He said, "I got to America on a promise that I had some gigs waiting for me. So I thought I was going to have a soft landing there. I packed up everything from Nigeria, bought a one-way ticket, and came to America.
I was put in a well-furnished house and all of that. Then two days later, the person who I was supposed to book a deal with said to me, ‘Those our financiers have pulled out. They have an issue.’ So, I said, what do I do? He was like, ‘From next month on, you will have to start paying rent in this house.’ The amount of the one-month rent was equivalent to a one-year rent in Nigeria.
I’m like, ‘I’m not earning any money so what do I do?’ I don’t know what to do. So, shot into that life, I had to figure out what to do. I had nowhere to go. Nothing to turn to. My phone was buzzing, like, ‘When are you coming back to Nigeria? We have this gig for you.’
I was put in a well-furnished house and all of that. Then two days later, the person who I was supposed to book a deal with said to me, ‘Those our financiers have pulled out. They have an issue.’ So, I said, what do I do? He was like, ‘From next month on, you will have to start paying rent in this house.’ The amount of the one-month rent was equivalent to a one-year rent in Nigeria.
I’m like, ‘I’m not earning any money so what do I do?’ I don’t know what to do. So, shot into that life, I had to figure out what to do. I had nowhere to go. Nothing to turn to. My phone was buzzing, like, ‘When are you coming back to Nigeria? We have this gig for you.’
$1,500 was all I came to America with. How do I buy a ticket to go back to Nigeria?
My life pattern then was so disorganised in the sense that I didn’t have a proper saving culture. With all the money I was making in Nigeria, my life was a mess. I sold my cars and gave out like 90 per cent of all my belongings in Nigeria. I was like, I’m going to America to live a good life and all of that stuff. How do I buy a ticket to go back to Nigeria? Lord, what do I do? And God said to me that ‘Welcome to the life that I arranged for you. I needed to break you away from your comfort zone so that I can build you.’
I was like, ‘No, no, no …’ He was like, ‘Yes, welcome to it. So, here you are, no way to earn a living. How do you move forward?’ Then, sometimes I will be in my room crying. I’m like, ‘Lord where do I go from here?’ And for some reason every month I get to pay the rent. I got connected to my church. And then someone gave me a car. I’m like, what do I do with the car? And they said Uber. I was driving for Uber and Lyft to pay my bills.”
Story story! How did you relocate to the United States??? With what kind of visa? Tourist visa? Because we know how yankee is 🤣. You went with visiting visa and probably buga for your friends in naija, only to reach abroad and realize money doesn’t grow on trees. Now you’re calling God for your mater.
ReplyDeleteIf you have ever come in contact with betrayers,you trust less.
DeleteYou don't know that feeling when you believe so much in someone and he let you down. Maybe he didn't know how the system works over there ,like they made him believe.
11:25 asked a valid question. When you're not issued immigrants visa, why would you buy a one-way ticket?
Delete@11:35, have you heard of artists visa! You guys just come on here to misbehave! I went to the US legally and my masters school fees was a $100k dollars! I always had my standby return ticket, no matter the hype for any country, I move to! I don't want to be bull shitted into doing any yeye job, in any foreign country!
DeleteThat has always been my mindset, since I started travelling early 2000s, whether in the UK,North America, the EU or the Middle East.
I have zero tolerance for BS in another man's country.
So stop coming on here to show your ignorance!!!
which artist visa? Abegi
DeleteLife has a way of shaping us into God's purpose for fulfilling His call on our lives no matter how much we try to run. It could come as material loss, pain, lack, betrayal, bereavement etc. The best is to be open minded and ask for grace through the process because there's no running away from it.
ReplyDeleteTrue
DeleteU're very correct. God wants the best for everyone. Wishing you all the best Joseph Benjamin, one of my favourite Nigerian actors.
DeleteRight@ TS.
DeleteGOD, THE ALL-KNOWING! Let your will be done in my life lord, in Jesus name.
ReplyDeleteHB1 or B2 dey expire.
ReplyDeleteWhen you put all your hope in human and their promises.He made you left everything in Nigeria with hope to give you a better life there, now the story has changed. From Nigeria celebrity to American Uber driver. Human is human.Thank God for your church members. Though shaaa, sometimes you have to leave your comfort zone for a better chance. Come and complete the story.
ReplyDeleteIt's well...
ReplyDeleteThnk u so much for dis message
ReplyDeleteI just relocated... Leaving my family in Nig.
Ecactly what Ben wrote, exactly wat i experienced, just one or two differences
I am a landlord in Nigeria, a former banker...
But i av to do this so dat my kids would hav a better life
Endure the pain, it won't last long. I pray that you enjoy your retirement in due time.
DeleteThere is no better life anywhere, than in Christ Jesus!!!
DeleteKpele bro/sis. Na so the abroad life hard for some of us in the beginning. I was a security guard for a year when I landed canada, did Healthcare work for another one year. Now, I'm working from the comfort of my home earning 120k+. Hang on. E remain small
DeleteIts well
ReplyDeleteGod is always waiting for us at every juncture.
ReplyDeleteAgain I ask, is the grass always greener on the other side???
ReplyDeleteNot always, but sometimes, yes!!
DeleteButttt, majority just pack their bags and move with no concrete plans whatsoever, the shege is worse that way, better when you have done your detailed research before diving into the pool, and already have plans to mitigate the challenges that will come.
As much as I sympathize with him, I am just curious on how he bought a one way ticket to America. You can only do that with either being a citizen or green card holder. Well what do I know. Meanwhile (genuinely) how can I contact him for a movie role here in Texas. Pls help a brother. (Even if it’s his email you have ) I don’t do social media that’s why.
ReplyDeleteHe went to America on a work visa for creative people.
DeleteWhy do you people judge so harshly without understanding??
Go and watch the interview on YouTube to understand the guy. Smh
work visa for which creative people? Is that a longterm visa???
DeleteDon't mind them. They are mad. Always assuming rubbish
DeleteI came to the US with a one way ticket on a student visa, una should take it easy. There is a visa type for extraordinary talent called O1 which is what artists like Rihanna came to the US on. Don't be so quick to throw people under the bus. Knowledge is power
DeletePeople do not understand when God breaks you away from others, to rebuild you. It is a humbling and eye opening experience. It ALWAYS works out for the best.
ReplyDeleteSimilar thing happened to me a few years ago. Now I understand why. But then, it was not easy!
Hnmmm it is well....
ReplyDeleteIt is well,my crush that year
ReplyDeleteOne-way ticket to the US? As a citizen or legal resident? Because, first, no airline will take you with a one-way ticket if you're neither of the above; second, the Border Agent will turn you deport you right from the airport. So something isn't adding up here.
ReplyDelete