₦airaland Forum

How did you know, I had that one planned for Monday

ekt_bear:
Next up from odumchi: "5 reasons why heaven is worse than nigeria"

On serious note, America is not heaven. I'd rather live in my peaceful village in the SE than step foot in America. 

@Kabukabu

It might be the same english, but the terms are very different.

There was a film that I wathced about a Nigerian who went to America for the first time. The guy thought that everyone in America was on drugs because they asked for "soda" which has an alternate meaning in Nigeria. Spelling is a thing to take into consideration too. And yes of course as Bugzee stated.

^^^
No one is comparing the US governemnt or economy to that of Nigeria. We are simply discussuing how well the US accomodates new Nigerian immigrants and what the pros and cons of living in the US are.

Eklectronic - "Okwuinoku"

Can we switch places ?

There are many ways of saying I miss you in Igbo, here are a few:

1. A'humgi unyahu, kama ikadi n'obim - "I did not see you yesterday, but you are still in my mind (or heart)"

2. Ikadi n'obim - "You are still in my heart (or mind)"

3. Ahumgi - "I did not see you"

^^^
Nothing much, just surviving the heat hbu?

Smart reply.

Kay-Dee:
I said before that you can make it anywhere on earth if you are a smart person. It musn't be in America. Its up to you to know your worth and weigh your options. If you are earning $250k in naija and you're being offered $100k as net pay in America, then ure better off sitting home than coming over. If i was earning $100k in naija and I have the opportunity of earning $250k (NET) here or in Ukraine, then its a better option for me. simple as ABC

It seems that many of you are suffering from "American fever". I dont know what you people see as so great in this land of corruption, debt, obesity, financial insecurity or etc. But if America is heaven on earth, why dont you all go and live in America and call it a Happy ever after?

Let me break it to you guys, I have experienced the best of America and the best of Nigeria. I dont want to disclose my location because it will give you guys a reason to doubt my points or etc. Remember, Im not forcing any of you to do anything, If you'd like to live your life in America, its not my problem, what I ask is that we keep the insults to a minimum.

To those of you clammering that debt is optional, but what can you do in the USA without debt? Tell me, how will buy a house or even rent without debt? How do you ntend to make car payments, bills, order things, and even go to school without ammasing atleast 50K USD as debt? Concerning the homes, i feel it depends on where you live or your area. In my area, such homes are 400k and up. Homes in the South are obviously cheaper, (4 bedrooms) can be around 300k due to the poor materials, and their exposure to hurricanes and etc. But, like I said I'd prefer you respond modestly.  

Idk?
Someone help me decide?

Kobojunkie:
So we should forget the hundreds others who did exactly what the guy did and NEVER REGRETTED it simply because you know of ONE man who did? How old are you

Do you realize how terrible an approach to life that is? Picking up on ONE FAILURE -- who you probably only know 0.001 % of the whole story --- and basing your whole outlook on this, on just that one?

Why are you being so agressive about it? Cool down, Ive been nice and civil to you and atleast respect me by being that way too. I didnt say you should forget about anyone, Im just bringing up an instance. Besides, If a kid is born, raised, and lived in America for his entire life, what makes yo think he will go to Nigeria and marry a Nigerian instead of an Akata or AA who he happens to live around?

I hope you get my point. Im not trying to force anyone to stay in Nigeria. You can live in America your entire life for all that matters, its not my problem. Im just tabling my thoughts.

You have to hink about the long-term pros and cons.

If you go and live in America:
A. Will your kids learn their language, their culture, and their tradition? (Only about 20-30% of Nigerian children born in America can speak their ethnic language)
B. Will your debt ever be paid before you die or will it become your children's responsibility?
C. Will I forget my people back home?
D. How long will I stay in America?
E. Will I decide to go home and if i do wll my children go with me?
F. Will my cultural identity survive in America?

mr_man:
i have never been to america, but i am guessing i wouldn't have to worry if boko haramites will blow off my head, if there will be power supply when i get home from work after spending 6hours in traffic on a 30mins drive, i wouldn't have to develop unevenly toned biceps cos of pulling my gen, i wouldn't have to check every danfo to see if all the occupants are men before i enter, i wouldn't have to wait 6years after finishing secondary school to gain admission cos i don't have ''connection'' only to spend 6yrs doing a 4yr course, then another 2yrs in the labour market, then go on strike before government can even consider paying me 18k, if i have an opportunity ehen i will not think twice before i leave this country. the labour market, then go on strike before government can even consider paying me 18k, if i have an opportunity ehen i will not think twice before i leave this country.

