The next day we traveled to Isuikwato again. The village: Mgbelu-Umunnekwu. It was the day of the burial of my Grandma Hannah.

Preparations galore. From the purple and white decorations to aromatic smell of the savory food; it was very busy in the compound.

Yet again, my brother and I found ourselves trying to stay cool by the fan in one of the rooms inside.

Although you couldn’t see it on our faces, we were so thankful that the electricity was functioning properly.

The sounds of Nigerian highlife and gospel music boomed out of the speakers and shook the ground of the compound outside and inside.

Hours passed and my brother and I continued to look for ways to kill time since we were definitely not going to go outside to sweat with everyone else.

I watched as my brother scanned the room.

He began to open up a small white box that was securely wrapped in clear translucent tape.

He pulled out what seemed to be a glass bottle of red wine and started to pull the foil off of the top.

We exchanged looks briefly, then I hopped up and disappeared to the kitchen. I wrapped a sharp knife in a napkin and proceeded back to the cool room.

I probably looked so suspicious but it didn’t look like any of the young kids I walked past had any energy to question me.

I grabbed the bottle from my brother, stabbed the cork with the knife and pulled the knife out with the cork attached.

In disbelief my brother threw his head back and laughed as he called me an alcoholic.

He grabbed an empty water bottle that was laying around and evenly split the wine with me.

We toasted and gulped down our drinks.

My stomach started to rumble as I laid on the bed staring at the wall. Some annoying little boy started to cry and scream outside by the window. It didn’t sound normal but… what is normal?

Within seconds the entire house reeked of goat.

I turned to my brother and asked, “was that a little boy crying or a goat?”

“What do you think?” He laughed.

Wow. My stomach stopped rumbling and I suddenly felt full.

“Food is ready!!!!!!!!!” Someone yelled.

Of course.

R.I.P. little goat.

Although they told me my plate was vegetable soup with fufu, I found out later that night (after sitting on the toilet for hours feeling nauseous) that I indulged in some of that goat. They really don’t understand you when you say, “I don’t eat meat” because of how uncommon it is. I couldn’t really be upset.

—

As the weather began to cool down, it gave me an opportunity to wander around the village and take everything in.

I watched as everyone’s faces displayed bright smiles and felt the laughter shaking the ground.

Through eavesdropping on conversations, reminiscing with my cousins, and speaking with my uncles and aunts, i developed a deeper understanding and admiration of my late Grandma.

Being born in 1928, she didn’t have much of an education since women during that time weren’t really sent to school. You would’ve NEVER guessed though because she was always so smart and quick thinking through conversations i used to have with her. It’s not just education that can shape a person, but REAL life experiences.

At a young age she married Daniel Ugwanyi. He was a soldier who fought in the middle east alongside the British frontier forces based in Israel against the German forces in the second world war.

Together they traveled a lot and when they weren’t traveling, they were tending to their farm and starting a family. My grandma spent a lot of time cooking, sewing clothes for people (sometimes for money, but most times just because she wanted to give and help), and being that friendly ear that everyone came to with their problems.

The stories go on and on. I spent the entire evening recording them all in my notebook.

Grandma Hannah Uzohia Nwanyibuego Ugwanyi (Nee Eloagu) is the woman who helped raise me! I share part of my first name with her and will always be so proud!

One thing is for sure and it was evident through ALL of our stories. Our grandma had the BEST virtues and knew how to carry herself.

My trip to the village today made me recognize the potential impact that having good virtues can have on our lives. It’s the essence of our character that does indeed have an impact on our destiny in life. The more we open our lives up to NEW possibilities, whatever it may be, the GREATER the fulfillment and happiness we will have.

Be great, do great, receive great — don’t you think?