enility:


Bros samankwe for you, if I no greet you welldone, wetin I gain? Kudos and more power to your elbow

Thank you boss! Na me hail you pass

An amazing thread here!

Estonia loading

babajeje123:
Welcome. I enjoyed your narrative prowess.

Thank you for reading through my story sir. I really appreciate your kind words.

More Grace to you

Our boarding was announced and we queued up in a single file as we matched to the plane. I was a few meters ahead of my elderly friend on the queue. People discussed in low tones and laughed at intervals. I think social status and intellectual exposure rather than tribal affiliation, formed the basis for inter personal relationships at this point. An Hausa man would shake hands with an Igbo man and gist about events around the world. Then I wondered if the seeming hatred and tension among the different tribes in Nigeria only exists around the “Niger Area”. Perhaps every Nigerian should travel every once in a while, and feel life from a different perspective. Maybe then, we can begin to value HUMANITY above TRIBALISM.

We were now right inside the very big airbus plane. I took my seat beside a young pretty lady, probably in her late 20’s. “ This is gonna be my best flight so far, 7 hours of bliss ” I smiled inwardly, fixing my gaze on her . “Hello” I said to her with a wide wild smile. “Hi” she replied, more to herself than to me, just as she instantly pushed back a side of her oversized earpiece over her ear. I swallowed hard .

Directly behind me was an elderly woman returning to Nigeria from the United States. I unintentionally overheard her thanking GOD for the safe journey so far from the States, while asking GOD to lead her on. I thought of my turbulent flight, from Vienna to Amsterdam and wondered if I had any adrenaline left to carry me through another turbulent flight. Certainly not. I bowed my head and secretly joined the woman in her prayer, asking GOD to lead us home safely.

Minutes after the pilot and his crew sang their “drop in air pressure, oxygen mask” anthem, we were still dilly-dallying on the run way like those on excursion. The pilot made us understand that there were other planes ahead of us taking off. When it was our turn, the engines roared high as we taxied on the run way and bid farewell to Amsterdam and all its inhabitants. The time was 1.25pm as we tore through layers of clouds deep into the sky, on our way back home, the land of my birth.

To my amazement, I still had no appetite to eat even though I wanted to. However, I got my own share of the food and even a small bottle of red wine. I took few bites from the food and gulped half the content of the small bottle. I felt so relaxed. My thoughts wandered to the beautiful female creature sitting right next to me, her little ears still completely covered by the over sized head phones. We haven’t spoken a word apart from the initial “Hello”. Moreover, 39000 feet above sea level isn’t exactly the best place to query my mind for “pick-up” lines and ask someone for a date. I closed my eyes gently and slept off.

The flight was smooth and hitch free. Few hours later, we were flying over Nigerian airspace from the north, towards Ilorin, Oyo then finally Lagos. It was getting dark and one could barely see the landscape below. We were ready for landing. The pilot brought the plane lower and lower, as we positioned on the run way. I looked out through the window to behold the thick layer of darkness that spread beneath us. There is no light , I whispered to myself. I wondered how the tens of millions of people who inhabit this city were able to live normal lives in such thick layer of darkness. I was happy for my safe journey back home, but the chaotic darkness that lay below was no longer my idea of home . Just then, I felt so strange in my father land.

I was still lost in thought when I heard a loud applause from other passengers, clapping and cheering. The plane had touched down and I didn’t feel it. The pilot must be well experienced to have performed such a silent landing. The elderly woman behind me was praising GOD in Yoruba language. Mobile phones were sounding start up tones from different corners. The flight attendants repeatedly shouted that nobody should stand till the doors are opened. I was not even in a haste to leave. They can shut the plane doors for all I care. I remembered the first night I boarded the plane in this same airport. Given every choice that night, I would have chosen to stay back in Lagos, than enter this claustrophobic machine to Holland. Given the same option now, I would happily live in this claustrophobic windowless plane than step into the Lagos night.

