₦airaland Forum

Playa0ne:
I was back home for christmas, I speak with you from Nigeria now. Things are really bad true and I do not dispute tha fact that you can easily get a lot of things here abroad that you lack back home. But I tell you, just like Maslows hierarchy of needs, you would want more than food, shelter and electricity and security with time. The tribal slurs and all what have you in Nigeria is mainly online..its not bad in every day life in Nigeria. Ofenmanu is not a derogatory term, it means people who cook with too much oil...its like saying Oyibo is derogatory...wait to you come abroad, you will be amazed by the number of racist and ignorant white people around. Some hide their scorn and disdain for you and give you a fake smile (they learn that smile in school) but others would call you names it would make you feel really bad. So sister its a give and take thing, its not all green grass anywhere. Most of the people posing for you abroad are trapped...the nice Facebook pictures are to deceive you that all is well, most of them do very low jobs that you cant imagine becauses it really difficult to migrate from Nigeria at a later age and out compete kids who grew up in the system, and beat them to really good jobs...a 16year old kid abroad is on the average smarter than a 30year old man in Nigeria. I know there is nothing that you will tell a person in Nigeria right now about the true lifestyle abroad that they would understand, I pray you get a Visa soon so that you can see for yourself. I am planing on relocating back to Niger, I am working on a plan. cheers!

Take note that Oyibo people also fight and act unruly, its just that you cannot join them because it can go into your records if you get arrested and this could affect your visa extension or your stay in the country. So if you see trouble you must stay clear even though nah your trouble them find unless you have permanent residency.

signature2012:
@playa0ne,I don't want to talk,but let me just say this,is not easy or rosy in America at the initial stage,but with time,things will surely get better.The difference between naija and yankee is OPPOTUNITY!
I dont care about racism so as far it does not affect my paycheck.

Playa0ne:
Yeah thats what a man who has no food or shelter says at first...when you have enough food then the kind of clothes you wear starts to border you...so your needs keep growing...soon you want respect and wont tolerate been looked down on...its a gradual process...MASLOW said so.

Senorita123:
Lol... Thanks much, this is educative. I laughed hard at the 'they learn that smile in school' part.

Playa0ne:
Its not all fun and happy or jolly as you all think,most of us live with regrets, if only things could be like this back home we often say, because by staying abroad you are making a huge trade-off. The choices are true happiness and belonging or living in a functional alien society. The OP just moved so he is still tripping, with time he would understand that there is more to life than a functional society. Life here is good but it cant be like home. Home is where your social network is, a place where you are accepted, where you dont look different, where you can make noise and even fight if you like, a place were you can compete without having to suffer abuses and deprivation because of your colour, you can NEVER understand what home is till you leave home.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME, this phrase must have been written by a man abroad, because ONLY PEOPLE LIVING ABROAD WOULD TRUELY UNDERSTAND THIS PHRASE!!!!

obinna5000:
I view some of them on your Instagram page

Playa0ne:
Its a good idea to go learn or hustle for a while abroad (it re-orientates and frees your mind from all the bullshit that you learnt in Niger) education in the west will give you the mind of a God when compared to that of a Nigerian confined to this shores ...the country is really beautiful and you can save some average money, but you need to get a plan and leave as soon as possible or the system traps you.

TWoods:
What system? I've lived here 12 years and have not felt trapped by the system.

I often feel that the Nigerians who live here and yet rail against the "system" here are mostly those who either did not fully assimilate into the country, allow their inferiority complex to marginalize them or simply were not able to succeed in the system. My brother, cousins and i are making it quite well in corporate America and not a single one of us will contemplate spending one night in Nigeria if it can be helped. No system is perfect, but you cannot convince me that Nigeria holds any value to anyone who appreciates real living (as against merely existing).

Its easy to speak from your perch. You will always have an American passport to allow you to escape back to the "trap" you despise once things get bent out of shape for you in Nigeria. For what its worth, will you give up your US citizenship? If not, why not?

I was thinking about the tit for tat here as i drove home from work. I thought a lot about what home meant. Then it hit me - home is where i have peace, security, justice. Home is where i know i can drive at night, alone, on impulse, and have zero fear of armed robbers or area boys or bad roads. Home is going back to my abode, knowing i won't have to struggle to find kerosine to cook, that i won't need candles as my source of light, that i will turn on the tap and water will flow and that my biggest problem would be what to cook rather than if i will get to eat or not. Yes, there is racism here... but so what, its not like my black Nigerian brother did any better for me. The average 18-year old American kid can take a backpack, pick a ticket to anywhere in Europe and fly out... with nothing but a few dollars in their pocket. In Nigeria, successful middle class adults have to provide tax forms, letters from employer, return tickets home, bank account information, invitation letters, cram visa interview questions and answer + 7 day fasting and prayer, just to spend a few days in South Africa of all places. My brother... America isn't perfect, but i'm sure glad i live here not in Lagos.

