I: Lagos to America
For this summer, my family opted to observe our annual vacation in the United States of America, having ignored that country for almost four years. My dad said now was just the best time to catch up with extended family and friends after COVID-19. So, on 27th July 2023, we made our way to the international wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja. The check-in process was a bit stressful. I must confess, I felt anxious by the presence of several security personnel asking questions at different points, only to end up with them asking for ‘something for the boys’ from my dad. We eventually made our way through the numerous security checks and walked through the duty-free shop to the KFC shop for an early dinner. I secretly hoped my mum would get me one of the beautifully wrapped chocolates on the shelf, but that didn’t happen. Nevertheless, the delicious chicken, fries and burgers at KFC made up for that disappointment. We complemented the meal with drinks at a private lounge while we waited for the boarding announcement.
To kill time, my parents got busy on their laptops while my cousin and I occupied ourselves with online entertainment because the lounge provided free Wi-Fi services, in addition to the free snacks and drinks. My mum urged me to take advantage of the restroom before we boarded, because the ones in the aircraft would not be as spacious and were said to be always busy. Somehow, I got messed-up in the process and needed to change clothes. Thanks to my mum who always thinks ahead for me, she had ensured I had extra clothes in the hand luggage. Within a few seconds, I changed the clothes, and we were ready to fly when our flight was announced.
On board the Delta aircraft flight DL55 from Lagos to Atlanta, my dad, cousin and I were seated in a separate row from my mum. This was the only aspect of the flight I found annoying. I would always prefer to sit with my mum instead of the other two. Before the take-off, I was given a traveller’s pack that contained a set of earpieces, a sleep mask and dental kits. I was considered one of the lucky ones, because not every passenger received the pack. I guess the cabin crew members failed to do an accurate headcount for facilities required before take-off. Along with the pack was a mid-sized blanket, which barely covered my entire body, and a pillow one tenth the size of the one in my room. Before the aircraft ascended into the skies, I explored the entire entertainment options. My plan was to first check out some movies, but my dad’s watchful eyes screened my options for anything rated SNVL, which was not suitable for an eight-year old. I settled for animations, and halfway through it, an air hostess offered us refreshments.
I must have drifted into sleep while watching the animation. I was awakened by a loud snore and fart. Someone behind my row must have farted because it was so loud that it woke everyone on my row up, except my cousin (he could sleep through a thunderstorm). I looked right to find my dad reading. That man reads a lot, he could even read in his sleep. I was struggling to go back to sleep when a three-course meal was served by a crew member with creepy tattoos. On my tray were fish, rice, hot bread, cheese, butter, fruit salad and water. I must confess, the quantity was quite small. I enjoyed the meal and returned to the screen but could no longer continue with the animation. I settled for a tic-tac-toe game because it offered a measure of mental challenge. My inquisitive dad also joined me in solving the puzzles and together, we defeated the computer (middle level). I slept off again till I heard the announcement asking passengers to prepare for landing.
We landed in Atlanta, Georgia around 5 a.m. local time. The immigration queue was not that lengthy, as we reclaimed our bags in less than fifteen minutes. Almost immediately we hopped on our connecting flight to Philadelphia.
When we landed in Philadelphia, the sun was scorching, and we were sweating shortly after leaving the airport. My parents then took us to a car hire station. They entered the building and asked my cousin and I to wait outside for them. I had no idea of what was going on, but after almost an hour, they emerged with one tall man who pointed at a green 2022 Mazda CX-50 SUZ as our car. I loved the car immediately and off we went to our hotel.
Our overnight accommodation was on the 18th floor of the luxurious Marriott Hotel in downtown Philadelphia. I loved the environment and the hotel lobby. The Liberian bellhop was friendly, and he assisted us with our bags. He also showed us where to get some food. We settled in, had a brief lunch at Hardrock Café and headed to a suburb called Deptford in New Jersey. There, we spent some time with the family my parents visited in New Jersey. I was able to make acquaintance with the first daughter of that family, but we had to leave after a while. We all went to bed the minute we returned to our hotel, in preparation for our road trip across America the next day.
