₦airaland Forum

I no know book:
You are, obviously, part of those that don't make it. I'll advice you to leave for Nigeria, perhaps, u have a better chance of picking the pieces of your life over there. Nigeria is not that bad. Over here, Nigerians are big time achievers.

Lucasbalo: . It's not about reading the thread. Emeka is just a guy with an inflated ego. He is proud and corky for a 21 year old who has not achieve any thing worthwhile in life. He has to be humbled, so he can navigate through life's curves. That's why he has created so many antagonists here.

I no know book:
I wish I know where u live, I would have given u a very dirty slap for painting Nigerians in the US in such manner. US is hard, I agree, but to paint a picture of a pathetic living by the so called Nigerians in order to dissuade people from coming is very disingenuous. Ol'boy, there are so many very successful Nigerians out here in the US. Talk about what you know. That you are suffering does not mean that the next Nigerian is suffering. That you see and move in the circle of poor Nigerians does not mean that every other person does. We have a reputation out here. Nigerians are seen as very smart and successful by people from other climes. Perhaps, all you see are people that are just starting and paying their dues, which is normal. If you don't want fast money, which by the way, will get in trouble quickly, you must have to pay your dues. By paying your dues, I mean taking the lowly jobs while you work yourself through school. Definitely, things will be hard for you during this period. But once you have paid your dues and you are focused and know what you are doing, you will be successful. I paid my dues when I came. I worked as a security in homeless shelter, from there, I moved to driving of taxi. While I was doing all that, I was going for my masters in law and also passed the bar exam. Right now, I may not have millions, but I'm comfortable. I don't have the kind of pathetic life u painted in your comment. I make enough money to set up industry in Nigeria and employ people.

Why did you lay so much unnecessary emphasis on mortgage? Must you buy a house? Does every Nigerian in the US own a house? Majority of people are renting and they are okay with that. Have you not seen Nigerians that have paid off their mortgages? If you have not, I have. What about cars? Do you assume that every Nigerian has a car note? If that is your assumption, then, you are very far from the truth. Many people buy their cars out-rightly. I did that for two luxury cars. Here is a place that you can buy a fairly used car for $200.00 and many people are going for such cars because they are focused and have greater goals that they are pursuing.

Please Mr. Man, if you are suffering, better return to Nigeria. There's no further need for your continued stay. But, many Nigerians, that I know of, are not. US is very tough, money doesn't grow on trees here, but the opportunities are so great and endless that, if you know what you are doing and you are focused, you will be successful. QUOTE me anywhere!

By the way, if your uncle and wife are doctors as you claim, I will guess that they are pretending to be poor so that you don't get to ask them for money, seeing how poor and defeated by the system that you are.

Lucasbalo: . You are still hyperventilating over me. I must have struck some nerves in you. I live in Oak Park. Anyone from chitown will no that. Go get a life Bambino.

frederal: To who it may concern:
Yes, you are an American passport holder;
You are not an immigrant;
You bought a car(cash) at 19;
You scored 600+ on SAT;
You are not fustrated;
You are 21 years;
You have all the facts about America right;
....nice qualities.
Let me add that you are a FOOL..ARROGANT....for lacking virtues like tolerance, love, forgiveness
You virtually insulted everybody that has a different perspective from yours.
I know guys like SIGA encouraging and helping people who wants to come to Canada...based on same reality: Theres better opportunity abroad.
Won't you encourage them to come, even if they don't make million, they acquire a better mentality than the one you described as "poor."

chronique: @ op: I have read a lot of your posts and would love to commend you for a good job done in enlightening those who have the mental capacity to decipher all you've written here. A lot of nairalanders lack the ability to reason effectively and argue logically;they argue mostly,based on sentiments and emotions. Most do not take time to read and understand(what we call comprehension),before they start typing/replying. So many times on NL,I've read comments that depict a different thing from what the original poster wrote on the thread and at such instances,I end up going back to re-read the thread to make sure I'm not the one who didn't read it well. I would advice you not to waste too much time arguing with people. Those who are intelligent enough,will pick what they need from the thread and would appreciate it. Understand perfectly that not everyone would understand what you're doing. Afterall,in school,when a teacher teaches a class and sets exam,not all the students end up passing.

