I got invited to a birthday party in England. I showed up ready to enjoy myself, only for the celebrant to casually mention that everyone would be paying for their own stuff.

I was like… wait, what?

Back home in Nigeria, if someone invites you for their birthday, they’re hosting. Food, drinks, activities, everything. If they can’t cover it, they’ll usually say it early so people can decide. Nobody just springs it on you.

I kept thinking about my friend’s birthday in Nigeria. He invited us out to play paintball. None of us paid for the game. He fed us too. That’s just how it’s done.

So being asked to pay at a birthday party felt awkward to me. Not offensive, just very strange. Over time, I realized it wasn’t about being stingy. It’s just a different culture. In England, birthdays are more casual. People come together, split bills, no big hosting pressure.

But that first time? It really showed me how Nigerian my mindset is. Till today, I still laugh when I remember how shocked I was 😂