@ Bk.Babe that guy in your pic is a victim of America. What makes him different from any other AMerican Akata?

@Alj and ALL

Massive Debt is the worst thing that can happen to a country. All those nations that you pointed out with massive debt are in a recession, especially the US. By August this year, the US is planning on either freezing spending or raising their spending limit. Billions of dollars are wasted on things that can be easily solved such as diabetes treatment and etc which is caused by the unhealthy habits of the people which is caused by debt.

Look at nations like China. They have little to no debt and they are flourishing. Their economy is flourishing because everyone owes them money not the other way around. And about America, its one of the worst places to live in terms of longeterm achievements. Theres nopoint investing in Americ abecuase almost every avenue has been traversed by someone before you. Nigeria is a young country in need of investment and help. If you guys invested all this money that you are spending in America back into Nigeria, it would be a much better place today.


Remember every empire will eventually fall, and the US's glory days are long gone. They were in the 1950's and 1960's. If America is so great why dont you all sel all your belongings, and move to America without giving two cents about Nigeria?

I heard of a guy who travelled to America and built his family there. He and his wife had kids and they neglected to teach them about their culture/background simply because they were in America. Their kids never went home with their parents, and they came to see themselves as "African Americans" instead of "Nigerian Americans". The guys kids all married akatas and ran away from him to somewhere in the US. The guy himself became lonely and regretted his actions. He found out that he had an anxiety disorder which did not allow him to travel far distcances. Hence, till this day, the man is stuck in America and is longing for his homeland which he is unable to see.

Sun of god:
A lot of silly arguments and comparisons as usual. . . . .

Let me first state I may not be the most qualified person to talk about the US but I've been there (Only Florida) and have seen for my own eyes both the good and bad sides of the country.

All this talk about houses - the comparisons being made are not on a like for like basis. A very good proportion of homes in the US are mainly made of wood or other soft fabrics. In Nigeria homes are mainly built with concrete blocks/bricks and are more robust. And last time I checked , house prices in america were still declining and are not a good investment.

I saw mainly fine looking homes especially in 'Miami' but they were not constructed from solid materials. And if you go into 'Downtown Miami' you see plenty of run down 'shacks' most Nigerians would refuse to sleep in. I 'swear' there were places where there was no light! (no go area's)

Moving on to the debt situation - A majority of Americans have lived above their means for years. Purchasing all sorts of 'toys' on credit just to feed their egos. Also its shocking to see maybe  7/10 people who are considerably overweight. Seems the yanks have become accustomed to over eating with the use of their credit cards. Most dont even seem to acknowledge that they look abnormal.

I think the level of stress they experience is linked to the amount of debt they as a country and individually owe.
Officially the country owes 14 Trillion but this doesn't account for their unfunded liabilities eg Social Security, Medicare, Pensions etc. Taking all these into account then 'America' is actually in debt to the tune of over 100 trllion and they dont have the means to pay it back. I'm confident that if Nigeria focused on repaying our debts it could be achieved in a few short years.

The culture is completely messed up. The blend of all these displaced people like african americans, latinos, irish americans, cubans,italian american, etc result in the country not actually having a unique culture. It seems these groups tend to live in 'ghettos' amongst their own people. Such an environment is devastating to any Nigerian born and raised there or who has lived there for over maybe 5 years. They loose their sense of identity and become 'messed up' also. The same cannot be said of Nigeria.

A very meaningful post, thank you for your input.

GAR3TH:
Are you sure? The average 4 bedroom home in New York is Around $350k, and these are suburban homes 40 to 50 miles from NY city.

I didn't know chicago was that bad of a city, or is the "home" you mention in a bad neighborhood,

Feel free to search.

http://www.homes.com/For-Sale/NY/ISLIP/maxprice=500000&listing_type=RESALE_FORECLOSURE

Thank you, that seems like the minmum and that itself is N58 million. 30k USD for a decent home is a joke. Even a dilipidated shack will not be that cheap.

jara:
Odumchi,

You have very valid points.

