My Dream Come Through experience at Uyo
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My journey to Uyo for the Steemians National meetup was nothing short of a rollercoaster of emotions, from the moment I decided to make this trip, I knew it wouldn’t be easy on me as it was a distanced journey from me and I was occupied with family and work duties.
But I said it was worth it even as the journey was filled with challenges, from arranging transportation to managing my schedule, but deep down, I felt a surge of excitement and determination even as loving friends and teammates like @ruthjoe, @bossj23 and ma @ngoenyi was on a constant contact with me. Also, within me I had dreamt of this moment for so long, and I was not going to let anything stand in my way.
Even as friends kept asking me if it's worth me spending so much of funds for just a "mere meetup" as they would call it. Putting me into calculations of transportation, accommodation and feeding as it's a far distance from where I reside. Below were my calculated expenses for this trip;
| Item | Cost in Naira | Cost in Steem |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation | 20,000 (to and fro) | 44.6 |
| Accomodation | 10,000; x 2 (for two nights) 20,000 | 44.6 |
| Feeding | 5,000 | 11.2 |
| Miscellaneous | 5,000 | 11.2 |
| Total | 50,000 | 112 |
But then, I took on the road a day before the scheduled meetup date to be on time and avert any unexpected events to delay or cancel my journey, I encountered various obstacles that tested my resolve. There were delays, unexpected costs, and moments of doubt when I wondered if I should just turn back.
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But every time I thought about the incredible opportunity that awaited me, the chance to meet and connect with Steemians whom I had only interacted with online, I found the strength to push through. The anticipation built up inside me, fueling my desire to be part of something bigger, to connect with fellow Steemians who shared my passion.
Finally, when I arrived in Uyo, all the struggles faded away as ma ngoenyi and goodybest, people I look up to so much for motivation on this platform and that has influenced my Steemit journey on a great deal and they welcomed me with open arms. Shortly after, I was joined by the incredible Steem4nigeria team of admin and moderators in @ruthjoe, @ninapenda and @xkool who also came from a distance.
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We all were moved to ma ngoenyi's house and the atmosphere was electric, filled with laughter, shared stories about our different Steemit journey so far, and a sense of community that I had longed for. I most confess, meeting those reputable Steemians face-to-face was surreal, it was as if I was in a dream world. Each interaction was more enriching than I could have ever imagined, then I realized that this journey was not just about the destination, but about the connections I have come to forge and the inspiration I gained.
Night came and we all resigned to the comfort of our bed in our well arranged and taken care of accommodation by ma ngoenyi in the place of Jerrycare hotels and suites. Then came the morning and the D-day of the event.
The day started with preparations of food and drinks for the occasion and the arrangement of the venue. Then came the time when Steemians started trooping, all with smiles and the disbelief of seeing certain personalities they could only interact with online.
The event kicked off with opening prayers, committing the event and those still on their way coming. Then we moved onto lectures about Steemit, engagement and promotion which was handled by ma ngoenyi, goodybest and sir Xkool24 respectively. We all were surprised by the benevolent nature of our brother @bossj23 as we brought out gift items dedicated to some special Steemians and it was presented there to them respectively.
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The day drew to a close with refreshments, a lot of photographs and dancing as users were filled with excitement. With the night fast approaching, we retired to the comfort of our beds, and morning came and I was on the road again, it was time to go home, and as God would have it, I got home safe and sound. I counted it a joyous moment as it was a moment of triumph, a dream come true for me, and I left Uyo with a heart full of gratitude and hope for the future.
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I can say that in all, my calculated costs wasn't the reality of what I spent in total. Below is the total rundown of all my expenses.
| Item | Cost in Naira | Cost in Steem |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation (going) | 10,500 | 23.4 |
| Transportation (coming back) | 12,000 | 26.8 |
| Miscellaneous | 5,000 | 11.2 |
| Total | 25,500 | 61.4 |
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Oh yes, you are seeing that right, wondering where feeding and accommodation went? well, that was taken care of by our amiable sponsors of the meet in the persons of the @Steem4nigeria community, @Steemkidss and parents community, and ma @goodybest.
Therefore, I take the means also to appreciate all the Steemians that came out, your love was massive on me that I didn't want to leave the city of Uyo. I would like to personally appreciate ma @ngoenyi, ma @goodybest, and sir @xkool24 for their leadership skills in coordinating such as wonderful events. Also I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all Steemians that made it colorful for me, more especially @kidi40, @bonaventure24, @alli001 and @bossj23 for treating me like a brother and not some random dude you met online. Till we meet again, thank you to the entire Nigerian Steem community for the smiles we share and I very much look forward to the next one, maybe I may get to receive a gift from @bossj23 next time, till then, stay safe, productive and onward, no looking back.
THANK YOU NIGERIA!. THANK YOU STEEMIT!
NOTE: Always have a smile on your face, as you are never fully dressed without one.
You really made huge sacrifices to be present at that meetup judging from the cost of transport. But, I can see that to you, the joys and the experiences is worth all the sacrifices. This meetup is one of its kind. I was pleased to have you around and I enjoyed your company. Sorry for the little delays in food servings, I had never been busier. I am glad that you arrived your destination safely. O wish to have this type of meetups always. Thanks for coming
Greetings ma. First, thank you so much for your kind words. It really means a lot to me. I truly appreciate the effort you put into organizing the meetup, and I had a fantastic time connecting with everyone. The experiences and memories we created together are priceless, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. No worries about the food delays, besides I was overfeed continually. I look forward to more meetups like this in the future.
Upvoted! Thank you for supporting witness @jswit.
Sahmie, you are wonderful! Thank you for your sacrifice. Your presence added excitement to the event, making it more authentic and meaningful. We will definitely meet again, in a grander setting. Be blessed!
Greetings ma,
Thank you so much. And I must say your words has truly put a smile on my face. I'm really glad to hear that my presence made a difference at the event. I had a great time and can't wait for our next meetup in an even grander setting. Wishing you all the best.
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It was a nice moment meeting with you. Your presence was worth the while and I appreciate you for showing up. See you in the next meet up!
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Saludos amigo espero estes bien me alegra mucho que hayas tenido la oportunidad de ir a ese viaje para reunirte con otros steemians son experiencias fabulosas que valen la pena yo he tenido la oportunidad de asistir a enventos asi en mi pais y se la pasa increíble un abrazo.
Hey there. Thanks for your kind words, I really appreciate it. It was an amazing trip, and I loved meeting everyone. Those experiences really do mean a lot, just like the ones you've had. Sending a big hug back to you.
Hello boss Sahmie it was indeed a pleasure meeting you in person you're such a humble and wonderful guy and i really enjoyed the moment we spent together ❤️ it will forever remain in my heart.
The meet-up was one of a kind because we had the opposite to meet everyone physically after years of interacting online it was indeed a memorable experience.
I am happy you're back safely to your base, neft years meet-up will be more memorable than this, have a nice day brother 🫂
Greetings. It was truly great meeting you too, I'm really glad we finally got to connect in person after all this time. Those moments we shared are definitely special and will stick with me as well. I appreciate your kind words; it means a lot. I can't wait for our next meet-up, and I’m sure it will be even more amazing. Have a fantastic day too, brother. ❤️
Thanks brother for the wonderful reply, uyo is a wonderful city and i am sure you enjoyed yourself.