Comedian and TV host, Teju Oyelakin, popularly known as Teju Babyface, has opened up about his move to the United States, describing the experience as far more challenging than he expected.
While addressing a common misconception that life automatically gets easier when one moves abroad on his YouTube channel, Teju explained that every place had its own set of struggles, which were often invisible from a distance.
“We all tend to suffer from what I call the ‘grass is greener on the other side’ syndrome,” he said. “From where we stand, somewhere else always seems better, more promising. But we rarely see the difficulties until we actually get there.”
Teju admitted that he initially regretted relocating, especially as life in the U.S during the COVID-19 pandemic proved tougher than he had imagined. “I lived there for years, trying to find my footing,” he lamented.
“America has its own unique challenges,” he said. “With COVID on top of that, it was brutal. For about three years, I was convinced I had made the biggest mistake of my life—that I had shot myself in the foot.”
He concluded by reassuring others considering moving abroad that such struggles were normal and urged Nigerians to make careful, informed decisions and embrace patience, emphasizing that true fulfillment often comes from growing and adapting where one is planted, rather than constantly chasing greener pastures.
