FOLA'S HAVEN

 The immigrant journey is often painted with a broad brush of resilience and success. Society loves stories of those who "made it"—the entrepreneur who built a business from scratch, the professional who climbed the corporate ladder in record time, the student who became a shining example of excellence. But beneath these triumphs lies an unspoken burden—the immense pressure to succeed quickly. The Weight of Expectations For many immigrants, success isn’t just personal—it’s communal. The moment you step onto foreign soil, you carry the dreams, sacrifices, and hopes of those left behind. Parents, siblings, extended family, and even entire communities look up to you as their proof that a better life exists beyond borders. The expectation is clear: Don’t just survive—thrive, and do it fast.  Note the word "FAST". This pressure comes in different forms: The urgency to secure a well-paying job, even if it means working multiple shifts. The need to send money bac...

  This is not my first time moving from my home country to another land. But this time, it’s different. I have to remind myself that there’s so much at stake. I am no longer the starry-eyed young woman who left family and everything familiar years ago to chart a course for her life. Back then, I wasn’t afraid—I had no real commitments, except for a relationship that was alive today and dead tomorrow. Now, I am responsible for three human beings. Hey God. Two of them have their futures tied to the choices I make, whether good or bad. If this isn’t the real definition of “God abeg,” then I don’t know what is. The Language Barrier: English, but Make It Confusing One of the biggest hurdles for immigrants is communication. And I’m not just talking about learning a new language—because, as a proud English speaker who scored a 9 in IELTS , I thought I had this covered. But here I am, struggling with accents, slang, and professional jargon. The first time someone said, "You bet...