₦airaland Forum

stacyadams:
i don start work
i dey drive my sef go work,bus no dey here
i dey save money to get my own place,to dey with some kain people no be here
they say make i stay away from akata gehs
here na heaven make no body whine u


nepa never off light
google map 30 minutes journey na 30 minutes
salary day ur money go drop for azza snake no swallow
i go buy wrist watch,,the guy ask whetther i wan spread the payment installments
i bust laugh on top 25 dollar watch
police always dey on the road dey find traffic offenders
if them say cold dey here,u go think say na upper iweka harmattan...confam cold dey here ooo prepare well o
for naija na only AC we dey use for car .for here na car heater make u no freeze to death..
carry your african food come buh no meats or red oil..african stores dey here buh e dey expensive
before u leave find way cure ur conji if u come u go understand why
billing full my phone number ,,i don run get number make naija people no kee me

I just recently started working too and everything you said up there I can relate.

One thing I'd like to clarify is the popular notion that things are more expensive in the US than Nigeria. They usually do so after converting the dollar to naira. But that's a big lie. Things are really cheap here except house rent. I just started driving as well. For example, I get a full tank for my car for $42 and that's just 2% of my salary as a minimum wage earner. Now in contrast a salary earner in Nigeria ( above minimum wage) will use up to quarter or half of their salary to fill their tank. Anytime I enter DDs or Walmart like this I can buy up to 3 good sneakers for $80 without breaking a sweat. To get the equivalent sneakers in Nigeria I had to pay as high as 50k for just one. Imagine the number of Nigerian people that can cough out 50k to by a pair of shoes. If I lose my phone this moment, I can immediately run to Walmart to get another phone and pay in cash. Them nor born me well to replace my phone immediately for Nigeria? I don't want to even talk about food items. Quality wine wey only Yahoo boys dey fit dey buy for Nigeria and they show off after them buy am, if I show you my wine collections as a minimum wage earner you go run. My closet don dey full throway for too much clothes and shoes...

The point is a lot of things are just basic here that you don't need to be rich at all to have them... I swear to God almost everyone at my place of work drives their own cars. It's normal to have a car here no matter what you do.. And unlike Nigeria, you can't really tell the rich from the pour here. Everyone seems equal. I never still see convoy of politicians or rich people since I come here. The only people they give way to on the road are school buses, police, fire department and medical ambulances.

Like you said, here is heaven compared to where we are coming from. The only people that feel Nigeria is better than here are privileged people, not people from poor or average background and I understand..

I still have a lot to say though, but let me stop here before they come for my head.

stacyadams:
i don start work
i dey drive my sef go work,bus no dey here
i dey save money to get my own place,to dey with some kain people no be here
they say make i stay away from akata gehs
here na heaven make no body whine u


nepa never off light
google map 30 minutes journey na 30 minutes
salary day ur money go drop for azza snake no swallow
i go buy wrist watch,,the guy ask whetther i wan spread the payment installments
i bust laugh on top 25 dollar watch
police always dey on the road dey find traffic offenders
if them say cold dey here,u go think say na upper iweka harmattan...confam cold dey here ooo prepare well o
for naija na only AC we dey use for car .for here na car heater make u no freeze to death..
carry your african food come buh no meats or red oil..african stores dey here buh e dey expensive
before u leave find way cure ur conji if u come u go understand why
billing full my phone number ,,i don run get number make naija people no kee me

Congratulations Stacyadams,
God that did it for you will do it for me too this year

I dont know how long you have been in the US but its obvious you are sugar coating or over exaggerating your expectations and realities concerning your living status.
As a minimum wage earner,with time you will realize you are a poor citizen that need government benefits for support.
All the best man.

internationalman:
I just recently started working too and everything you said up there I can relate.

One thing I'd like to clarify is the popular notion that things are more expensive in the US than Nigeria. They usually do so after converting the dollar to naira. But that's a big lie. Things are really cheap here except house rent. I just started driving as well. For example, I get a full tank for my car for $42 and that's just 2% of my salary as a minimum wage earner. Now in contrast a salary earner in Nigeria ( above minimum wage) will use up to quarter or half of their salary to fill their tank. Anytime I enter DDs or Walmart like this I can buy up to 3 good sneakers for $80 without breaking a sweat. To get the equivalent sneakers in Nigeria I had to pay as high as 50k for just one. Imagine the number of Nigerian people that can cough out 50k to by a pair of shoes. If I lose my phone this moment, I can immediately run to Walmart to get another phone and pay in cash. Them nor born me well to replace my phone immediately for Nigeria? I don't want to even talk about food items. Quality wine wey only Yahoo boys dey fit dey buy for Nigeria and they show off after them buy am, if I show you my wine collections as a minimum wage earner you go run. My closet don dey full throway for too much clothes and shoes...

