Oh yes, they do.
In my 4th week here, attending interviews out and about in the York University area, I chanced upon a ‘Missing’ poster. It came complete with a full description of the physical features of the missing person. She was a young, undergraduate, last seen a couple of weeks before, at a bus station, walking home. My first reaction was shock, then disbelief and probably horror. I think the reason for my shock was that I wasn’t expecting this kind of news… especially here I thought… Bad news?
In the six months before I arrived in Toronto from Lagos, I had fantasised about this amazing country I was moving to. It seemed to be everything Nigeria wasn’t. I had created this linear image of purity, and saintliness of my new home, so that my discovery of this ‘Missing’ poster didn’t fit in with that make-believe image in my mind.
The lighthearted Vlogs and stories about Canada do not adequately prepare you for this side. If you Google moving to Canada now, you would easily find happy and smiling faces of diverse people telling you why Canada is the destination of choice for new immigrants. And this is correct to a great extent. Canada holds several opportunities for both it’s new landed immigrants just arriving and citizens who thrive here. But that is a single story… Incomplete… Undeviating.
I guess in my haste to convince myself that leaving home to move to the other side of the world was the best decision for me, I had to justify to myself that this place is everything home hasn’t been for me. I created harsh dichotomies between the two countries and continents. I’m still learning about living here, but maybe this is why after several years abroad, people move back to their home countries. It’s exchanging one type of madness for another. Maybe madness isn’t really confined to any area or country or continent of the world.
Since that fateful afternoon a month ago, other sad incidents have occurred. A white van was driven into a sidewalk in April, crashing and injuring pedestrians on Yonge & Finch intersection, in North York. In Mississauga four weeks ago, two young men detonated an explosive device on a busy Thursday evening in a restaurant while people were trying to have an enjoyable time with their families. Across the street from my host’s home in Stouffville three weeks ago (before I relocated from the area), I heard of a hit and run incident and a fatality was recorded. Just three days ago, two young girls were shot and injured in a playground in Scarborough. All these incidents happened within a space of 8 weeks that I have been here, plus many more sad events that I have shut my mind off of. I have found that the easiest way to dampen my day and cause myself anxiety is to watch the city news channel for more than 5 minutes at a go.
Bad things happen everywhere every day. Even in countries like Canada that has been voted 2nd best country to live in and 8th safest place in the world. It may not happen with the frequency with which some of us have gotten used to. But it happens nonetheless.
These days, whenever I discover a ‘Missing’ poster, I say a prayer in my heart that the lost person is found and returned home to their loved ones.
10 comments
Awww…I think we’re twins in the saying a prayer in our hearts aspect. Truth is, nowhere is really safe in the world but when it comes to these super developed countries where guns are legalised and psycotic people trod the earth, then safety is different from our Nigerian context of safe.
I think of it too, especially when I watch these movies that show serial killings, young girls abducted and many more. I feel that the only way to stay really safe is to continue to pray and ask God for protection each and everyday so that our lives and those of our loved ones will be spared. May God continue to take care of you and May the lost people be found. Amen
Thank you so much dear. For always having a relevant comment to give. Hahaha @being twins in prayers.
Sigh… No where is safe unfortunately. No where
I think one of the biggest convincers we give ourselves is that ‘if you can survive in Naija, you can survive anywhere in the world’. This is only true to some extent, and that does not include ‘surviving’ dangers that you’re not used to or prepared for in other countries. No place in the world is completely safe, that’s why people have doors in houses, countries have security agencies and various security gadgets around. I think one of the best things about moving abroad (especially to Canada) is the capacity to be able to build the kind of life you want, for yourself and your family. It removes a lot of worries that have been experienced in Naija. But the perfect, heavenly fantasies about the place are just that, fantasies.
I’m glad you’ve been jolted back to reality and your extra Naija instincts can kick in anytime you’re out and about. Please keep safe always and pray. Hopefully, the missing will be found alive and well.
Very well said. Nothing else to add
Hmmm, in the words of my dad, ENI TI OLORUN BA KE A RO WIPE OHUN MOO SHE NI, meaning He that GOD pampers will think he’s a perfectionist. The bottom line is NO WHERE is safe. GOD’S is the surest keeper and guardian. As for the missing ones may GOD invade wherever they may be and perfect their release. Our prayers should not wane especially when it pertains to GOD’S protection and safety. It’s well.
Amen. Thank you for sharing
Hnmm, nowhere is indeed safe, May God protect you over there Akata
Amen. Thank you so much Ife ?
I think the best is to be closer to God in this perilous time
That’s one angle to this story. Are you assuming however that people who disappear anywhere in the world are the ones who don’t know a God?