IN THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITIES

It was still like a dream, and that I would wake up any time and say, "Oh no! so this was all a dream." This was actually how I was feeling until after I came down from the plane at Kennedy Airport, went through all the security checkings and then came to the other side where people were waiting for their visitors. I then just saw her from afar with a card bearing my name. She ran and met me, hugged me so tight and was saying;- "Yes, you have made it!!!!!. You have come at last!!!!!. It was at that point that it was dawned on me that I was actually in NewYork, the land of opportunity.
I have never seen a city like that in my life. So big and with so tall buildings that looked like they could fall down at any moment. I was saying in my heart: "God, don’t let them fall down because it would be so disastrous." Amy also came all the way from California to be with me in New York. When we got home, we met Elizabeth and her husband who are a very wonderful couple. They welcome me to their home warmly. That day, except going out to eat, I and my mentor, Amy talked and talked on our lives, our families and our passions until we both slept off.
4th January:- Amy took me out to many places in New York. We went to the Time Square, Rockefeller Center, visited several shops where we did little shopping and then came back home. Amy is indeed my angel; guiding me through the city, guiding what I should eat so that I would not react to the new food and through out my stay, I did not have any trouble with anything I ate.
5th January:- We visited The museum of Natural History where I saw different animals that I had never seen before. The museum was so rich with natural history. In the museum we also entered a Planetarium where we had a journey to the star. In fact, if I had known how it would been inside the Planetarium, I would never have entered it for anything in my life. But after entering, and I knew I could not go out again until they finished, I resigned myself to fate and enjoyed it all. I would never forget that experience. The journey started from the Earth, where we basked in the warm ray of the setting sun. We then jump over 13 billions of years into the past, to a time when there were no stars at all to about 4.5 billion years ago when our very sun was born. We then traveled to the present day, zooming in our sun to see how the stars work and to explore stars in our galactic backyard that are going through all these processes now. We also visited several churches and went in the evening for Fella show. Fella was a musician in my country who died some years ago. I used to be his fan. He confronted the tyranny of military rule in Nigeria then with his music. The show brought him alive to me, It was like he resurrected and I really enjoyed the show.
6th January:- We went out again to visit some other places. We then stayed indoor most of the afternoon preparing the concept note for my vision and how the vision is going to be accomplished.
7th January:- We were indoor most of day preparing for my trip to Rhinebeck for The Empowerment Training. We also worked more on the concept note. We later took a train to train station that took me to Rhinebeck for the training. At the station, to make sure I arrived the place safely, Amy also handed me over to some other participants who were also going for the program whom she had earlier arranged with. And until Lenore, Piper and Isisara promised that they would take care of me for her, my mentor did not leave me.
In the evening of 7th to 10th January, I had the most wonderful weekend of my life which I would be sharing later in another journal.
10th January:- I met Lyn, a wonderful, down to earth woman who had prepared several delicacies for me to be having while I would be staying with her. Lyn is the head Board of Trustees of WorldPulse. I was sleeping in the Queens room which was Lyn’s own bedroom through out my stay. Wasn’t that cool?. Later in the evening of that same day, Jensine arrived from Portland, our own dear Jensine, the great woman whose vision brought alive my own vision. It was like I cannot have enough of her. We had nice time talking through the night before we finaly had to go and sleep.
11th January:- I met Regina who chaperoned me for the day, a woman who has been investing most of her life on children for them to develop a good and healthy self image. We visited again John Divine Church, Lincorn center and later had lunch in a very cozy restaurant. I had a great day. I ended the day with my mentor, Amy who was always there
12th January:- I started the day with jensine. We talked about her vision for WorldPulse in 2010 and her vision to travel the world. I later met Ann who was to chaperon me for the day. she is an amazing woman. She took me to Empire Building where she paid so much for us to travel to the 86th floor where we were watching the whole of NewYork below, It was an awesome view. Later we had lunch with Ann's friend, Holly who is working with kids. Her organization is called- ByKids. I watched the vidieo of a kids which I felt so connected with, it was as if I was watching my life history.
13th January:- I was at the Boomberg, a media company, with Jensine and Lyn where we met two other women who were working with some other women on bringing positive changes to women all over the world. It was after that meeting that I met Jade physically. I kept on touching and touching her as if she might vanish, such a sweet and wonderful woman. We visited the United Nation building together where we had a tour with a tour guide that told us the history of the UN, their work from the beginning to the end. We had the opportunity of entering the hall where all the Heads of State always have their meetings. We came back to Lyn's house where I and Jensine had our kind of Opera and Celebrity kind of interview which was recorded. We later also met an audience of men and women who are doing one great work or the other round the world. I ended the day with Amy and Jade with whom I had good discussions.
14th January:- I had my first yoga lession today with my mentor. I felt so good in my body after it. We went out in the afternoon to attend the lunch Gail organized to mark her birthday and in my honor. It was there that I met my soul sister, Tina. It was a memorable moment for me. I kept on holding her face as if I could not let go. I was able to share my vision and what I have learnt through the Voice Of Our future Correspondent Program. I was able to hear also from Tina and some mentors like; Taur Orange, Manon's mentor; Lynn Margileth, Tina’s mentor; Yvonne Bryant, Jackie’s mentor and my mentor, Amy Jensine and Adetola, a Nigerian but was born in America, who were all at the lunch about what they have learnt. We all received twinkles from others. It was a glorious moment, people were ready out-rightly to support my vision for the women in my community. I really appreciate the people. I also had the opportunity of meeting Natalie, Olutosin's mentor ealier at Rhinebeck who was so fond of her mentee. She kept on talking about her. I really enjoyed my time with her and I promised her that I and Tosin are going to organize how we can meet physically in Nigeria. She gave me a gift of a good winter coat and a scarf to protect me from the cold. We had a meeting later with some of Jensine’s friends and WorldPulse Board members and we also had a nice time.
15th January:- I went out with Ann again to visit her friend's NGO, Brotherhood and Sistersol. The work they are doing with kids there is amazing. I collected their curriculum to study and see how I can be part of their work. They took us round the Organization building to see what they are doing. After that, we met Ellen and went out to watch a film. Ellen was another wonderful woman I met during the trip whom I can never forget. She is amazing. The film we watched is about a tyrant who was oppressing a race and was resolute in destroying them. What stood out for me in that was how a man and women joined hand to work together and fight the tyrant and then conquered him. The man couldn’t have done it alone. The day ended with a dinner with some Board members and friends of WorldPulse.
16th January :- We went out in the morning to attend a meeting with the Board of Trustees of Worldpulse where I also shared my vision and what I learnt in the VOF program, They were so touched that they decided right there to support the registration of the Women Inspiration Center in Nigeria. I had to say goodbye after the meeting. Parting was so hard for all of us. Amy and I went out from there to do the final shopping. We then went back home to have a chat with David, Gail’s husband on the next step about my vision. At 7.00pm, we headed for the Kennedy Airport with Amy to catch my plane back to Nigeria. It was a tearful moment for me parting with Amy. I couldn't look back at last moment I was leaving her.