@ those calling him names and criticising him: all I beg of you guys,is that you slowly go back to re-read his first post and pay attention to the sub-headers written bodly.

Wallie: A college dropout that can barely string a sentence together calling someone daft? You better run back to Nigeria before you get kicked off welfare! Just so you know, there's no welfare in Nigeria.

CFCfan: To be clear, the poverty line in the US is when a family of four (2 parents and 2 children) collectively make less than $23,000 annually, or a single individual making below $11,500 per year; or a household of 6 making less than $31,000)
$22,000= N3.4 million
$11,500= N1.7 million.
$31,000= N4.8 million

source-http://www.irp.wisc.edu/faqs/faq1.htm

Wallie: This is what the OP failed to realize! Some Nigerians are doing extremely well and some are not that great but on average, a Nigerian in the US legally will have a better quality of life than the average Nigerian in Nigeria.

orgasticdance: food, clothing, and other basic essentials are cheaper and of better quality in america than naija! my gf makes her own hair, most hustlers and wise students cut their hair or find ways to get around those extranous expenses. u can do without that. how many places in naija can u afford a house of 3 million, in an okay location that u can work at the same time? who will give u mortgage at a single digit interest rate here in nigeria even if u have a decent job by naija's standards?

babyosisi: Where in Maryland
I lived in Maryland
Rockville Maryland to be precise and I lived well and most Nigerians I knew did same
Stop the scares
If you lived in a ghetto and couldn't get out ,it doesn't mean others will
The Nigerians you are writing to here live in houses without electricity and water and potopoto all around with no hospitals and no social amenities.
Many are sitting at home because of ASUU strike
Many have no jobs
The ghettos of the USA is better than where most of them come from ad live in

CFCfan: The COST of living in most parts of the US is significantly higher than Nigeria. For instance, with $20,000 or less, one can buy a home in Naija; the same cannot be said for the US except if you live in one of the least populated states.
Hair salon services are also higher in cost than what is obtainable in Naija too.

Reincarnated: Nope i'm not. I attended the HU one which was in April cuz a close friend was crossing. Well, your first stop should be the shaw howard metro then because that place is def not like before.

manny4life: Did you not read the part where he works in Fairfax County, earning $40.50/hr with OT?

I called the county - Fairfax, City - Alexandria, State - Virginia... Verify for yourself.

Besides, he's a Social Worker and Family Counselor, so please, say it like I said it.

manny4life: Did you not read the part where he works in Fairfax County, earning $40.50/hr with OT?

I called the county - Fairfax, City - Alexandria, State - Virginia... Verify for yourself.

Besides, he's a Social Worker and Family Counselor, so please, say it like I said it.

ThoniaSlim: Bitter Truth most peeps ain't gonna tell you. I don't think the poster is trying to kill anyone's hustle. His just trying to tell those who are interested in migrating to the US the reality on ground so they aware before they pack up to move to the so-called Land of Promise.

orgasticdance: The poorest income group in america lives off an average GDP per capita of circa $20,000-$25,000, yet it is still more than 7x that of the average nigerian. And the cost of living (basic and essentials: food, clothing etc) in america is on average less than naija. Industrialization and economies of scale makes that possible. There's a reason why America has made more self made millionaires and billionaires( a decent number immigrants and decendants of immigrants) than any other country in the world. It rewards hardword and industry better than any other country in the world. Your argument was well intentioned but you lost me when you started bashing people who responsibly take on mortgages and debt to pay off their car and consumer loans etc. That's the way a fair society works brother, No? Abi your all for the one we have in Naija were a poor man will have to wait out twenty or forty years before he owns a dream home and car.

Wallie: This empty head has forgotten more than you will ever come across in your miserable life! Can you respond to a post without having to curse or is that your defense mechanism for not having anything meaningful to say? No wonder why you’ve failed thus far!