The point is a lot of things are just basic here that you don't need to be rich at all to have them... I swear to God almost everyone at my place of work drives their own cars. It's normal to have a car here no matter what you do.. And unlike Nigeria, you can't really tell the rich from the pour here. Everyone seems equal. I never still see convoy of politicians or rich people since I come here. The only people they give way to on the road are school buses, police, fire department and medical ambulances.

Like you said, here is heaven compared to where we are coming from. The only people that feel Nigeria is better than here are privileged people, not people from poor or average background and I understand..

I still have a lot to say though, but let me stop here before they come for my head.

CutieKing:
I dont know how long you have been in the US but its obvious you are sugar coating or over exaggerating your expectations and realities concerning your living status.
As a minimum wage earner,with time you will realize you are a poor citizen that need government benefits for support.
All the best man.

You are talking bullshit man. I just got here sir and I have other plans. I don't plan on remaining a minimum wage earner for ever, that's if $17/hr is even considered minimum wage.. I took up the job just so I don't stay idle before I move on to other things. And FYI there are many low income earners here that don't rely on government support for anything as long as they can pay their rents and eat well. Not everyone is on the quest for becoming rich in life. They don't work hard as much as we do because they don't have poverty in their family they need to eradicate..

That's not even the point by the way. The point is, the kind of life I can get here even as a low earner as compared to its Nigerian equivalent is a raise in my standard of living.

stacyadams:
i don start work
i dey drive my sef go work,bus no dey here
i dey save money to get my own place,to dey with some kain people no be here
they say make i stay away from akata gehs
here na heaven make no body whine u


nepa never off light
google map 30 minutes journey na 30 minutes
salary day ur money go drop for azza snake no swallow
i go buy wrist watch,,the guy ask whetther i wan spread the payment installments
i bust laugh on top 25 dollar watch
police always dey on the road dey find traffic offenders
if them say cold dey here,u go think say na upper iweka harmattan...confam cold dey here ooo prepare well o
for naija na only AC we dey use for car .for here na car heater make u no freeze to death..
carry your african food come buh no meats or red oil..african stores dey here buh e dey expensive
before u leave find way cure ur conji if u come u go understand why
billing full my phone number ,,i don run get number make naija people no kee me

Congrats on getting employed. It gives you your independence.

Good you see the error in installments payment.
Credit in the US is trapdoor unfortunately.
You get used to using CC and paying minimum balance and the cycle of financial poverty starts cos you look rich but you're really poor.

Save if you're still living with ppl and work on putting 6months of savings aside in case of job losses


The downside of capitalism is that it favors the employer not the employee. This also means you can lose your job ..with now warning. Many only get 2 weeks notice and bam.
Thats hard since rent and mortgage s paid monthly.
A friend who moved to Texas with family for work, was there for a 1 yr and bam company restructures he lost his job just after he bought a house. Barely got 1month notice.
He'd been in the US for about 4yrs by then

internationalman:
You are talking bullshit man. I just got here sir and I have other plans. I don't plan on remaining a minimum wage earner for ever, that's if $17/hr is even considered minimum wage.. I took up the job just so I don't stay idle before I move on to other things. And FYI there are many low income earners here that don't rely on government support for anything as long as they can pay their rents and eat well. Not everyone is on the quest for becoming rich in life. They don't work hard as much as we do because they don't have poverty in their family they need to eradicate..

That's not even the point by the way. The point is, the kind of life I can get here even as a low earner as compared to its Nigerian equivalent is a raise in my standard of living.

Congrats on starting work.
As long as your expenses are low and you are saving your minimum wage is no big deal. Plenty 100k earners are gbese prommax champions.
Goal is to gain work culture experience .

To be honest till you are fully responsible for all your bills you won't understand America yet

Its a Capitalist economy as well so losing jobs can literally happen in a blink. Seen it happen so many times.

Food being cheap is relative to your state. Also relative to your health. Many american foods are terrible for your health so when you see ppl buying more expensive food from bougie stores you no go understand why. 1 spend 300-400 on food for 1person and I don't eat out. 1st yr here showed me sege. Food is better in south sha so una dey enjoy.

