The last thing you want to do is relocate to a new country without any souvenirs from your home country. Take it from someone whose two sisters recently moved abroad. The west is big but if you don’t plan what to take, you could easily find yourself stranded and homesick in the first week there.
Of course, almost everybody knows to take foodstuff. And ankara material for the culture. But I’ll just give you a few pointers on some very Nigerian items that you do not want to leave behind. You’ll appreciate them for their functionality as well as nostalgic feelings they’ll bring to you as you think of your home country. Here are just some basic things you should take with you.
Sponge
Yes, I mean the coloured ones that you see the Abokis hawking everywhere in Lagos. Or the very local ones that are brown in colour. It is serious scarce commodity outside the country. And you know nothing makes you feel like you have had a good shower like your local sponge.
If you fail to carry this with you, you’ll be left with two options. One, use the soft cloth that’ll make you feel like you’re wiping a baby’s butt. Or, order from Amazon for $20. 7000 naira for sponge! Even your ancestors that invented the local sponge might turn in their graves.
Ori/Shea butter
It’s almost winter and you will find yourself getting ashy during this period. But we both know that Ori works the magic that all the ‘moisturizers’ can’t seem to figure out. This will be your chapstick, body lotion etcetera. Buying it in an African store is just plain financial carelessness. Just 500 Naira Ori from a market in Lagos and you’re good to go for the entire holiday, or for a long time if you relocated abroad.
Spices
Sorry, you won’t be randomly seeing Suya pepper in Walmart anytime soon. And you won’t be running into Utazi at the food section in Target on a daily basis. It’s at those times that you are seriously craving Nigerian food that you’ll wish you took these items with you.
I know these won’t last forever. But for the time that you have them, they’ll remind you of home as well as fill your belly with the most “feel-good” food you’ll have in a while.
To add a few bonus tips:
Pack in moderation. You don’t want to take a whole bag of Egusi just because you’ll miss home. It’ll end up adding to the weight of your luggage and costing you a pretty penny.
All in all, enjoy your trip the best you can.