Now to the point you’re trying to make…

1. Relevance?
2. Relevance?
3. Relevance?
4. OK
5. OK

WTF is your point?

mayten30: Africans are the cause of their own problem,imagine someone created a thread openly for debate and is trying to open good points up for debate so that people can also debate on the issue ,but some people are already taking his point personally and are turning it into quarrel,@op good job jare,you are trying to make people coming to america to be prepared and not think america is just a place that u will just get to and become a millionaire,america also have its good and bad side so no one should think that america is a total paradise like they watch on movie,that is why I like holly-wood they always try to use their movie to promote their country in a very good way,they show the best and finest cities in their country,they make you see the love among americans even though it happens in movies and when people watching the movie sees all those things they feel eager to want to go to america, I remembered the day I was watching a documentary on cnn showing some areas at ikoyi I was like what the Bleep?so naija self fine like this?,I now imagined if an average american is always watching the documentary that is always showing the beautiful places in nigeria that will also make them to believe that nigeria is totally beautiful,let's talk about our country positively,just like a friend of mine in america said that an average american that has not even eaten,that do not even have money to eat will still be claiming "GOD BLESS AMERICA" but here in naija even the rich ones and the poor ones na swear dem dey always swear for this country.lol

roxell120: ur emphasis on this is truely with passion and u must ve spent a gud number of years over there.my question is this, when are u packing home ? this is because without hearing this many of us(novice) would definitely think ure decieving us for I've seem guys that went there with bare hand and came back very rich in my neighborhood. anticipating ur reply.

shymexx: Bwahahahahahaha

This post had me laughing hysterically. Poverty is definitely a disease. Nigeria messed up so many people's mentality that every little thing better than what's attainable in naija automatically becomes paradise. Nigerians tell more lies than lucifer!! That's how a lot of them lie to those back home that they're balling in London, however, most of them are just existing in shared apartments, or married to women who boss them around like slaves. I can't deal!!!

Anyway, no place on this planet is perfect, you just have to make the best out of every situation you find yourself.

bootlegaz: Either you are young , an imposter or haven't worked in corporate America. Your rant above is more of a lazy man talk. Keep on blaming white America while Asians are expanding the income gap between them and other minorities.

Reincarnated: I can't believe I know this but the Centennial wasn't in July. It was in April. I was there cuz I knew someone that was crossing. I'm telling you the DC i saw last week is changing.

babyosisi: One question
Where do you live?
Please tell us
I live in the USA and I love it and will not discourage people by painting those pictures
Where do you live I ask
If you don't live in America you have absolutely no grounds to scare anybody by posting pictures off the Internet,some of buildings that have been vacated, ready to be torn down after the residents have been relocated by the government
I will speak from years of experience
You are talking rubbish
America takes care of it's own
Take that assertion to the bank honey

chiboy1928: Do you wonder while americans and the british come to nigeria to invest example they don't pay tax here in nigeria as much as they pay in they own country and they have a lot of chances compare to wen they are back home so u see dat the opportunity they have and they come to our country make a lot of money because they see the opportunity we don't see!!!

manny4life: My friend who got hit with a $20,000 + tax penalty and he's been crying foul since beginning of this year. Yes he makes $40.50/hr as a social worker for Fairfax County here in Virginia, he has more than 20+ years of experience, go ask him about savings, dude has NONE. Yes he has a great job, but as soon as he earns his money, it goes this way - Condo and fee ($1,950), Electricity ($150), Car Insurance ($280 for his two cars), and the list is ENDLESS. Abegi, I'm tired of this place jare...

harsysky: No matter how people delibrate on this issue , the fact still remains that a wise person ll pick one or two things from it while a fool ll see it as nothing.*jst saying no offence*...dnt waste ur precious tym tryna change peeps choice of living dia precious lives..

bootlegaz: My cousin came to the United States in the early 1980's . Dude worked as a janitor while attending college and later married a white lady for papers. He remained focus and went ahead to become a Surgeon. Part of his hobby now is to buy land from people that are in dying need of money in Owerri. I doubt he knows how many properties he has. Most of his secondary school pals in Nigeria are employed by him in Lagos. He owns a gigantic warehouse in Lagos.

Lucasbalo: . Thank you my brother and God blessings on you . That was what I was trying to get across and the OP went ballistic.

Reincarnated: @OP have u seen DC recently? The place don dey change oh.. That Ghetto looking area near Howard University has changed tremendously. The ugly looking view of Shaw Howard metro is gone. New blocks of apartment were just recently built and there are now bars and restaurants around 6th street. Infact to my surprise, there's now a mixture of both civilized people and gangsta's roaming round the streets.