The problem is we always look at those that are lucky in the U.S, like you have to play loto to win. It is a difficult country and many times inhuman to its own people too.

On the other hand, we also look at the worst in Nigeria. If you can stay middleclass, there is no place like Nigeria. But if you are dirt poor, any place but Nigeria. So it depends on how you look at it.

People will never believe you until they try and some of those that try also lie. One should know in advance what is waiting for them in the USA. No place like home.

Thanks, i appreciate it when people can peacefully table their ideas.

Kobojunkie:
Ordinary 4 bedroom? Even here in Chicago, you can get one of those for about $130,000 and I am talking only a couple of minutes from downtown. Na wa ooo!!

It must be the location in New York the prices are around the range I posted. And New York and Texas are the main areas in which Nigerian Immigrants enter the US.

norrisman:
Sorry but this guy shouldbe called [b]Ode[/b]mchi as in [b]Ode[/b]chukwu Jonathan. I do not want to diss anyone becuase of their level of education but you must be either educated to a very low level or you are just plain dumb. All your examples are so meh!

1. Taking up credit is a personal choice. You do not have to make use of credit facilities but it may be necessary to do so to build your credit if you plan to buy a house in the future as you do not find overnight millioanires in america who can afford to buy a $500,000 house cash like you do in that mad country Nigeria where government officials use the peoples commowealth for themselves.

2. The 24 hour system is part of what makes the country and very few people work are compelled to do 12 hour shifts. even when you do a 12 hour shift, you ahve the appropriate number of days off. If you care to know my dads driver in Nigeria arrives at my house at 6Am in the morning and only leaves after droping my dad off at 10/11pm and he does this 6 days a week. sometimes he is asked to come on Sundays as well and there is no official overtime! how many ours is that. The same goes for the boys in my mums shop. 8am to 7pm Monday to Saturday for N12,000/ month.

3. Professional devalue my a$$. In the western world, experience counts. All your paper cerificates are worthless! What do you expect? To walk of the plane and into a $100,000/ year job? Wake up mofo! pay your dues.

4 Does any memebr of your family have N83,000,000 cash to pay for a house. Cut your coat. Tthere are house way cheaper than that. You can get $50,000 house in some run down parts of Atlanta if you can afford it. Please give me the contact details of the car seller in Nigeria where I can buy 2 brand new SUVs for N6.6million.

5. Screw native language. can Barack Obama speak Kenayan or whatever they speak over in kenya? Is he not the bloody president.

In summary, You are not a very bright spark!

@ Norrisman
You arent very bright yourself. How many Nigerians coming to America are doctors, lawyers, and millionares? Most Nigerians entering America are in the American "poor" class and they take up meager jobs, often many part time jobs at once. Its a shame that you dont embrace your native language and are speeding up the process of extinction for whichever ethnicity you are. Again I do not want to be an Obama in the sense that I will be the most powerful man in the world but will not know anything about my culture.


About the car, I know someone who is a major exporter of cars to Ngeria and sold a brand new Ford explorer for around N2M

Tutone22:
This guy must have never been to america before, sound like youre repeating things someone else told you. the only valid point you have is the cultural diffusion. Everything else you said is baseless. Nigeria is alot more stressful than america, a country where there is no middle class and most people under stress havent even been diagnosed.
Majority or american work 8 hour days not 12
500k does not buy you an ordinary house in america, 150-200k buys you an ordinary house depending on where you live a 500k house is called a mansion is most places in america
The Debt situation is what lets the average man live in that 500k house and the lack of it is what keeps a nigerian in a single room with no lights, Personally id rather be in debt and live well then live where the average nigerian call a home

Lastly your logic about the jeep prices shows why nigerian professions are devalued in other parts of the world. Youre either not very well educated, or have a nigerian degree from a school there that other developed countries refuse to recognise because their graduates make the type of statement that you just made. There are Cars made in america, be at a jeep or any other type you also used the word brand new, No car sold in nigeria is made in nigeria so how do you explain a brand new car being cheaper in nigeria than it would be if that same new car is sold in the US where there is either made or the manufacturer has a dealer