Just avoid credit, pay off car notes before time sef cos that interest for a necessity that depreciated is not worth it.

Then forget what ppl drive o, na mirage.
The gbese some have ehn is beyond words.

Taal17:
Congrats on starting work.
As long as your expenses are low and you are saving your minimum wage is no big deal. Plenty 100k earners are gbese prommax champions.
Goal is to gain work culture experience .

To be honest till you are fully responsible for all your bills you won't understand America yet

Its a Capitalist economy as well so losing jobs can literally happen in a blink. Seen it happen so many times.

Food being cheap is relative to your state. Also relative to your health. Many american foods are terrible for your health so when you see ppl buying more expensive food from bougie stores you no go understand why. 1 spend 300-400 on food for 1person and I don't eat out. 1st yr here showed me sege. Food is better in south sha so una dey enjoy.

Just avoid credit, pay off car notes before time sef cos that interest for a necessity that depreciated is not worth it.

Then forget what ppl drive o, na mirage.
The gbese some have ehn is beyond words.

I understand. The point of the whole thing was to debunk the population opinion that things are cheaper in Nigeria than US. Well, that's a big lie With relative to earning powers of citizens of both countries..

You people are so used to living in America that y'all are taking many living privileges for granted. Do you know how much you have to pay to get at least 20hrs of electricity everyday in Nigeria? AKA, band A. We were paying 50k at a time for it and it's not even constant. That's many people's salary or monthly income in Nigeria. How can you use your whole or half salary to pay for light? That money is not even enough for good food...

Bro, trust me I know life is hard everywhere but there's level to hardship and poverty. Hardship by American standard is not the same as Nigerian's

internationalman:
I understand. The point of the whole thing was to debunk the population opinion that things are cheaper in Nigeria than US. Well, that's a big lie With relative to earning powers of citizens of both countries..

You people are so used to living in America that y'all are taking many living privileges for granted. Do you know how much you have to pay to get at least 20hrs of electricity everyday in Nigeria? AKA, band A. We were paying 50k at a time for it and it's not even constant. That's many people's salary or monthly income in Nigeria. How can you use your whole or half salary to pay for light? That money is not even enough for good food...

Bro, trust me I know life is hard everywhere but there's level to hardship and poverty. Hardship by American standard is not the same as Nigerian's

I've not been int he US long o barely 3yrs and I travel home every yr. I say it regularly cost of living is crazy that I don't have words for it.

If you notice I didn't compare both countries it's futile because indices are not the same, earning power different,social welfare differences regional differences.

I wouldn't even compare states in the US because indices are different. Cost of utilities is not the same. We don't pay for water in NYC so no water bill, other states have water bills. I pay Fed State and City taxes. Others don't, Electric bill in NYC summer , southern states dey enjoy

So we agree Hardship is not the same.
To focus it's better to face where you are per time.

In other news biko you and staceyadams when are we going to wash your first salaries sorry paycheck

Taal17:
I've not been int he US long o barely 3yrs and I travel home every yr. I say it regularly cost of living is crazy that I don't have words for it.

If you notice I didn't compare both countries it's futile because indices are not the same, earning power different,social welfare differences regional differences.

I wouldn't even compare states in the US because indices are different. Cost of utilities is not the same. We don't pay for water in NYC so no water bill, other states have water bills. I pay Fed State and City taxes. Others don't, Electric bill in NYC summer , southern states dey enjoy

So we agree Hardship is not the same.
To focus it's better to face where you are per time.

In other news biko you and staceyadams when are we going to wash your first salaries sorry paycheck

About washing our first paycheck; you just reminded me of Nigeria about how me and my guys made it compulsory for anyone to wash any little progress made with drinks. That country is fun. Nothing beats living among your kinds. Here's is even more fun on it's own, but for someone who's lived first 3 decades of his life in Nigeria, nothing can ever take the Nigerianess in me away. Whenever I see a Nigerian at my place of work, the way we communicate with joy in pidgin English makes the American folks jealous and at the same time marvel. Some even show interest in trying to learn it. I must say I'm also lucky to have a lot of Nigerians at my workplace. They have helped me a lot..

