Personal Odyssey Timeline by Odi Umeukeje

My time away from home

oumeukeje28 — 2025-05-28 16:38:26 UTC

In 2019 my parents sent my brother and I to Nigeria so we could spend the entire summer there. This wasn't the first time we had gone to Nigeria but it was the first time they didn't come with us. I remember being terrified, not because I felt unsafe but because I had never stayed in another country without my parents for an extended amount of time. I often had trouble sleeping at night because my mom wasn't with me but eventually I got used to it and I ended up having the best time.

How it relates

oumeukeje28 — 2025-05-28 16:38:37 UTC

My story relates to Odysseus' own because he was also for away from home for an extended period of time and he had no way of knowing when he was going to come home and he didn't know what was going on at home or the state he would find it in.

My strange experience

oumeukeje28 — 2025-06-02 19:30:38 UTC

The last time I traveled to Nigeria was June 1, 2024 and during that time they were doing Ibobo and this is when we celebrate the dignity and humanity of the people and we'll have something called Odo. Odo represents the dead returning to visit the living during this time. This could be strange or unique to other people because it's different from what people are used to seeing. The Odo does is not a daily occurance it only comes out during Ibobo.

Fake Friends

oumeukeje28 — 2025-06-03 01:17:42 UTC

For this story I will call this friend Zoe. I've been friends with Zoe since 7th grade and at some point I saw her as my best friend but over time I would notice weird things that she does. For example I would do something different with my hair because she would suggest it and I thought it was a good idea and the minute she heard someone compliment it she would make it known that she gave me the idea. Or she would do the opposite and purposely give me a bad hairstyle idea and join in when someone commented that it didn't look good. At first I didn't think anything of it but the more she did it the more it annoyed me. Another thing Zoe would do is make comments about the way I looked. To make matters worse she would do it in front of people I wasn't fond of. My breaking point was when I found out she was talking bad about me to one of my other friends. I completely stopped talking to her until she was willing too admit that she was in the wrong.

My babies

oumeukeje28 — 2025-06-03 02:40:16 UTC

My Argus were my cats Piper and Bris. I loved them to death. Before them I hadn't really liked cats but they changed my whole perspective on them. Piper was the boy and he would comfort me when I was sad. Its almost like he could understand emotions. Bris was the crazy one and you would always find her running away from something. I loved my cats and they loved me. They would sit with me while I did my homework and when I left to go to school they would wait for me on my bed. Even though they had to go live at my dad's office and I wouldn't see them for long periods of time. Whenever I did see them they would run to me and we would pick up right where we left off.

How it relates

oumeukeje28 — 2025-06-03 02:43:51 UTC

My experience with the Odo relates to Odysseus' experience with The Lotus Eaters because both the Odo and Lotus Eaters are something we haven't experienced before. The Odo is not "normal" by American standards but it is something that people with Nigerian backgrounds should be aware of. For Odysseus he hasn't encountered something like this before but for the people on the Island this is a normal thing for them.

How it relates

oumeukeje28 — 2025-06-03 02:47:11 UTC

My story relates to the Odyssey because the same way Odysseus' dog waited for him to come back is the same way my cats waited for me to come back. Both animals have the same loyalty factor that drives them to wait for their owners.

How it relates

oumeukeje28 — 2025-06-03 02:51:54 UTC

This relates to Odysseus' story because the same way my "friend" misled me to do hairstyles to make me look bad was the same way that Eurylochaus misled the crew to kill the cattle and put everyone in danger. Odysseus' trusted his crew mate to lead everyone in the right direction while he was asleep and I trusted my friend to give me suggestions that would make me feel better about myself. Both Odysseus and I were decided by people we were supposed to be able to trust.

My Penelope

oumeukeje28 — 2025-06-03 03:05:42 UTC

My Penelope is my friend Adrianna. We have been friends since 5th grade and since then she has never once done anything to betray my trust. She has always been there for me no matter what and when people tried to come between us we were confident enough in each other to not let the lies tear us apart. The things I've told her could've been used against me but she's never told anyone anything I trusted her with. She's my person and I can tell her anything and vice versa. Although I haven't seen her for some time I know our relationship is still strong.

How it relates

oumeukeje28 — 2025-06-03 03:36:04 UTC

Me and Adrianna's story relates to Odysseus and Penelope's story because even after not seeing each other for a long time we still have strong relationships with the other person. We've both been through tough times but at the end of the day we are still faithful to that person.