How are you so sure that Ive never been to America or that I am not IN America?
1. 50k-200k cannot buy you a decent home in America. A four bedroom single family house costs anywhere from 500k-1million USD you will be lucky to find it for 400k. With 150k you can purchase a two bedroom condo or a multi family building. Mansions are millions of dollars.
2. I am not talking about the majority of America, I am talking about Nigerian immigrants who go to America.
3. Why are you contempt in being in debt? Debt  is the chain that ties you down.
4. To your statement about cars, you clearly do not understand automobiles or pricing for that matter. Take for example a 2002 Mercedez Benz C class. In the US this car would be atleast 15k (N2.4M) While in Nigeria, this car can be N2.0M or less. American car brands arent popular in Nigeria, so please keep them out of the equation. Asian and European cars are cheaper in Africa since most of them are accidented or imported and their prices are slightly lower as compared to their American-bound models in order to appeal to a "middle class" Nigerian population. Please research information before you make any definite statements.

Anything you want to be but on three conditions:

1. Your family spends three generations paying off your student loans, your debt, and mortgage
2. Your children will lose their cultural background
3. You pay rediculously high prices.

^^
I know, I understood you. Finally someone sees my point

^^^
Im serious! That Rav 4 is not over 2 million Naira. You can buy 3 of them with that kind of money!

^^^
How many Nigerians can afford a 3D television not to talk of normal flat screens?
The fuel thing is not very realistic, Africa and the rest of the developing world will continue to rely on cheap fossil fuels for development for atleast a few more centuries.

Your argument on debt does not hold ground. America has been regressing since the 1980s before the Gulf wars. the US's problem is it consumes more than it produces it used to be a nation of producers now its a nation of ocnsumers. Everything in the US is made in China while very few things are made in the USA.

Nigeria is a young country with many opportunities. You can easily become wealthy if you work towards it. There are so many ways that you can invest in Nigeria just to name a few:
Transportation (If you own a rock supply company in Enugu and win a contract to supply stones for the Lagos Ibadan railway, you will be made.)
Entertainment
Oil
Import/Export
Electronics (design a chepa versatile laptop that millions of Nigerians can fford and you will be made)

I suggest you invest in your own country, remember, the American Empire is on the verge of collapse and where will you go when it does?

ekt_bear:
1. Debt is optional. It is a sign of the US's strength over Nigeria, actually. In Nigeria, everything you must either pay cash down or borrow at very high interest rates to pay for. Here you can borrow at low interest rates. Which means a poor man can get a college/law school/mba/etc education and move up in life.
There is more class mobility in the US than in Nigeria.
2. Who works 12 hr shifts in the US? Not that many.
3. You are right about degrees, but that is the nature of things. Unfortunately, Nigerian degrees aren't worth very much in the rest of the world (not just the US), so you'll not be gifted a job w/o reproving yourself.
4. US is actually a cheaper place to live than Nigeria. Food prices, clothing, autos, homes, etc all cheaper. Only thing cheaper in Nigeria is labor.
5. Cultural issues is a problem, I agree.

4. How is the US cheaper when compared to Nigeria? If you want cheap food you wlll ultimately grow overwheight (McDonalds etc)
2. Many Nigerians who migrate to the US take up many jobs and work long shifts doing meager jobs like security, fastfood resturaunts, janitor etc.
3. Youre right about degrees but how will you pay off your student loans? It will just be extended debt.
1. Debt was once a good thing but now its very bad for the US. The nation owes 14 trillion dollars in debt and as we speak, Obama is thinking on how to drive the US out of its debt problem.

EzeUche:
I live in America and I really enjoy the country.

It really depends on your financial situation and when you migrated to America. Those Nigerians that left in the 1970s and 1980s when the Nigerian currency was strong are better off than those that migrated in the millenium era.

And Ive been wanting to ask you, Ole ogo iza na Aro?

owo2390:
You don't have to get a credit card and if you do you can be wise about.

In America:

No sectarian violence, a lot of opportunities, best higher education in the world, and a lot more.

Nigeria:

Nothing but poverty and corruption. Count me out.

