Life in the diaspora: Surviving the British weather
By Mary Opii
Winter season in the UK is long, damp, and unforgiving. The cold doesn’t just touch your skin, it seeps into your spirit if you’re not careful. Many Nigerians confess that their first winter is the hardest, especially when combined with the loneliness of being far from family and home. It is during these months that homesickness bites the hardest, and adjusting becomes more of a mental challenge than a physical one.
The first time I experienced a full British winter, I thought I was prepared. I had bought some winter jackets, boots, gloves, and even a scarf. But nothing could have prepared me for the chill that cuts through your bones, the early darkness that sets in before 4 pm, and the grey skies that seem to last forever. For us Nigerians used to sunshine almost year-round, the weather in the UK is more than a change, it is another culture shock.
The shorter days take many by surprise. By 3:30 pm in December, darkness begins to fall, and by 4 pm it feels like night. This lack of sunlight can affect mood and energy levels, something doctors here call Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). For Nigerians who are used to vibrant, sunny evenings back home, this sudden darkness can be disorienting.
Over time, Nigerians in the diaspora develop strategies to survive the weather. Thick winter coats, hot tea or coffee, electric heaters, and layering clothes become second nature. Some invest in daylight lamps to cope with the lack of sunshine, while others lean heavily on community gatherings to lift their spirits.
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Summer, on the other hand, is a season of joy and freedom. The long evenings, street festivals, and barbecues remind us of the warmth of home, even though British summers rarely match the intensity of Nigerian heat.
Travel is a central feature of the summer holiday. While some families back home head to the UK for holidays, many Nigerians in the UK see this as a perfect time to travel home. Summer is “Nigeria season” in London airports, as families pack their suitcases with gifts and travel back to reunite with loved ones. For those who remain in Britain, affordable flights to Spain, France, or Greece offer the lure of guaranteed sunshine and a taste of the familiar warmth left behind in West Africa.
The British weather is not just a backdrop, it becomes part of the immigrant experience. Surviving it requires more than warm clothes; it requires resilience, adaptation, and sometimes even humour. Nigerians learn to talk about the weather, because in many ways, it shapes daily life in the diaspora.