I go send you appreciation card to wash the salary 😂😂😂 you really try for everyone here.

internationalman:
About washing our first paycheck; you just reminded me of Nigeria about how me and my guys made it compulsory for anyone to wash any little progress made with drinks. That country is fun. Nothing beats living among your kinds. Here's is even more fun on it's own, but for someone who's lived first 3 decades of his life in Nigeria, nothing can ever take the Nigerianess in me away. Whenever I see a Nigerian at my place of work, the way we communicate with joy in pidgin English makes the American folks jealous and at the same time marvel. Some even show interest in trying to learn it. I must say I'm also lucky to have a lot of Nigerians at my workplace. They have helped me a lot..

I go send you appreciation card to wash the salary 😂😂😂 you really try for everyone here.

Me nko? Don't bother, brothers! I am happy you are hitting the ground running.

aestake:
Me nko? Don't bother, brothers! I am happy you are hitting the ground running.

Thanks bro. I'm not where I want to be yet but I'm very happy where I am now compared to 6 months ago.

The US government claims that the presence and operations of radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in certain parts of the country result in “substantial screening and vetting difficulties of Nigerian visa applicants’.

internationalman:
About washing our first paycheck; you just reminded me of Nigeria about how me and my guys made it compulsory for anyone to wash any little progress made with drinks. That country is fun. Nothing beats living among your kinds. Here's is even more fun on it's own, but for someone who's lived first 3 decades of his life in Nigeria, nothing can ever take the Nigerianess in me away. Whenever I see a Nigerian at my place of work, the way we communicate with joy in pidgin English makes the American folks jealous and at the same time marvel. Some even show interest in trying to learn it. I must say I'm also lucky to have a lot of Nigerians at my workplace. They have helped me a lot..

I go send you appreciation card to wash the salary 😂😂😂 you really try for everyone here.

Na so,
Pidgin sweet. I'm glad you're surrounded by people.helping you. It's a new world.

I just Dey chop Dey sleep , Dey chop Dey sleep , Dey practice for learners permit test.

I go my first trial for learners permit test last week , I fail am.


My companion na the drivers handbook now , I no wan hear say I no pass am.

DMV see you tomorrow.

.

ecomallchemistt:
I just Dey chop Dey sleep , Dey chop Dey sleep , Dey practice for learners permit test.

I go my first trial for learners permit test last week , I fail am.


My companion na the drivers handbook now , I no wan hear say I no pass am.

DMV see you tomorrow.

How did it go bro. Hope you aced it?

internationalman:
How did it go bro. Hope you aced it?

Yes boss , I no get choice.

Cause staying at home all day was fu..cking’ with my mental state.

ecomallchemistt:
Yes boss , I no get choice.

Cause staying at home all day was fu..cking’ with my mental state.

So did you do the road test yet?

internationalman:
So did you do the road test yet?

What I have is learners permit , I took a test for it.

I’d use this temporarily for about 2 months before I apply for the drivers license itself.

ecomallchemistt:
What I have is learners permit , I took a test for it.

I’d use this temporarily for about 2 months before I apply for the drivers license itself.

My learners permit was 4 months.

I think you'd do the road test when you apply for the permanent drivers license

internationalman:
My learners permit was 4 months.

I think you'd do the road test when you apply for the permanent drivers license

Alright then , no wahala

Trump is really an immigrant enemy. I just hope a Democrat wins the next election.

thank you very much for this wonderful piece,,been long i came to nairaland...very helpful...i have more questions to ask if you dont mind.thank you

Taal17:
Congrats on getting employed. It gives you your independence.

Good you see the error in installments payment.
Credit in the US is trapdoor unfortunately.
You get used to using CC and paying minimum balance and the cycle of financial poverty starts cos you look rich but you're really poor.

Save if you're still living with ppl and work on putting 6months of savings aside in case of job losses


The downside of capitalism is that it favors the employer not the employee. This also means you can lose your job ..with now warning. Many only get 2 weeks notice and bam.
Thats hard since rent and mortgage s paid monthly.
A friend who moved to Texas with family for work, was there for a 1 yr and bam company restructures he lost his job just after he bought a house. Barely got 1month notice.
He'd been in the US for about 4yrs by then

ecomallchemistt:
I just Dey chop Dey sleep , Dey chop Dey sleep , Dey practice for learners permit test.

I go my first trial for learners permit test last week , I fail am.


My companion na the drivers handbook now , I no wan hear say I no pass am.

DMV see you tomorrow.

hahahhahhhhahhaa person no go know say DL dey important here till u observe say u really need to dey drive ;Dcongrats

amen brotherly

LORDLARGE:
Congratulations Stacyadams,
God that did it for you will do it for me too this year

internationalman:
I just recently started working too and everything you said up there I can relate.