The plane had stopped now and the doors were open. I sat quietly as people disembarked the plane. When the rush died down, I stood to leave. There at the door of the plane were two white men, clad in KLM attire. One seemed to be in his mid-fifties, while the other seemed early forties. They smiled at everyone that passed-by and welcomed you to fly with them next time. I smiled back at them and passed, then came back. Looking at the older man, I asked “are you the pilot sir”? He smiled weakly and nodded in affirmative. I stretched my hands and grabbed his feeble looking hands in a firm handshake. “I enjoyed your flight sir” I said to him. “Thank you” he smiled again.

I hurried into the airport and queued up for “stamping in”. The female immigration officer demanded what I brought for her from abroad, while stretching out her hand. “My passport ma” I responded as I handed over my int’l passport to her outstretched hand. She searched my emotionless eyes for few seconds and bent down over her desk. Few minutes later, she was done with my passport. I took it and hurried off into the baggage area where I carried my luggage, balanced them on a trolley and stepped into the Lagos night.

Finally, I am back home! Thank GOD for everything!


Thank you all for following my story. More Grace to us all!



Lalasticlala ejoor coman read my story nah
Oga Justwise I don come back oooo
Seun help my story to the promise land

Wow, I never knew Russia was this tech.

And the rest of the world keeps moving forward, while my country people keep praying and fasting for God to do for us what we should do for ourselves.

Nice adventure you have there sir.

Finally, my two weeks stay in Austria came to an end and it was time to return home . I was booked for a 9am flight from Vienna to Amsterdam, then onwards to Nigeria. That meant I needed to be at the airport before 8am for proper check-in procedures before departure. I booked the first train by 5:30am from Linz to Wien (Vienna). In silence, my friend drove me to Linz Banhohf. I knew he wished I could stay longer. I wished same too. But then, I really had to leave . We got to the train station just a little before departure. We shook hands, hugged for the last time and hurriedly, I carried off my luggage into the train.

Two hours later, we were at Vienna Int’l Airport. I quickly transferred my luggage to a trolley and made my way into the airport where I started my search for the KLM stand. Time was not on my side. I enquired from a non English speaking airport official who simply replied “KLM up” pointing to the first floor. I made for the elevator with my trolley as I saw others pushing theirs’ into the elevator. The elevator doors closed just as I came up. I waited for it to return, and it did, almost instantly. Two white male teenagers walked out as I went into the now empty elevator, almost the size of a room. The doors closed in and then the claustrophobic feeling came back with a voice. “Na only you waka enter here abi? What if the doors don’t open again? How will you handle the emergency buttons that are inscribed in German? What if the walls suddenly closed in on you? The thoughts kept pouring in. I fought them. Fear is a luxury I cannot afford now. I switched my thoughts to my family. I would be seeing them very soon. I felt distracted from the fear as I paced around the large elevator space.

The doors opened and crazily, I pushed off my trolley from the elevator. One of my bags tilted to a corner, nearly falling off from the trolley. I was adjusting it, while on motion and mistakenly hit a woman making a call by the corner. “Sorry Ma’am”, I blurted out remorsefully. She was too shocked to respond. I was so behind time to wait around for her response. I zoomed off instantly piloting my trolley more carefully. Finally, after so many “hey excuse me please”, I landed at the KLM stand. My luggage far exceeded the allotted kg limit. The KLM attendant politely asked if I would like to pay for the extra kg or simply repack. I opted to repack some things from main luggage to my hand-carry. That solved it. I was checked in, right on time.

We boarded the flight and were ready to leave from Vienna to Amsterdam. The flight crew did their necessary pre-take-off checks. I intentionally didn’t want to listen to their “drop in air pressure, put on your oxygen mask first bla bla bla” anthem. Not today please. I would love to think positive today. The pilot fired up the engine high and moments later, I was bidding farewell to Vienna from hundreds of feet above the ground. We were up into the sky, tearing through layers of dark clouds onto our cruising altitude.

The take off was cool, and we were now flying at the cruising altitude. I removed my seat belt and visited the rest room. The flight attendants pushed their snack-filled trolleys from different directions ready for service. Suddenly the seat belt lights came on and the voice from the cock pit announced, “please put on your seat belts and cabin crew, take your seats” . I melted inside, while fumbling over my seat belt. Things are not looking good definitely. The cabin crew quickly checked all the luggage bins to be sure they were well closed. And few minutes later, I got to meet my worst nightmare on air.