II: Philadelphia to Mississippi
Around 6:00 a.m, we all got ready to hit the road for the nineteen-hours drive from Philadelphia to Mississippi – the journey was actually seventeen hours, but our numerous stops added an extra two hours to the trip. First, we headed for the nearest Walmart to stock-up the car with refreshments for the long drive ahead.
My dad explained that the drive was from the north to the south of the United States of America, but it was also along the east coast. We would travel through six states: Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. A few minutes after we commenced our journey, the Google Maps app announced, ‘Welcome to Delaware.’ My dad was doing the driving while my mum kept one eye on the road and the other eye on myself and my cousin. Except for a few coastlines, there really wasn’t much to see in Delaware.
After a few hours driving through I-95 in Maryland, we decided to stop to observe a break. We stopped at the welcome centre to stretch our legs, take some pictures and engage in some conversation with other travellers. During this stop, we realised that quite a number of Americans prefer to drive long distances instead of flying, because of the cost. In addition, a road trip can be fun.
While driving through I-95, my mum pointed at an exit and said it would get us to her aunt’s house at Abingdon. I was hoping we would make a stop there to have a proper meal and spend time with my cousins, but my mum assured me that we were racing against time. We got to Virginia after a few hours of driving. We made a brief stop to ease ourselves and thereafter, my mum took over the wheel. I can state that the drive within Virginia was the longest because I slept and woke up several times, only to be told we were still in Virginia.
My uncle called to check up on us after another two hours of driving. We had another stopover at a town called Bristol. Bristol was in Tennessee and was the border town between Virginia and Tennessee. We learned that Tennessee was nicknamed the ‘soundtrack of America’. Dolly Parton, Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Kesha, Tina Turner and a bunch of other famous music stars hail from Tennessee. We also learnt that country music originated from Tennessee. My dad informed me that the City of Nashville (Northcentral Tennessee) has more than three hundred recording studios.
A few hours back on the road, my uncle called again to check up on us, and he urged us to pass the night in a city called Chattanooga, because dusk was approaching. My parents laughed it off because they are both night drivers. I must have slept off again after the phone call because the next thing I heard from the car speakers was ‘Welcome to Georgia.’
The drive through Georgia was rather short. We checked the map to confirm that we only went through the northwest section of the State. There wasn’t really much to see in Georgia, except some confusing highways and intersections. I still wonder how my mum didn’t find it confusing.
Around 8 p.m., we made it to Alabama and drove through Chattanooga. I found the landscape appealing. I had heard a lot about the smoky mountains of Tennessee, but I believe they were referring to Chattanooga, not the entire State of Tennessee. There were hills and valleys along the highway. My uncle was right, we would have loved to spend the night in Chattanooga. I secretly hoped we would return to the town.
We stopped at an Exxon gas station to refill our tank. It was fun to watch my dad fill the tank by himself, because back in Nigeria, there were petrol attendants, and he would just say ‘fill-up’ from the window.
Now, he took the wheel from my mum. It was now dark. My cousin was deep in sleep like a baby. We saw the ‘Welcome to Mississippi’ signage, and we were happy to have made it thus far. Little did we know that we still had another 3 hours to Jackson, where my uncle and his family were waiting for us.
Although the trip was tiring, I learnt a lot. I realised that Americans move a lot by road. Throughout the nineteen hours, the road was never empty. I also learnt that America was indeed vast and their roads were wide. I would definitely do this another time and would also love to drive (when I am of age).
III: Margaritaville Biloxi, Mississippi
A major highlight of our holiday was a 3-day stay at Margaritaville, a resort located in the coastal city of Biloxi, Mississippi. We left Jackson for Margaritaville, Biloxi on August 2, 2023. As we approached, we crossed several bridges, probably showing how isolated the resort felt from the rest of the state. Biloxi itself seems like a proper holiday destination, with several other resorts lining the coast.