One thing I'd like to clarify is the popular notion that things are more expensive in the US than Nigeria. They usually do so after converting the dollar to naira. But that's a big lie. Things are really cheap here except house rent. I just started driving as well. For example, I get a full tank for my car for $42 and that's just 2% of my salary as a minimum wage earner. Now in contrast a salary earner in Nigeria ( above minimum wage) will use up to quarter or half of their salary to fill their tank. Anytime I enter DDs or Walmart like this I can buy up to 3 good sneakers for $80 without breaking a sweat. To get the equivalent sneakers in Nigeria I had to pay as high as 50k for just one. Imagine the number of Nigerian people that can cough out 50k to by a pair of shoes. If I lose my phone this moment, I can immediately run to Walmart to get another phone and pay in cash. Them nor born me well to replace my phone immediately for Nigeria? I don't want to even talk about food items. Quality wine wey only Yahoo boys dey fit dey buy for Nigeria and they show off after them buy am, if I show you my wine collections as a minimum wage earner you go run. My closet don dey full throway for too much clothes and shoes...

The point is a lot of things are just basic here that you don't need to be rich at all to have them... I swear to God almost everyone at my place of work drives their own cars. It's normal to have a car here no matter what you do.. And unlike Nigeria, you can't really tell the rich from the pour here. Everyone seems equal. I never still see convoy of politicians or rich people since I come here. The only people they give way to on the road are school buses, police, fire department and medical ambulances.

Like you said, here is heaven compared to where we are coming from. The only people that feel Nigeria is better than here are privileged people, not people from poor or average background and I understand..

I still have a lot to say though, but let me stop here before they come for my head.

;Di totally forgot to add..i never go filling station join queue or them say no fuel

lonikit:
Trump is really an immigrant enemy. I just hope a Democrat wins the next election.

Sigh
It's just back to back announcements , I can't keep up.
I don't even know what the staff are doing. Everyday week new directives. Heard today that some USCIS staff don't have work to do since some cases can not progress further.

stacyadams:
thank you very much for this wonderful piece,,been long i came to nairaland...very helpful...i have more questions to ask if you dont mind.thank you

Sure, you can go ahead and ask

1..as a minimum wage earner how long should one do the job before moving to other things?
2 i wan join millitary them say i go write asvab which involves maths and me no know anything bout maths..i go still write am like that and hope i pass the fitness test.
3what career is okay to look into,?
4 i opened an account with BOA,I i never pick up my CC yet..can you expentiate on how to build cc..between BOA and credit union which is better to bank with?
5 how long is cool to stay with your host before finding your way to avoid overstaying ur welcome?
6 are you of the opinion akata gehs are to be avoided ?
7 how una dey take toast woman for here i .

Taal17:
Sure, you can go ahead and ask

internationalman:
About washing our first paycheck; you just reminded me of Nigeria about how me and my guys made it compulsory for anyone to wash any little progress made with drinks. That country is fun. Nothing beats living among your kinds. Here's is even more fun on it's own, but for someone who's lived first 3 decades of his life in Nigeria, nothing can ever take the Nigerianess in me away. Whenever I see a Nigerian at my place of work, the way we communicate with joy in pidgin English makes the American folks jealous and at the same time marvel. Some even show interest in trying to learn it. I must say I'm also lucky to have a lot of Nigerians at my workplace. They have helped me a lot..

I go send you appreciation card to wash the salary 😂😂😂 you really try for everyone here.

i don meet togo and mali person for my work place..na the mali geh dey ask me whether i go watch naija match today ;Di no even know say them get match ;Dwhen i dey naija i no even dey watch their match or carry them for sporty the naija co worker for my dept don turn akata full time....na rap accent she dey use,,me never see who i wan follow speak pidgin

stacyadams:
i don meet togo and mali person for my work place..na the mali geh dey ask me whether i go watch naija match today ;Di no even know say them get match ;Dwhen i dey naija i no even dey watch their match or carry them for sporty the naija co worker for my dept don turn akata full time....na rap accent she dey use,,me never see who i wan follow speak pidgin

Sorry Bro, it's so nice to have Nigerians who have not fully Americanized at the place of work. Luckily we closed at 3pm, just about the same time the match is starting. We are all staying behind to watch the match together. You need to see the way we are all gathered deliberating in pidgin in English while the match progresses. I hope we win though..

As for the accent, I don't think I will try and change or imitate American accent ever. They understand me just fine when I talk slowly.