Comedian and TV host, Teju Babyface, has revealed that there was a time he deeply regretted relocating to the United States with his family.
In a new YouTube video on his channel, the comedian got candid about the struggles he faced after moving abroad, saying he suffered from what he called the “grass is greener” syndrome — a common illusion that life is automatically better in other countries.
“The issue with life is that we almost suffer from ‘the grass is greener on the other side’ syndrome. When we’re standing in one position in life and we’re looking at another place from where we are, that other place looks very green, very rosy, very appealing — and we want to be there. But we don’t see the challenges of that side from where we are standing.”
Teju explained that before leaving Nigeria, he was sure relocating was the right move for his career and family. But things quickly changed after they arrived in the U.S. — especially when the COVID-19 pandemic hit just a few months later.
“When we were leaving Nigeria, I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that it was the necessary next step in my career evolution. But when we got here and the challenges started, especially when COVID began, I was convinced I had made the biggest mistake of my life,” he said.
“America has its own unique challenges that you will go through — tough challenges. Then when you add COVID on top of that, ah! For about three years, I was convinced that I had made the biggest mistake of my life. That I had shot myself in the foot.”
The comedian said the experience shook him so much that he finally understood the meaning behind a classic King Sunny Ade lyric that had never made sense to him before.
“I had a phrase for it. I was convinced that I had taken a ruinous risk — the kind of risk that leads to ruin. Because I was completely lost and had no idea where my life was going,” he confessed.
“For the first time, I could understand what King Sunny Ade meant when he sang. I never understood what he meant in that song, and I’d been singing it all my life. But for the first time, I understood his sentiment.”
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