mbah2x:
op should we way never travel coment?

olatade:
#MyNetherlandExperience


Recently I got my very first taste of what it meant to be black and worst off a Nigerian just as I hit Frankfort.

Let me start well though, at least with the things that impressed me; the airline @FlyLufthansa. This is a self sponsored trip so I'm not going to come here and lie to you that I could afford a business class or first class ticket. You wont get any of those fake stories here. I am going to tell you as it is so you can have the honest picture of things. I could only afford economy but on Lufthansa, that could have as well been business class on some other airline

The seats had good leg room, (satisfactory for my very long legs lol). The in-flight entertainment, superb and though the food was a bit bland in taste for my spicy African palate, it was well presented and the crew was as professional as can be, smiling and refilling cups. I don't know what the higher class got but it was really good in my economy class.

Sadly the great experience ended immediately I hit Frankfort airport.

First at the security check, I was the only black person on the queue and that immediately warranted me a more thorough search. I was the only one asked to remove my shoes, checked into a cubicle and body searched by a male police officer (this is after I had had the general security check). Somehow I didn't feel so demeaned, I knew being Nigerian had become a really bad thing abroad, almost as bad as being a terrorist.

Frankfurt airport is so damn big and could have been confusing if I weren't observant. In fact got lost a couple of times but always found my way back. I got into an elevator with a guy who I later discovered was Nigerian. We got in with some white girls and they refused to even look at us. They giggled among themselves and still wudnt look at us. At one point one even shifted so sharply when the Nigerian guy accidentally touched her an of course they literally raced off as the elevator door opened.

I had never experienced that before. This really is my first up-in-your face experience of racial discrimination. I was so appalled I think it affected me cos I spoke to no one again till I made it to my gate. When a white man seated saw me approaching to sit, he placed his jacket on the seat so I wudnt sit. Didn't care much though. I later realised this gate was for passengers proceeding to Hamburg.

Found my gate and it turned out the Nigerian guy I met at the elevator was also going to Amsterdam. When I told him what I observed, he laughed and told me that was so little compared to what black people really face in Europe when it comes to discrimination.

Well we boarded a more crowded and more Nigerian styled "little-legroom" A319 flight to Amsterdam.

At schiphol, I still had the Frankfort experience in me so spoke to no one. But I quickly realized I was the only one "boning" cos these people were shockingly pleasant. At Burger King, when I went for food (superb chicken wings and onion rings) the Young male attendant was so nice, I was pleasantly surprised. The taxi driver was talkative and so damn friendly. From then on was pretty pleasant

Thoughts

It's too early for conclusions but I can tell people in Netherlands are definitely nicer than Germans.

If racism is so thick in Europe why do we Nigerians so hurry to leave and be treated so poorly here.

olatade:
#MyNetherlandExperience


Recently I got my very first taste of what it meant to be black and worst off a Nigerian just as I hit Frankfort.

Let me start well though, at least with the things that impressed me; the airline @FlyLufthansa. This is a self sponsored trip so I'm not going to come here and lie to you that I could afford a business class or first class ticket. You wont get any of those fake stories here. I am going to tell you as it is so you can have the honest picture of things. I could only afford economy but on Lufthansa, that could have as well been business class on some other airline

The seats had good leg room, (satisfactory for my very long legs lol). The in-flight entertainment, superb and though the food was a bit bland in taste for my spicy African palate, it was well presented and the crew was as professional as can be, smiling and refilling cups. I don't know what the higher class got but it was really good in my economy class.

Sadly the great experience ended immediately I hit Frankfort airport.

First at the security check, I was the only black person on the queue and that immediately warranted me a more thorough search. I was the only one asked to remove my shoes, checked into a cubicle and body searched by a male police officer (this is after I had had the general security check). Somehow I didn't feel so demeaned, I knew being Nigerian had become a really bad thing abroad, almost as bad as being a terrorist.

Frankfurt airport is so damn big and could have been confusing if I weren't observant. In fact got lost a couple of times but always found my way back. I got into an elevator with a guy who I later discovered was Nigerian. We got in with some white girls and they refused to even look at us. They giggled among themselves and still wudnt look at us. At one point one even shifted so sharply when the Nigerian guy accidentally touched her an of course they literally raced off as the elevator door opened.

I had never experienced that before. This really is my first up-in-your face experience of racial discrimination. I was so appalled I think it affected me cos I spoke to no one again till I made it to my gate. When a white man seated saw me approaching to sit, he placed his jacket on the seat so I wudnt sit. Didn't care much though. I later realised this gate was for passengers proceeding to Hamburg.

Found my gate and it turned out the Nigerian guy I met at the elevator was also going to Amsterdam. When I told him what I observed, he laughed and told me that was so little compared to what black people really face in Europe when it comes to discrimination.

Well we boarded a more crowded and more Nigerian styled "little-legroom" A319 flight to Amsterdam.

At schiphol, I still had the Frankfort experience in me so spoke to no one. But I quickly realized I was the only one "boning" cos these people were shockingly pleasant. At Burger King, when I went for food (superb chicken wings and onion rings) the Young male attendant was so nice, I was pleasantly surprised. The taxi driver was talkative and so damn friendly. From then on was pretty pleasant

Thoughts

It's too early for conclusions but I can tell people in Netherlands are definitely nicer than Germans.

If racism is so thick in Europe why do we Nigerians so hurry to leave and be treated so poorly here.

Cavenchy:
.
.
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barbiesparkz2:


I don't know how long ago your case was, but nowadays you are not allowed to carry drinks on board, especially for international flights.

Sometimes, the racism we experience is first established in our minds.

Cavenchy:


I understand that, the law was that way even then, but the issue wasn't that she didn't permit it on board the aircraft. The fact is that she knew there was another sealed one in the bag but she was ready to let that get on board. So it wasn't really a matter of her following the law now. She didn't like the idea of a black man with a half empty bottle. Even so she could have easily stated the law rather than ask a passenger to consume it in front of her, it shows her suspicion was beyond the law. It's called Racial Profiling.

And might I add, not all liquids are not permitted, some airports have a transparent bag and you are asked to place all liquids in it.

Updated: You were still racially profiled, even if it ended with a smile .

barbiesparkz2:


LOL! @ bolded. If you say so.
I get your point, though I know they usually advice people to consume/discard their drinks before the scanner.

I think its mainly toothpaste & mouthwash / drinks below a certain capacity, that goes in the plastic bag.

Cavenchy:


I understand that, the law was that way even then, but the issue wasn't that she didn't permit it on board the aircraft. The fact is that she knew there was another sealed one in the bag but she was ready to let that get on board. So it wasn't really a matter of her following the law now. She didn't like the idea of a black man with a half empty bottle. Even so she could have easily stated the law rather than ask a passenger to consume it in front of her, it shows her suspicion was beyond the law. It's called Racial Profiling.

And might I add, not all liquids are not permitted, some airports have a transparent bag and you are asked to place all liquids in it.

Updated: You were still racially profiled, even if it ended with a smile.

mrsmith11:


I don't think you are 100% correct. She can allow the sealed one but for christ sake you already opened a liquid content which you have finished or dispose. Does she knows if you have mixed the liquid with other prohibited substances
Please we should respect the rules


Back to the topic

The woman my sis work for in milan once asked her if we have fridge in africa (nigeria)

A lady once asked me if you do use tooth brush in nigeria and I said No...(so she can feel good)