Family Stories

Confessions of an American Living in Nigeria

1 year ago

Episode 1: The Good If someone had told me five years ago that I would leave my cozy life in Austin, Texas, pack my bags, and move to Nigeria — of all places — I would’ve laughed in their face. But life, in its ever-twisting nature, had other plans. It started with a job offer.

From Lagos to London: My First Year Abroad – A True-Life Experience Episode 7

1 year ago

Episode 7: Finding My Feet From Lagos to London: My First Year Abroad I always heard people say, “The beginning is the hardest.” But no one ever says how long that beginning can last. For me, the storm didn’t calm overnight. It took months of grinding, humility, and small wins that didn’t make the headlines

From Lagos to London: My First Year Abroad – A True-Life Experience Episode 6

1 year ago

Episode 6: When Everything Almost Fell Apart From Lagos to London: My First Year Abroad I always thought the hardest part of being abroad was getting here. Visa applications, flight bookings, saying goodbye to your old life — those are all brutal in their own way. But no one tells you what happens after you’ve

From Lagos to London: My First Year Abroad – A True-Life Experience Episode 5

1 year ago

Episode 5: The Highs and Lows of Love in a Foreign Land (From Lagos to London: My First Year Abroad) They say loneliness hits harder in a foreign land. I used to think I was strong enough to handle it, but nothing prepared me for the weight of quiet nights in my tiny flat in

From Lagos to London: My First Year Abroad – A True-Life Experience Episode 4

1 year ago

Episode 4: School, Stress, and Sudden Realizations The days had started to blend together — a continuous loop of school, job hunting, and the weight of being in a foreign country. The initial rush of excitement had faded, and now I was left with the harsh reality of balancing academics with the pressures of daily

From Lagos to London: My First Year Abroad – A True-Life Experience Episode 3

1 year ago

Episode 3: Budget Struggles, Job Hunts, and the Dream of Love It had been almost a month since I arrived in London, and I had begun to feel the weight of reality settling in. The initial excitement of being in a new country had worn off, and now I was grappling with the everyday challenges

From Lagos to London: My First Year Abroad – A True-Life Experience Episode 2

1 year ago

Episode 2: Touchdown in London: The Cold Reality The next morning, I woke up to the relentless drizzle of rain tapping against my window, the gray sky casting a somber light on everything around me. I had hoped that it was just an anomaly, a rainy day in London, but as the hours passed, I

From Lagos to London: My First Year Abroad – A True-Life Experience

1 year ago

A Coolvalstories Original Episode 1: The Dream to Escape I had always dreamed of leaving Lagos — escaping the chaos of the city, the daily grind, and the weight of unfulfilled promises. For as long as I could remember, my heart longed for a change, and that change, I believed, would come in the form

How I Survived a Loan App Blackmail Threat episode 6

1 year ago

Episode 6: Healing After the Storm For weeks after the chaos ended, I found myself living cautiously.I checked my phone nervously.I flinched at every unknown number.I even hesitated before posting anything online. It was like the trauma had hardwired fear into my daily routine. But as the days turned into weeks, something beautiful started happening.

How I Survived a Loan App Blackmail Threat episode 5

1 year ago

Episode 5: Enough is Enough Hearing that my mother had collapsed broke something inside me.All the shame, all the fear — it burned away, replaced by pure, cold determination. I couldn’t keep living like a hunted animal.I had to end this, no matter what it took. The first thing I did was gather all the

How I Survived a Loan App Blackmail Threat episode 4

1 year ago

Episode 4: When Fighting Back Got Dangerous The day after my Facebook post went viral, I woke up to find that the loan app agents had shifted gears.This time, they weren’t just threatening me personally — they were trying to destroy my character publicly. Someone — probably one of them — created a fake Twitter

How I Survived a Loan App Blackmail Threat episode 3

1 year ago

Episode 3: The Fight for My Name That night, sleep refused to come.My heart pounded, my hands trembled, and every time I closed my eyes, I saw my reputation burning. By morning, I knew I had only two options: Option One: Cry, hide, and let them destroy me completely. Option Two: Stand up and fight

How I Survived a Loan App Blackmail Threat episode 2

1 year ago

Episode 2: The Day My World Fell Apart The first person to call me was my cousin, Tolu. His voice was sharp, full of anger and confusion. “Anita, what’s this nonsense I’m seeing about you owing money and running away? Somebody sent it to me on WhatsApp. What is going on?” I stuttered, trying to

How I Survived a Loan App Blackmail Threat

1 year ago

Episode 1: The Loan I Should Never Have Taken Life in Lagos is tough, but that week, it was unbearable.My rent was overdue, no money to even buy food, and my office hadn’t paid salaries in over a month. I sat in my tiny room in Ojodu, staring at my cheap Android phone, wondering what

My Siblings and I episode 7

1 year ago

My siblings and I Episode 7(the end) Written by Rukevwe merry Cynthia and Ken, desperate to make amends, traced Patrick to his new house. They arrived, hoping to beg for forgiveness. “Please, Patrick, forgive us,” Cynthia pleaded, tears streaming down her face. Ken knelt beside her, his eyes red-rimmed. “We were blind, Patrick. We didn’t

My Siblings and I episode 6

1 year ago

My siblings and I Episode 6 Written by Rukevwe merry Patrick took a deep breath, his eyes locking onto his family. “I called this meeting to beg you guys to help me,” Patrick began, his voice filled with emotion. He walked over to Perry and took her hand. “I’m not getting any younger, and I

My Siblings and I episode 5

1 year ago

My siblings and I Episode 5 Written by Rukevwe merry Patrick woke up in his hotel room, feeling refreshed. He had made up his mind to leave the city and return to the village to see his parents After checking out, Patrick decided to treat himself to a luxurious surprise. He visited a high-end car

My Siblings and I episode 4

1 year ago

MY SIBLINGS AND I EPISODE 4 WRITTEN BY RUKEVWE MERRY Later that night, Bright’s door creaked open to Cynthia’s persistent knocking. He found her sitting outside, her eyes brimming with tears. “Cynthia, why are you still here?” Bright asked, incredulous. “I have nowhere to go tonight,” she replied, her voice laced with desperation. “And these

My Siblings and I episode 3

1 year ago

MY SIBLINGS AND I EPISODE 3 WRITTEN BY RUKEVWE MERRY Patrick’s encounter with Joy had left a sour taste, but Emma’s unwavering support strengthened their bond. Emma’s defense of him against Joy’s ha.rsh words reassured Patrick of his brother’s loyalty. After spending a few more days with Emma, Patrick decided it was time to continue

My Siblings and I episode 2

1 year ago

MY SIBLINGS AND I EPISODE 2 WRITTEN BY RUKEVWE MERRY Day turn into weeks and Patrick’s village life became routine. To further his test, he visited Emma, the third born. Emma welcomed Patrick with open arms, and their brotherly bond strengthened. For three weeks, all was well until Emma’s girlfriend, Joy, arrived. Her presence altered

Family Stories

Download Afrikstories App