Turbulence!

Firstly, our plane bounced as if it hit a gallop. It steadied and bounced again more fiercely. We were now engulfed in a thick dark cloud moving towards the opposite direction. I closed my eyes and gently prayed, hoping that this wouldn’t be my last prayer. By the time I finished praying, we were dancing to the rhythm of the wicked clouds. The wings of the plane were so shaking, I thought they would fall off. The flaps opened and closed intermittently. Everyone was quite and silent, except for the little baby crying few rows behind. I wondered what was going on in the cock pit. Were the pilots afraid or were they well equipped to handle the situation? Our safety depended on them. For the first time, I noticed the young white guy by my side. He was so relaxed, glued to his adult movie on a mobile device. I couldn’t understand it. Watching an adult movie thousands of feet above the ground, in seeming situation of rapture? Issorite!

The turbulence lasted for what seemed to me like eternity and stopped. We flew on smoothly over the white coloured clouds. An hour and few minutes later, we were landing in Amsterdam. The cabin crew prepared for landing as usual when it was announced from the cock pit. However, the lower we descended, the lower the clouds went beneath us. It was as if the clouds didn’t want us to leave the sky. How the pilot still managed to fly into the run way from the thick layer of clouds still amazed me. We landed successfully without any incident.

After passing through airport security, I was stamped out of the Schenghen area as I proceeded to find my boarding gate. It was pretty easy finding my gate as the signs directed me. I had an hour and some minutes before my next flight. I came to my boarding gate where it seemed black men congregated for an urgent meeting . They were my country men from different corners of the world travelling home to Nigeria. I wondered how many of them are based abroad and only visiting Nigeria, and how many like me are based in Nigeria and only visited abroad. I sat by a corner waiting for the boarding announcement while striking off a conversation with an elderly man by my side. He introduced himself as a man of GOD. I introduced myself as a son of GOD. We both laughed and became friends.

cuteesthy:
Hapi birthday nwannemmadu, may the lord continue to guide and protect u alwaz to cross more borders...Amen

Daalu Nwannem! May GOD bless you more more abundantly with every good desire of your heart.

Ya gazie

I want to say a very big THANK YOU to everyone who wished me well on my birthday - May GOD bless us all

mixter:
Happy Birthday Kenevision. Whenever I read about countries and their systems I weep for Nigeria, as I believe one of Nigeria's major problem is the fact that there are stronger individuals compared to strong institutions , my thoughts though. Nice write up OP. A good work I must say. Ugosample, I like your perception about things. All i can do is hope Nigeria gets better. Quite a pity .

The bolded got me sir! Stronger individuals compared to strong institutions. I think that is one of the major challenges we are facing as a nation. When certain laws apply to certain people while a few others roam free, living above the law.

I also hope Nigeria will get better, no matter how long it takes.

emendoi:


HAPPY BIRTHDAY Man, I Wish You More break through and Succes. The GOD tha Has Don it for you, will answer my call soon also. Amen.

Thank You brother. Just keep believing and doing your best - we will get there.

I wish you the very best too.

Today is my birthday guys... I give GOD all the glory for the journey so far

During my last birthday, who could have imagined that I would cross some borders and see another world..

I give HIM The Glory!

More Grace to us all

lowisz:



Bro I greet u ooh, I have been following ur thread from the beginning, am about to make similar trip to austria, Graz precisely in two months time would really love to have ur contact, already sent u a mail via naira land, pls let's exchange contact

Hello bro, I already replied to your email. Did you get it?