Shortly after checking in, we headed to the restaurant on the 7th floor – ah, we were all famished. (The reception was on the 10th floor, the aquatic park on the 5th, and our room on the 16th. From the balcony of my room, I had a breathtaking view of the city and even spotted playful dolphins swimming in the Atlantic Ocean.) After our meal, we explored the games arcade. It was vast. There were a variety of games such as wall climbing, basketball, obstacle course, scary carousel, ping pong, darts and a host of others. My dad complained it was a scheme to make visitors waste their money.
The outdoor rides caught my attention more. The rides were not for the chicken-hearted. They were indeed scary. My parents ensured I enjoyed all the rides that were suitable for an eight-year old. Need I mention that one could only access those rides by loading a card with credits.
This routine of water parks and arcade exploration was repeated for the next two days, till we decided to explore other options on the third day. So, we went to Biloxi beach. I must confess, it had its highs and lows. The high was that entrance was free, compared to our last time at a beach in Lagos, Nigeria. On the low side, the beach had little tidal action and the water appeared polluted. However, there were various attractions on the beach, such as the water bike, jet ski and other fascinating toys for a person of my age. It was fun playing in the sand trying to build sandcastles.
IV: My Aunty’s Birthday
We returned to Jackson on August 5, 2023 for my Aunty’s birthday the following day. The 6th of August marked a remarkable event in my family. My Aunty Funsho clocked 40 years. She is my nicest Aunty who always has a smile ready for me. We started the day by receiving blessings at a Catholic church during mass. I think the mass was concise and quiet because it lacked the loud music you would expect in Nigeria. There were neither percussion nor string instruments to spice up the hymns from the choir. The interesting part, however, was the Filipino Reverend Father’s homily. Also, my younger cousin, Nathan was baptised during the mass, and he ensured to make a show of it.
We all assembled at my uncle’s house in Jackson, Mississippi after mass to formally celebrate the birthday. As I heard in passing, most of the well-wishers were actually friends and colleagues of my uncle, not the celebrant. There was lots of food and drinks. The sideboard displayed a variety of food one would find in Nigeria and for a moment I thought I was back home in Nigeria. I ate till satisfied, then I sat somewhere to observe the adult social game and banter. My dad acted as the compere of the ceremony; he went out of character to make things fun. In his usual standoffish manner he would have avoided such a role; however, I was surprised to see him come up with exciting games that thrilled the celebrant and well-wishers: name of countries and their capital, how best do you know your spouse, etc.
My uncle’s house had a pool by a mini yard, where we the children decided to swim under the watchful eyes of our parents till evening. Our swimming activity must have attracted other guests to the poolside because they all later gathered there to engage in small talk. We, the children, could not complain about being ignored during the party because we were having fun ourselves.
When it got dark, the number of guests started to thin out, till it was just the neighbours and family left. At some point in the late night, we also congratulated the celebrant again and returned to our Airbnb.
The hours turned into days and eventually into weeks. We had to prepare for our return to Nigeria after.
V: Return to Lagos
Early in the morning on the 13th of August, we cleaned the house and arranged our bags. We arrived at the Jackson–Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport three hours before our flight. While waiting to board the Delta aircraft DL54 to Atlanta, my mum and I visited a duty-free shop, where she bought me a Mississippi-branded sweater and some drinks. The sweater had the inscription ‘The Magnolia State’, and that was how I got to know the nickname of the State. My mum loves to shop. Earlier, we had gone shopping at Walmart, Target, Next, Old Navy, and other stores I can’t seem to remember; my dad wore a frown on his face all through the shopping because he hated the exercise. I must confess that most of the things she bought were either for me or other family members. She cares more for her family than herself.
Our flight to Atlanta was rather short but I enjoyed sitting with my cousin, while my parents occupied a different row. During the flight, we were served biscuits and water – I think Delta Airlines are stingy. We landed at Hartsfield Jackson International Airport around noon and decided to use the services of a private lounge while waiting for our flight to Lagos. The menu at the private lounge was pathetic compared to the one we enjoyed in Lagos. Thankfully, our flight was announced at the scheduled time and boarding was fast. This time, I chose to sit next to my mum.
We landed in Lagos around mid-day and headed straight home.
Fela Ajakaiye likes to read, travel and wants to become an author someday. He likes graphic novels and outdoor games.