Playa0ne:
The grass is not entirely greener anywhere, but then you can never understand till you relocate. Goodbye boy

Playa0ne:
I was back home for christmas, I speak with you from Nigeria now. Things are really bad true and I do not dispute tha fact that you can easily get a lot of things here abroad that you lack back home. But I tell you, just like Maslows hierarchy of needs, you would want more than food, shelter and electricity and security with time. The tribal slurs and all what have you in Nigeria is mainly online..its not bad in every day life in Nigeria. Ofenmanu is not a derogatory term, it means people who cook with too much oil...its like saying Oyibo is derogatory...wait to you come abroad, you will be amazed by the number of racist and ignorant white people around. Some hide their scorn and disdain for you and give you a fake smile (they learn that smile in school) but others would call you names it would make you feel really bad. So sister its a give and take thing, its not all green grass anywhere. Most of the people posing for you abroad are trapped, they are too ashamed to come home for fear that they be termed failure by friends and family...the nice Facebook pictures are to deceive you that all is well, most of them do very low jobs that you cant even imagine, because its really difficult to migrate from Nigeria at a later age and out compete kids who grew up in the system, and beat them to really good jobs...a 16year old kid abroad is on the average smarter than a 30year old man in Nigeria. I know there is nothing that you will tell a person in Nigeria right now about the true lifestyle abroad that they would understand, I pray you get a Visa soon so that you can see for yourself. I am planing on relocating back to Niger, I am working on a plan. cheers!

Take note that Oyibo people also fight and act unruly, its just that you cannot join them because it can go into your records if you get arrested and this could affect your visa extension or your stay in the country. So if you see trouble you must stay clear even though nah your trouble them find unless you have permanent residency.

bigfrancis21:
I had to share this. Nigerians back home NEVER I mean NEVER understand that life abroad is very different from life in Nigeria. Nigeria is still very communal in behavior, here life is very individualistic. Life in america is good but comes at a price. Definitely, Nigerians only want to hear you speak good things about america as if it does not have its bad sides and speaking about it bad sides they think you don't want them to come here. Not at all. It is just letting them know that it's not just the fine things about America they see on TV. There is a bad side to it also, which Hollywood does a great job at hiding. Believe me I've written several posts about this before. Unfortunately, many do not understand until they get here. Those who never make it here will never understand.

TWoods:
What system? I've lived here 12 years and have not felt trapped by the system.

I often feel that the Nigerians who live here and yet rail against the "system" here are mostly those who either did not fully assimilate into the country, allow their inferiority complex to marginalize them or simply were not able to succeed in the system. My brother, cousins and i are making it quite well in corporate America and not a single one of us will contemplate spending one night in Nigeria if it can be helped. No system is perfect, but you cannot convince me that Nigeria holds any value to anyone who appreciates real living (as against merely existing).

Its easy to speak from your perch. You will always have an American passport to allow you to escape back to the "trap" you despise once things get bent out of shape for you in Nigeria. For what its worth, will you give up your US citizenship? If not, why not?

I was thinking about the tit for tat here as i drove home from work. I thought a lot about what home meant. Then it hit me - home is where i have peace, security, justice. Home is where i know i can drive at night, alone, on impulse, and have zero fear of armed robbers or area boys or bad roads. Home is going back to my abode, knowing i won't have to struggle to find kerosine to cook, that i won't need candles as my source of light, that i will turn on the tap and water will flow and that my biggest problem would be what to cook rather than if i will get to eat or not. Yes, there is racism here... but so what, its not like my black Nigerian brother did any better for me. The average 18-year old American kid can take a backpack, pick a ticket to anywhere in Europe and fly out... with nothing but a few dollars in their pocket. In Nigeria, successful middle class adults have to provide tax forms, letters from employer, return tickets home, bank account information, invitation letters, cram visa interview questions and answer + 7 day fasting and prayer, just to spend a few days in South Africa of all places. My brother... America isn't perfect, but i'm sure glad i live here not in Lagos.

olenime:
A BRODA keeps complaining about US, yet he came home for Xmas and left before new year!

bigfrancis21:
I had to share this. Nigerians back home NEVER I mean NEVER understand that life abroad is very different from life in Nigeria. Nigeria is still very communal in behavior, here life is very individualistic. Life in america is good but comes at a price. Definitely, Nigerians only want to hear you speak good things about america as if it does not have its bad sides and speaking about it bad sides they think you don't want them to come here. Not at all. It is just letting them know that it's not just the fine things about America they see on TV. There is a bad side to it also, which Hollywood does a great job at hiding. Believe me I've written several posts about this before. Unfortunately, many do not understand until they get here. Those who never make it here will never understand.

Playa0ne:
Its not all fun and happy or jolly as you all think,most of us live with regrets, if only things could be like this back home we often say, because by staying abroad you are making a huge trade-off. The choices are true happiness and belonging or living in a functional alien society. The OP just moved so he is still tripping, with time he would understand that there is more to life than a functional society. Life here is good but it cant be like home. Home is where your social network is, a place where you are accepted, where you dont look different, where you can make noise and even fight if you like, a place were you can compete without having to suffer abuses and deprivation because of your colour, you can NEVER understand what home is till you leave home.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME, this phrase must have been written by a man abroad, because ONLY PEOPLE LIVING ABROAD WOULD TRUELY UNDERSTAND THIS PHRASE!!!!