Every other part of Austria I visited was simply amazing. From Grieskirchen to Perg to Freisdstadt and other unnamed villages, life was simply good and living conditions were amazing. The transportation system here is top-notch. Depending on your destination, you can make a choice between a taxi, a bus, a tram or railjet. You can also opt for a bicycle. Now I don’t want to tell you how expensive some of their bicycles can be. I didn’t see much SUVs here. Almost everyone drove normal cars, which of course were well maintained. As a rule, every car must be examined every year and certified road worthy before it hits the road again. Long haulage vehicle were very scarce on the roads, except roads connecting different countries. Containers and petroleum products are transported by rail for maximum safety. Of course, they have different rails from passenger rails. Traffic laws are well obeyed here, which highly reduces the occurrence of accidents. Whenever there is a traffic gridlock, you would see vehicles drifting to either sides of the road, leaving the central lane free and empty. You know why? Just in case there is an accident or emergency up ahead, the ambulance or fire service would pass through the central lane to rescue the situation. A nation of sane minds!

I very much enjoyed Austrian cuisine. Hardly would you be served any dish without fruits and vegetables. Most meals are three coursed. On one dining occasion, almost everyone queued behind the fruits and vegetables table. I could not understand why they left the yummy cakes slaying from the other end of the table . I went straight there and moved two slay cakes into my plate . Eyes turned on me as my friend smiled uneasily. I should have gone for fruits first, take the main meal and cakes last . But I couldn’t care less, after all, is it there stomach? I didn’t bother to learn names of their foods, but I learnt that looks can be deceptive. Some of the foods with the most appealing looks are the ones you might not want to eat beyond the first bite. The ones with the worst looks are the ones you would eat 2 plates and come back for the third. And Austrians have a popular dining rule which says you must finish every food you dish out. They don’t care how many times you approach the sharing table, but ensure you finish whatever food is served into your plate. Wastage is strongly frowned at.

I didn’t have any reason to patronize their hospital, but the ones I passed by were all majestic structurally. You could easily mistake a hospital for a hotel. I also heard everyone is mandated by law to go for a health check up at least one a year. They take health very seriously. Their ambulance services are awesome. You would hear the ambulance blaring siren from time to time attending to an emergency situation. I suspect only the ambulance, the fire guys and perhaps the police are allowed to use sirens here. No other person uses siren no matter how highly placed. Everyone is under the same law, rich or poor.

The family system here in Austria is perhaps not the most admirable, as some would argue. Most couples are contented with a child or two, which in my opinion is amazing. However, majority of them choose not to bear children. Someone told me in a relaxation park one day, as I watched a couple playing with their beautiful dog; “isn’t it funny?” he said. “Husband, wife and dog – that’s a normal Austrian family” . I looked more inquisitively at him as he continued “Some might even add a cat to make the family bigger”, he laughed scornfully stealing a look at the couple. “But they only realize their mistake when they get old”, he concluded. I remembered few days earlier in Perg, I visited the old peoples’ home there. It didn’t seem to me the smiling faces I saw there were regretting. All their needs were taken care of by the institution. That is how their system is designed. When you get old, you sign up at the old peoples’ home, your pension goes to them and they in turn take care of all your needs. So at old age, childless couples don’t bother about who will take care of them. They are fine!

nnamdiosu:


You're a superb writer. Humor, truth, honesty and openness surround your write ups. I love the way you take off when you beard the siren. Lol...I laugh die. I felt tears swell up my eyes when you were at the church, thinking of how to report Nigerian's enemies to God.
I smiled when you ran back and almost tripped on the kid playing on the floor.

One question I have for you. Think deeply before you reply. Its a school of thought. I need you to confirm it.
Yes I know you had a wonderful travel time. Travelling is education too. You learned a lot etc. I know ...but
When you came back, did u feel sadder and troubled?.

I'll explain. You were in a place with constant light, security, everything worked. Did you feel Berra or worse when you came back to the opposite of the things you enjoyed?

In all, I lived this in diary. Please mention me in any future travel thread you open. I know you'll travel very soon again. Peace.

Thank you so much brother for reading through my experience and equally enjoying it. Your reply means a lot to me.

As for your question bro, I was happy for the wonderful time I had abroad. But entering Naija made me sad. I will bring you the full story shortly.

Vielen dank

kunzzy4me:
Kenevision...i dey enjoy ur stories.. But pls I shall need ur help on something...