Not everyone is affected by Sectarian violence. Only if you live in the hotspots like Jos, Maiduguri or the North.
There are more opportunities in Nigeria than there are in America. America is already a developed nation and there are limited opportunities for entreprenuership. You can easily found Nigeria's first public film cinema or you can drill oil and start a successful Nigerian oil company. There are so many opportunities here in Nigeria, and all you need do is invest your money here in something that will help you and your children rather than labouring and slavng in another man's land.

Hey, could this thread be poste don the front page? https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-718885.0.html
I'd like to get it out to everyone.
Thanks i advance.

ezeagu:
The amount of people all these negatives kill in the US is probably equivalent to the amount killed in simple road accidents in Nigeria.

Would you rather live in America and be enslaved by debt or stay in Nigeria?

owo2390:
Blah Blah Blah Blah,
Debt, stress, property, all that makes living the United States fun.
Will the bank take my house, will they not?
That uncertainty is crazy fun, True story

Theres nothing fun about that to me. Hosnetly, Id rather live in Nigeria than in America.

Have you always dreamt about going to America? Many Nigerians envision America as a land of gold and honey. A land where the government showers you daily with piles of cash, and a land where everything is free. Well, they are wrong. There is nothing of that sort in America, and recent studies and accounts have shown that it is actually better for you to stay in Nigeria than it is to go to America. Here are five reasons why.

1. Debt: The mirage that anything and everything is possible in America is a lie. Worst of all, to new immigrants, the amount of credit offered in America is so attractive that by the time you know it, you will be chin deep in Debt. Debt that will most likely take you the rest of your natural life, and half of your children's to pay off.

2. Stress: America is the capital of stress. With 12 hour shifts and continuos work, the labour takes a heavy toll on its people, unlike in Nigeria. In Nigeria, you are the boss. You decide when to work and for how long. There is not a widespread practice of 24hour shifts and round the clock work, making it much better for your health and etc. The Stress in America might cause diseases previousl unexperienced by the average Nigerian. Diseases such as High-blood pressure, Hyper tension, and Arthiritis.

3. Professional Devalue: America can be a welcoming place for highly educated and well-off immigrants but also a nightmare for others. It is often known as the "graveyard of occupations" meaning that one's previous education and occupation can easily be rendered worthless in America. There was a woman who was very well off in Nigeria. She was the head chef of a 5-star hotel back in Nigeria and upon her arrival in the US, her degree and occupation was declared worthelss. She was turned down by many other hotels and had to assume a job as a frycook at McDonalds. There is also another account of a Local Governor from Nigeria who held many outstanding degrees from Universities in Nigeria, but was denied a reasonable job in America. In short, their lives were restarted.

4. Prices: Things have become very expensive for Americans. Things ranging from household items to entire homes, and combined with the constant devalue of the Naira, the US can be a financial nightmare for Nigerians. An ordinary 4-bedroom, single family house in the US will cost atleast $500,000 which is N83,000,000, More than enough to errect a 10 bedroom mansion with a boys-quarters and a gate in Nigeria. A brand new jeep in the US can easily cost $40,000 which is N6.6 million, more than enough to buy TWO jeeps in Nigeria.

5. Cultural Diffusion: The thing that every Nigerian regards with utmost importnace is his/her cultural background. America is a slaughter house for African cultures. People emmigrate form Nigeria and give birth to their children in the US. As their children grow up, the parents avoid teaching them their native language, and from then on the children are at a loss. Then, their parents avoid teaching them about their culture and tradition. Lastly, with all this not given to them, their children effectively turn into AAsand are estranged form the culture sand tradition of their homeland, ultimately deciding their destiny in life.

With this in mind, Ill be glad to recieve your feedback and thoughts on this

You're right. Infact I suppose a more appropriate chart should be:

Caucasian
African American
Asian
African
Hispanic
Native American
Mixed: (check all that apply)

Dede1:
Forms such as the one you posted are used to test intellectual ability or lack thereof of Africans. Most of the times, Africans tend to drop the ball by following the silly trend of being "Black". I always select the “other please state”. You do not need to be angered when such form provides an opportunity to educate the presenter.

If you watch closely, you will see Asian indicating person from the continent of Asia. In the same manner, I have decided to choose “other please state” and stated African indicating I am a person from the continent of Africa.

It is the height of idiocy to describe humans with hue of the skin which is ridiculous because I have not seen a “white or black person” throughout my life. Believe me, I know my color chart.