It was a Thursday morning, on the 1st of June 2016. I woke up several times that morning because of the excitement I felt inside of me. My hormones were jumpy and my nerves refused to calm down out of happiness. It was barely 5a.m when I finally stood up from the bed. I couldn’t hide the adrenaline that gushed through my spines when the thought that I was going to Paris later that night came through my mind.
Paris has always been one of the places I fantasized to go while growing up. I hoped that one day, luck will take me there and that day, surely came. I didn’t know I was going to be at Paris until that very afternoon the visa was issued. I felt so excited. It wasn’t my first time of boarding a plane, but the excitement I felt this time was differed from the others. I couldn’t wait to have an experience of Paris which I had heard so much about.
At the airport, there was the red carpet, and the excitement started to build up all the more, when I saw famous artists like Adesua Etomi, Linda Ejiofor, Ramsey Nouah, OC Ukeje, Elma Godwin, Ayo Animashaun, Kemi Lala Akindoju, Adekunle Gold and many more. There were lots of hypes about the movie “The C.E.O” I just couldn’t wait to watch the movie especially for the fact that we watched in on board Airfrance. “Wow!” I said to myself.
There were lots of discussions about the movie, which had been premiered half way. But there in the plane, it was going to be premiered fully. Eventually the plane took off at 11pm and it was smoother than I expected.
Kunle Afolayan came up to introduce the movie. We all had a screen to ourselves and the movie was so exciting, interesting, trilling and intriguing. I could go on and on describing what I felt. But I’ll stop at that. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to spend my Thursday night. The movie didn’t fall short of my expectations. It was so interesting that I had to watch it over and over again until I slept off, with a feeling that I was in the movie and I was soaring in the skies to Paris.
The voice of the pilot woke me from my wonderland or so I thought when he said around 5a.m “Very soon we will be in Paris and we will be landing”. But then, I wasn’t in wonderland. It was real! I was actually heading to Paris. I smiled to myself when I remembered my nursery rhymes “up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky.”
I couldn’t wait to see Paris and everything in it. I needed to see the splendour of creation, I needed to feel that special excitement that comes with being in this great city. I just needed to see Paris and live!
At the very minute when the pilot made the announcement I felt like a diamond in the sky.
When we got off from the plane, it was a completely different environment, different people with different culture. The weather was so cold. I had never experienced such a cold weather before. I was practically freezing and I quickly did a change of apparel, my sweater came handy. When I spoke, cold breath came out of my mouth and I couldn’t help but laugh at myself.
After rigorous checks at the airport in Paris, we finally got to the city of Paris. I couldn’t help but notice the way people went about their businesses in a hurry. They all walked so quickly as though they were chased by unseen people. I also noticed that they smoked cigarettes a lot. Ranging from youths to adults to older ones, both men and women…surely because of the freezing weather (I believe).
I observed that the buildings were alike, but somewhat historic and really strong. The buildings looked like there were stories or tales about all of them. The way they stood, strong and historic, really caught my attention. What really amazed me was that the buildings, though old outside, looked really modern and furnished inside. When we finally got to the hotel, it seemed like heaven on earth. I had various dishes to choose from. The sandwiches, chicken and chips, boiled chicken potatoes to mention but a few…I ate till I was satisfied.
After few hours to writing my stories and resting, we headed to the shopping mall. I went shopping in two different shopping complexes. It was really worth the while as I saw various things to pick up but discovered they were expensive however, I was happy I bought the things I got, though few.
The rest of my day at the film festival was also as exciting. Will love to drop my pen at this juncture but believe me when I say my experienced in Paris, though short but wonderful. I would love to go there over and over again. I saw Paris and lived.
IFEOMA OKEKE
