I decided to send in this mail because I think you are giving a skewed impression about living in the USA. I want to share with other blog readers that living in America is not as bad as TAC makes it seem.
I first moved to Canada in 2000, at the age of 24. I had completed my bachelors degree in Economics and thankfully, I had just received a full scholarship to study for my Masters Degree. When I first moved here, without any family, life was very tough. Even though my scholarship covered my daily expenses, it wasn't enough to send money back home. I was able to get a job in the factory and I must say that was the most difficult part of my stay here. Combining my masters education and factory work was not easy at all. And the cold was killing me.
By God's Grace after 2 years I had completed my education and gotten a job with the Canadian government. Eventually I moved to the US to pursue another masters degree, this time in technology.
I got a good paying job after that and my income is also quite good. Yes, I do miss my family sometimes, but with time I have met some amazing people who I take as my second family.
I think that if I had stayed back in my country, I might not have achieved all that I have today. I have a good job, 2 cars, and a nice home. I can afford to go on vacations to anywhere in the world. I have achieved all these from just my hard work. Mind you in my country if your father is a nobody, you cant achieve much in life.
So anyone that wants to come here, be prepared to work hard, the sky is your limit.
Thanks for sharing this. You use the key words: "hard work". That is something many african immigrants are not used to. In african countries,most of time,people spend 8hours at work instead of 8hours of work...
ReplyDeleteI concur life abroad is not as hard as people make it seem. I think because most young people moved abroad without prior experience of working and paying bills or rent these experiences once they land abroad sort of shock their system. The culture shock people who have never traveled before experience is the same culture shock a villager relocating to or visiting Lagos for the first time experiences.
ReplyDeleteyes...thanks for sharing...my kid sis wrote this piece and I think it correlates with this topic...http://www.nydjlive.com/40524/sizwe-bansi-is-still-dead/
ReplyDeleteYes Africans say we are hardworking but I always beg to differ. We love shortcuts and that does not always work abroad. I liked this piece. If you move abroad with a plan, you will be fine. Hard times has never killed anyone. When people whine, it makes me mad...I just want to shout, toh move back now since you complain about taxes and stress.
ReplyDeleteDear blog visitor, thank you for this write up. Am 24 years old and I lawyer in Nigeria. I graduated with a first class from the university and I have been looking for scholarships in Canada or the UK. I have searched on the internet to no avail so I gave up, but ur story has inspired me.
ReplyDeletePlease reply me and tell me how I can go about the whole scholarship thingy.
Thank you soooo much
Dear blog visitor, thank you for this write up. Am 24 years old and I lawyer in Nigeria. I graduated with a first class from the university and I have been looking for scholarships in Canada or the UK. I have searched on the internet to no avail so I gave up, but ur story has inspired me.
ReplyDeletePlease reply me and tell me how I can go about the whole scholarship thingy.
Thank you soooo much
hey...my scholarship was sponsored by the Canadian gov. I first gained admission to the school and applied for the scholarship. I heard they longer give that particular scholarship after the economic meltdown. but id advice you to first gain admission and then apply for teaching assistant from the university.
Deletedear blog visitor, I would also like to know how i can go about the scholarship thingy. kindly reply with links please.
ReplyDeleteYes! Life is awesome abroad!
ReplyDeleteSo, please, don't see it as bad when you relocate and your host/hostess asks you to split the rent, groceries, utility bills and gas with him/her after a month of staying. Because they are no longer the 'brother' you knew back home. It is now' ME'!
When you see the glory, ask for the story, so poster, please it would be very educative if you go into details about your tough times and how you pulled through,it would help some planning to relocate.
Everybody knows it is painful to give birth. But the pain cannot be sufficiently described in words to make people feel it, until they experience it themselves. This un-seen struggles is what some diasporas are trying to explain not complaining.