PERSONAL SPACE? HA! WHAT’S THAT?
While in Nigeria, I’ve slowly had to let my American views
on personal space go, because it does NOT exist here. Thinking back to my
first few months here, I realize how peculiar I probably appeared to others. I
used to walk around with my arms tucked into each other, making crazy faces of
annoyance whenever someone bumped into me; I would scoot over to the extreme edge of
a seat whenever someone sat “too close” to me (HAHAHAHA some diva I once was).
I made mention about these "issues" to a house officer (first year
resident=intern), who then laughed and responded “you’re talking about that American
thing ‘personal bubble’ abi?” I responded by shouting an emphatic “YES!” The
house officer looked straight into my face and said there isn’t such a thing as
personal space in Naija (Nigeria). She explained that people are very open and personal, even when you many not reciprocate or appreciate it.
Our very short conversation was a very sobering moment for
me, I had one of those “A HA” moments (mind you I’ve had plenty since I’ve been
here) and again realized I was allowing my pre-set views of what is acceptable
effect my current experience in Nigeria. Since then I’ve learned to let loose
and be more open to human contact/interaction with others whether they are
strangers or not. This has allowed me to meet a vast amount of people in the hospital;
as a result as I traverse the hospital campus, I get warm regards and hellos
from acquaintances I’ve been able to meet due to bursting my personal bubble
(all of which is new to me, but I love it!!)
SIDE NOTE
As I’ve grown to be open to new experiences and be more
tolerant to others, I have learned that I DO NOT and WILL NOT allow strangers
play in my hair HAHAHA. I decided to wear my natural hair out for a while to
give it a rest from the various hairstyles I install, and it has been an
EXPERIENCE to say the least. Everywhere I go, people constantly ask me if
what’s on my head, is my real hair, as soon as I confirm it is, there is a hand
reaching in to touch it (note: I have natural hair=unprocessed, un-relaxed
hair, so it can be big). These
occurrences have shown me that though I may have become lenient about my
personal space, there is still a personal bubble that exists around my head!!! So
touching my hair is a NO NO, no matter which country I dey o, No dey try am, I
go vex for person well well!