I will gladly help once the solution is within my means.

[quote author=Schwartz post=70497011][/quote]

Well if that is true, then I guess he didn't want to incur unnecessary expenses.

The love locks bridge is the only remarkable place I visited while in Salzburg. I only spent few hours there.

cuteesthy:
Dis pictures just made my day,kenevision u re a gud writer keep it up bro. I alwaz luk forward to ur updates

Thanks for your kind words dear... I really appreciate them. More Grace to you in all your endeavors.

EKPETI:
Op, I enjoyed every part of what u wrote. I know this year am leaving the shores of this country.

And to those looking at grammar, keep it up!

It is my New Dawn Era!

May GOD see you through bro...

Never give up!

The remaining days I spent in Austria were all interesting. Each day had its own activities. I visited many other cities and villages. I went to Grieskirchen, Freidstadt, Perg, Mondsee and Salzburg. At Mondsee, I visited the Basilica of St. Michael where Sr. Maria and Oga von Trapp had their church wedding in the famous Sounds Of Music movie. The church was flooded with camera wielding tourists trying to get amazing pictures of the edifice. I was not left out as I took as many pictures as possible. A section of the church was set aside for candle light prayers. There, you could donate 1euro into the box provided and then light up a candle with which you offer your prayers to GOD.

As I held the lit candle, I prayed fervently for myself, that GOD will perfect all that concerns me. I prayed sincerely for my family for GOD’s continual protection on us. GOD knows I love my family. I could feel tears swelling up in my eyes when I prayed for my dear country. I wanted to tell GOD about so many evils going on back home, but I lacked words to express my feelings. I stood for a long while gazing at the crucifix hanging up on the altar, still speechless. Gently, I placed the candle on its stand and dried my eyes. He understands. Yes He does. I was about leaving the church when I remembered my flight back home. I will be entering an airplane again. Roughly 8 hours in the sky! GOD has to know about it. Well, He knows already, but I need to tell HIM again. I ran back hastily into the church nearly falling over a little kid playing on the isle. I reached back for my candle, the candle I lit a while ago. I held it firmly and prayed with the deepest fervour - O GOD PLEASE TAKE ME ON EAGLE’S WINGS AND LEAD ME HOME. My faith was strong. I felt my prayers answered. I left.

My trip to Salzburg was equally memorable. I visited the famous LOVE LOCKS BRIDGE! Standing over a gently flowing river, the pedestrian bridge is a home to tens of thousands of padlocks, each telling a permanent story of love. I stood on the bridge and thought about love. I thought of my love, the only woman I ever loved, now married to another man. Perhaps if I had come here earlier and locked our love, our union would have been permanent, sealed forever, just like every other key here. I watched men and women holding hands romantically on the bridge. From a far distance, I saw a couple kissing away the day. A young man, probably an Indian walked up to a lady whose gaze was fixed on the gently flowing waters below. He whispered some silent words into her ears and the echo of her laughter shook the bridge for a moment. He ran off in the rhythm of her laughter and she went after him. They ran for a short distance and he fell, quickly spreading his arms to welcome her. Willingly, she fell into his arms, in love. I too wanted to fall. I desperately wanted to fall in love, and then lock the love on the love locks bridge. I will find love again I said to myself as I made my way out of the bridge.

vickifeanyi47:


Interesting story line. So the sound of siren chased you away... Lmao

I no want commit nah as prevention s better than cure

While at breakfast with my friend, he sternly warned me to handle my room key with care. I started taking him seriously when he listed different doors my room key could open. With it; I would be able to access the dining room and the reading room whenever I wanted to; I would also be able to open the front and back gate of the compound and access the hall way from outside. And while making use of an elevator, I would slot the key into the key hole to tell the elevator which floor to carry me to. Every other room key in the lodge can open all the public rooms above, but no key will open another private room. Hmmm, awesome technology. The government has the spare of all the keys, and only they can replace a lost key. I immediately made my room key my most cherished belonging followed by my international passport. Done with breakfast, I safely tucked my room key into my front pocket, my international passport into my back pocket and then I stepped into the streets.