Playa0ne:
I was back home for christmas, I speak with you from Nigeria now. Things are really bad true and I do not dispute tha fact that you can easily get a lot of things here abroad that you lack back home. But I tell you, just like Maslows hierarchy of needs, you would want more than food, shelter and electricity and security with time. The tribal slurs and all what have you in Nigeria is mainly online..its not bad in every day life in Nigeria. Ofenmanu is not a derogatory term, it means people who cook with too much oil...its like saying Oyibo is derogatory...wait to you come abroad, you will be amazed by the number of racist and ignorant white people around. Some hide their scorn and disdain for you and give you a fake smile (they learn that smile in school) but others would call you names it would make you feel really bad. So sister its a give and take thing, its not all green grass anywhere. Most of the people posing for you abroad are trapped, they are too ashamed to come home for fear that they be termed failure by friends and family...the nice Facebook pictures are to deceive you that all is well, most of them do very low jobs that you cant even imagine, because its really difficult to migrate from Nigeria at a later age and out compete kids who grew up in the system, and beat them to really good jobs...a 16year old kid abroad is on the average smarter than a 30year old man in Nigeria. I know there is nothing that you will tell a person in Nigeria right now about the true lifestyle abroad that they would understand, I pray you get a Visa soon so that you can see for yourself. I am planing on relocating back to Niger, I am working on a plan. cheers!

Take note that Oyibo people also fight and act unruly, its just that you cannot join them because it can go into your records if you get arrested and this could affect your visa extension or your stay in the country. So if you see trouble you must stay clear even though nah your trouble them find unless you have permanent residency.

MISTAICEY02288:
OP nice one, im really enjoying this. I got my Yankee visa too already. F1 visa (I did students visa to go for masters). The schl is resumin early January and im bookin my flight ticket soon. I would be in Atlanta, Georgia though

Getbizzzy:
Abulo, God bless ur hussle nwanne.

I tapped in ya blessings bro and shall update my own soon.

Chupado Ndi Yankee nwa.

bikerboy1:
Amen.

Oluwa, please pick up my call. I want to succeed with my brothers.

stevelaw:
One day,me self go write about US or Canada,i believe,i go work towards am.

nakwe:
I love this, I know I will create a topic like this some day.

signature2012:





Cooking things.....

TWoods:
What system? I've lived here 12 years and have not felt trapped by the system.

I often feel that the Nigerians who live here and yet rail against the "system" here are mostly those who either did not fully assimilate into the country, allow their inferiority complex to marginalize them or simply were not able to succeed in the system. My brother, cousins and i are making it quite well in corporate America and not a single one of us will contemplate spending one night in Nigeria if it can be helped. No system is perfect, but you cannot convince me that Nigeria holds any value to anyone who appreciates real living (as against merely existing).

Its easy to speak from your perch. You will always have an American passport to allow you to escape back to the "trap" you despise once things get bent out of shape for you in Nigeria. For what its worth, will you give up your US citizenship? If not, why not?

I was thinking about the tit for tat here as i drove home from work. I thought a lot about what home meant. Then it hit me - home is where i have peace, security, justice. Home is where i know i can drive at night, alone, on impulse, and have zero fear of armed robbers or area boys or bad roads. Home is going back to my abode, knowing i won't have to struggle to find kerosine to cook, that i won't need candles as my source of light, that i will turn on the tap and water will flow and that my biggest problem would be what to cook rather than if i will get to eat or not. Yes, there is racism here... but so what, its not like my black Nigerian brother did any better for me. The average 18-year old American kid can take a backpack, pick a ticket to anywhere in Europe and fly out... with nothing but a few dollars in their pocket. In Nigeria, successful middle class adults have to provide tax forms, letters from employer, return tickets home, bank account information, invitation letters, cram visa interview questions and answer + 7 day fasting and prayer, just to spend a few days in South Africa of all places. My brother... America isn't perfect, but i'm sure glad i live here not in Lagos.

Senorita123:
I quite agree with you bro but kindly permit me to list some points. Maybe u left your 'home' (Nigeria) a long time ago, things have changed here too, truly I don't suffer abuses and deprivation because of my color here but I suffer abuses and deprivation because I am ofe mmanu.. Chukwudi still refers to my people as Afonjas, Bola still called Emeka a flat head on nairaland, Ayo still called Malam Audu a gambari... Everywhere is full of tribal wars. What more abuse and deprivation is worse than a nation divided against herself? number two, I don't care if I look different anywhere, variety is the spice of life as long as I didn't drop my self esteem at 'home'. Lest I forget to remind you, Competition is no longer the order of the day here, connection is. Even if u come first in the competition, who do you know. CONNECT OR DIE!!!!! Those r d only two options remaining at home baba... A jobless graduate still threatened to commit suicide in d job/ vacancies section dis week... On a final note, I think I will prefer a place where fighting is prohibited cos I dread SCARS!!!!!

FrankNetter:
Isn't it just funny how much seun and his mods are trying to forcibly step on a peoples right to self determination? And someone would have the guts to come here and talk about tribalism not being an issue in nigeria, that its "mere banter", its only online.


I am disappointed, really.