5 Tips You Might Need to Become a Better Nigerian Neighbour
From waking up at odd hours to facing impossible traffic, being an adult can be quite exhausting. Having to deal with the same stress in your sanctuary would be infuriating.
Pleasing people is hard and quite unattainable all you can do is act right and stay away from as much drama as possible.
Here are 5 tips for becoming a better Nigerian neighbour;
. Utility Bills: In some apartment buildings, sharing utility bills is inevitable. Of course, as humans there will be times when it will skip your mind to attend to those bills, so you might want to set a reminder or include them in your to-do list. You don’t want to be that neighbour that makes life difficult for everyone else. In a situation where you have to be reminded, apologize to your neighbours and get them something for the inconvenience (suya or small chops, you choose).
. Stick to your Parking Space: There is nothing more annoying than coming home after a long day of work then realizing that your parking space has been taken, *sigh*. To avoid stressing everyone and even yourself, stick to your assigned spot. If you have a visitor over who doesn’t know how everything works, it is your duty to inform them and direct them to a spot suitable for visitors.
. Don’t be the Chief Noise Maker: One very common issue with the typical Nigerian neighbour is the issue of containing noise. Although, in this part of the world we would rather suck it in than confront the perpetrator, which often leads to resentment for the guy or girl next door. From jamming to your favorite album to weekly house fellowships, it is easy to get carried away and forget we aren’t the only ones in the building. Try to be very respectful of people’s feelings and put yourself in their shoes, no one likes the too self-absorbed neighbour.
. Give a Heads Up Before a Party: Letting your neighbours know they might not be having a quiet day at home is the least you can do and a simple way of getting animosity out of the window. Give them room to be prepared and depending on how private your party is, you can extend an invitation. Your neighbour doesn’t have to be your best friend but he doesn’t have to be your enemy either.
. Smile More: To be honest, you should never underestimate the power of a wholehearted smile. It takes the tension out of the room. Make it easy for your neighbours to air their concerns and go ahead to ask how their day was. There is absolutely no need for over-familiarity but a big smile and genuine care never hurt anyone.
The truth is you might do all of these and people would still have their reservations about you, there is not much you can do. Its better to be the nice neighbour than the one causing wahala.