The sun was hammering from above. Passers-by all walked so fast as if some invisible forces were pursuing them. I guess one must learn to walk fast, in order to live successfully here. Time management, I thought. I increased my pace and walked even faster glancing at the city map from time to time. I slowed down when, guided by the city map, I got to Linz City Centre. It was a magnificent sight to behold. I stood beside a statue of some sort and watched. Cars drove past. The tram (electric train) railed past at intervals. Cyclists littered the city centre, often performing some acrobatic stunts. Roller skaters rolled by happily. Many others stood at different corners puffing cigarettes smoke into the air. Young couples held hands and laughed as they walked along. Their minister of happiness must be doing a great job. What a happy people!

I was now getting tired of the curious stares that people greeted me with. Perhaps, I was the only black man at the city centre. I bought a scoop of ice cream, took some pictures and moved on further into the city, walking more slowly. Accepted, I haven’t been to many other European countries, but I believe Austria ranks high on cleanliness in the whole of Europe. The streets were super clean, houses too. And people maintained great personal hygiene everywhere. Wastes were well disposed into the trash cans that dotted different corners on each street.

I walked on and on and on, only stopping to take pictures at intervals. And then I wanted to take a picture that was going to ruin my day. It was a tinted volkwagen salon car, carefully parked by the street corner. The inscription on the car boldly read POLIZEI. I knew it was a police car. An opportunity to take the picture of a lifetime with an Austrian police car. I was going to tell my friends back home how I was hanging out with Austrian police, how they took me round the city in their car and even posed for my camera. A selfie taken with the police car would make my story believable, I thought. So I stood near the car and lifted my phone up in a selfie mode to capture the car well. I smiled widely to my camera and was about to press the snap button when a siren sounded behind. I didn’t look back. I simply brought down my hand, straight into my pocket and walked on towards the direction I had come from. I was going home, straight home. No turning back.

Sorry guys, the updates have been slow in coming. I have been busy at work. I have little or no time to pen down my stories.

nnamdiosu:


Shebi na u won use your own hands carry village people come meet you bah? Ok continue. Don't bind and cast that dream.

Village people power no reach this side oooo. Can a witch even get a visa and pass through immigration?

lordally:
Kenevision how far? you go come back 9ja?

I don come back sir

Ugosample:


Nigeria deserved every ridicule it gets; as a shameless country that it is.


So much chaos, poverty and wickedness in one space

A country abundantly rich in resources

You are right, not all lives in poverty, but most do

You are very right sir.

And even more unfortunate is the fact that the rich also cry in this country. Your wealth may not protect you when the herdsmen come calling. SARS will carry you and carry your wealth. The judicial system will deny you justice and damn the consequence.

If only our challenges in this nation were of an economic nature, then "making it" in Nigeria would have been a sweet song of victory. But even when you make it here, you still have to confront the political challenges, security issues and other maladies that pervades our dear nation, with no end in sight.

Whenever I get the opportunity to relocate abroad, I will grab it with both hands. Not because I cannot make it in Nigeria, but because I want to give a better start for my children and generations yet unborn, while enjoying the rest of my days in peace, safety and good health.

Harzontorh:


I hope you took a picture of that GMG bag. The way you described it made my day already.. Seeing it in Picture could make my whole month. Pls! ��

I will upload the pictures sir

peacengine:


Bro this ur dream is sweet buh where the food? All I see is apple, banana and bread, you call this food!

Bros na the food be that ooo . Believe me, you will love their dishes when you get used to them. And one thing I noticed is that you will hardly visit the toilet when you are on Austrian diet. Even when you do, na small thing go drop. Your body needs every thing you eat - talk about balanced diet.

Rexnegro:

I tot as much bro , but the one I did myself didn't didn't carry booking code and PNR passenger name record... well don't know if I did it well but felt like that wasn't enough for visa application as embassy need the code to check for it authenticity. please am sorry if am disturbing u but pls help a brother in need

Well, I believe the booking code is what the embassy needs to confirm your itinerary. your best bet is still a trusted travel agent around you. just tell them to make a reservation for visa purpose.

