Moving from my small village to the big city of Kinshasa

Written by: Admin_SheEvo

In the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is a town where people live slowly, like the river that flows through it. I was born and raised in this simple place, which was filled with the love of a close-knit community and the bright colours of nature’s gifts. But as I got older, I realized that if I wanted to reach my goals and make a future for myself, I had to leave my dear town and make a hard trip to Kinshasa, the country’s capital.

It wasn’t easy for me to decide to leave my town behind. Situations and goals brought me to the point where I had to take a leap of faith. Like many people before me, I was drawn to the capital city, which was said to be where dreams became real. Still, the trip was full of uncertainty, fear, and longing for the simple life in the village. The hardest part of the process was leaving my family and neighbourhood behind. Their love and support had been the foundations of my life, and the thought of leaving them broke my heart. The town was the place where my dreams started to grow, and the ties I made there are a part of who I am.

Still, I moved forward because I had a strong desire for chance and improvement. I wanted to get out of my village, where I was poor and didn’t have much. I wanted to see the world beyond my village. I knew that the capital city held the key to the door of opportunities, where my dreams could take off like the birds flying high above the village fields.

On the way to Kinshasa, I had to deal with a lot of hard things that tried my strength. The rough roads, dangerous terrain, and uncertain weather were like the problems that country life had always had. But these problems came with the hope of a better future, which gave me the strength to keep going.

Kinshasa is a large city with many different cultures, languages, and possibilities. The city was full of energy and movement that I had never seen or felt before. It was scary and exciting at the same time, because the noise of the city was so different from the quiet of my town.

As I looked for work in the city, I found it to be both friendly and uninterested. Even though there were more job possibilities, the competition was tough and it wasn’t easy to get a job. Rejection became something I was used to, and sometimes I was tempted to go back to the country, where life was simpler.

But it was during these hard times that I learned how strong and flexible I really was. Kinshasa, with its busy streets and crowded markets, taught me how to survive and make do with what I had. This melting pot of events was where I learned new things and got better at what I already knew.

As the days turned into weeks and then months, the city slowly wrapped its arms around me and turned into a second home. The confusion of the city, which used to be too much to handle, turned into a soothing background hum, and the strange faces became friends and confidants. The pulse of Kinshasa became one with mine, and I started to enjoy the unique pace of city life.

Now that I look back, I can see that moving from a town to a city was more than just a change of place. It was also a change of spirit. My choice to leave my town in search of a better life was an ode to hope and a tribute to strength. It taught me how important it is to accept change, even when it seems scary, and how strong you can be when you step out of your comfort zone.

As I stand in the middle of Kinshasa’s busy streets, I’m thankful for the trip that brought me here. The city has given me the chance to learn, grow, and find out more about myself. But my heart is still tied to the town where I grew up and learned the ideals that continue to guide me.

The trip from country to city is not just mine; it is also the story of a lot of other people who have had the courage to follow their dreams beyond where they were born. It shows how strong the human spirit is and how hope keeps us moving forward even when things don’t go as planned.

The town and the city are two colourful pieces in the puzzle of life. Each offers its own experiences and lessons. Together, they show how the Congolese people have grown, how different they are, and how strong they are. As I continue to make my way in Kinshasa, the main city of Congo, the knowledge and love of my village will always be a part of me.