.
Don't worry, I am prepared to learn the three languages that are common here, Igbo, Hausa, and Yoruba before I finally return to my State. It will be an awesome experience. I can't wait to be able to speak fluently in four different languages. This would mean I'll be able to communicate with anyone to their understanding.
Throughout today, as a result of spending time with her family, while waiting for the bus, I felt the distance. The fact that I couldn't under them, I sincerely wanted to communicate with them in the language they'll understand, but I couldn't. I was stuck. My tongue felt locked and stuck in my throat.
The bridge that the language barrier creates is what I am experiencing. It's influencing the way I associate and communicate with my friends. I remember being on a certain bus on my way to Taraba State, everyone was blowing Hausa, left, right, and center. They were gisting, cursing, and laughing, and I couldn't join in any of those because I didn't understand a thing. It was heartbreaking.
Just yesterday, I almost got lost, because my bike man didn't understand me, and I couldn't understand him. He doesn't speak English, he pretended as though he understood me. I realized we won't understand each other on the way, and he had no idea where I was going.
I was angry for not being able to communicate with him. I had to direct him with my hands, and it wasn't funny. I tried as much as I can to keep a smiling and friendly face so I wouldn't give out the slightest feeling that I was freaking out. I successfully got home, but, vowed I'll learn Hausa.
Today, not being able to communicate effectively with my friend's family, made me realize I'll have to learn Yoruba too. Initially, I didn't feel the barrier with Yoruba because my friends and I had been communicating in English. Going home to meet her family, Yoruba was flying everywhere.
I went through my imagination and tried to put my family in their place and I realized she would experience the same thing if she visited my family. Surely, there would be Ibibio flying everywhere......lol. It's not because our different families want to keep the visitor out of the conversations......no, only, that it's more fun to speak with our languages when communicating with one another.
Yes, there is a quote, I think by Nelson Mandela, and it goes this way.
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.Nelson Mandela
With my language barrier experience, I hope I have been to convince you that Nelson Mandela was right.