I wish you the best.

I had barely closed my eyes when I saw myself in my father’s house, surrounded by my whole community. I was telling them a story of a beautiful land where there are no sorrows; a land of immense beauty, with magnificent hills and scenic valleys, a happy nation with happy people, where there is no hunger and deprivation, a land where justice reigns .

As I told them my story, I saw desire in them; desire to be free from all forms of societal ills that have formed part of their daily lives. Well, who wouldn’t be? When you come from a nation where hunger and starvation is the order of the day, where there is no respect for human lives, where unemployment has broken through the roof and aiming for the sky, where justice and rule of law is only read in the books of history, then you will desire above all to be free . I too wanted them to be free.

I opened my father’s old Golf 3 car and ushered them in. By some, perhaps spiritual technology beyond my understanding, my whole community was comfortably seated in a Golf 3 car . I was taking them to the land of freedom, in my father’s car. First we were driving, and later we were flying. I was the pilot, their pilot to freedom.

I could not recall how long we were on air when I opened my eyes, still weakly stretched on my bed. It was 4am in the morning and as usual, the sun was up. I felt so cold. If summer is this cold, I wonder how the winter will be. I knelt down and prayed, thanking GOD for the safe journey he granted me both on land and on air, thanking Him for this travel opportunity that has opened a new dimension of understanding in me. I took a hot shower, dressed up nicely and headed for the dining room for an Austrian breakfast.

It was 7am in the morning. I looked at the breakfast table, smiled to myself and gently loosened my belt. Food is ready!

LIVING IN LINZ

Finally, after an hour fifty minutes train ride, I arrived at Linz train station. I remembered what my friend said when he sent me the train ticket ; do not be worried about which train station to stop, because you will pass through many of them. But keep track of your time. Once it is 13:55pm, the train will stop at Linz, just alight there! At exactly the said time, the train pulled up at Linz Bahnhof (the german word for train station). I got off.

This experience got me thinking of how organized this country is. They say a train will leave by a particular time, that particular time it leaves and will get to its destination by the appointed time. Try it From Lagos to Onitsha and see if you won’t end your journey at Ore . Time management is a luxury every Austrian must learn to live with.

I sat at the station sucking in the beauty of the whole environment. People passed by minding their various businesses. Some smiled at me, others didn’t bother to cast a look on me. To any who casted a friendly gaze on me, I would say Guten Tag (Good afternoon). Some mumbled incoherent words and walked on, others smiled my greetings away. It was clear to them that I just landed from Africa. Even if my composure was cool, my Ghana Must Go Bag gave me away. Between me and my GMG bag, I didn’t know who was more tired. A portion of the bag was now torn and the stock fish I brought for my friend was sticking out its head, only held back by the double layer of the transparent cello tape I used in wrapping the bag.

I was still enjoying the feeling of my new environment when friend hugged me from behind. I stood up and we hugged even more, exchanging our pleasantries in a language only we can understand. We carried off the bags through the subway to the car park. We drove in his car to a place I would call home for the next 14 days. I was treated to a delicious African dish (eba and bitterleaf soup).

Weakly, I abandoned myself to my bed and closed my eyes.

Rexnegro:

thanks someone has connected me to an agent here as well .... but please how many days was your itinerary valid for? I mean how many days was it valid for the embassy to be able to confirm it on th airline website.. ? my own agent said two to three days meanwhile the embassy will take 5 to 7 working days to treat visa application.

Bro, the itinerary should be valid for 21 days. Well the trend may have changed, but the agent that did mine held it for 21 days, which reasonably covers the period needed by he embassy to do their thing. If it's 2 days, then just book it yourself nah and hold. Individuals can hold for 2 days while agents hold for 21 days.

Except things have changed.

Rexnegro:

please bro where did you get your flight itinerary for the visa application? and how much did you get it please. it's urgent.

Any trusted flight booking agent around you can do it bro. I got mine for 5K or so. Even here on nairaland, there are many who can do it.

Chat @kagari up, I believe he can handle it.