8 THINGS THAT FASCINATE ME ABOUT AMERICA
Published Oct 24, 2015
Updated Apr 27, 2017
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The queue was filled with different calibres of people. The old and wrinkled, the middle aged, pregnant women, young girls, young boys and children all basked involuntarily under the hot sun. Everyone waited for a chance to get into the American Embassy and the scorching heat from the sun was not going to stop us.
The security guard kept making sure the long queue was respected just like a nursery teacher arranges her pupils for morning assembly. Nearby on that quiet street in Cameroon’s capital city, Yaounde lay a baronial building which served as home to another country’s embassy. Not a single soul was seen on the premises. The only motion sighted there was that of the country’s flag swaying in different directions as the wind beat it.
Yet the American embassy was flooded with souls, most of which had arrived earlier than their stipulated appointment time. The “African time” mantra lost it’s potency in the face of immigration appointments. On this day, we were not just on time, we were before time.
Finally, the security guards started shoveling us in for check-in. It was there that I got the visas for my family and I to journey into this much-storied country. We landed here in the month of October two years ago. It has been quite a journey and here are some things about this country fascinate me.
1. When something is sweet it is really SWEET. The first sweet snacks we bought at the airport upon arrival branded America as the “land of sugar”. I felt the sugar beating my teeth, penetrating my gums and causing instant cavities. I wonder how other human beings eat so much sugar at once and do not cringe. I think they basically cook sugar and add other ingredients. High-fructose corn syrup is added to a lot of things. I have learnt to check labels to make sure the ‘devil’ is absent before purchasing products. Sugar is added to the strangest of things. Imagine sugar in baked beans or lunch meat. Americans are like:
2. I have seen jaw-dropping kinds of fat people. Blame it on the sugar as noted above. Back in Cameroon, I only knew one exceptionally fat person who happens to be my aunt. She often wears Kabbas (large gowns) to cover the multitude of sin. In America, there is one too many of such people. And nope, they don’t hide the layers of fat under big gowns (kabba). They rock jeans, t-shirts, stylish tops and wait for this… even hot pants! In the summer, you will find hotties on the big large side with hot cold pants. Some bellies are so sagging and layered that I wonder how the carriers survive. When we just got here I used to stare in shock at the ‘brands’ of fat people I see parading hallways. They seem to be so enthusiastic about the sweets:
3. People are unbelievably polite. Even the immigration officers at the airport. I heard an officer tell a traveler , “You may want to go back and put that in your luggage” referring to an unapproved hand luggage item he was carrying. She spoke as though it were a suggestion meanwhile she was not going to let him go through check-up if he failed to do that. I experience people holding the door open for me as I get into buildings regularly.
4. Then there is the signature plastic American smile. When I get into public places, the people I go to see always light up smiles. Some come on and quickly go off like a flash light. There are smiles everywhere; some plastic, others organic but they are always there.
5. I discovered that ‘work’ to Africans here is almost synonymous to working in houses called “group homes” or “nursing homes” where they care for mentally ill and autistic or old people. Most of the Africans I’ve met here do this kind of job. I have heard stories of how they clean the poo and pee of people in the houses they live in. Some left flourishing careers back home only to end up in one of such houses. These homes are like hospitals without doctors. See what they have to deal with:
6. Americans don’t keep secrets. I get into a bank to open an account and the banker tells me about her pregnancy which is not even showing yet. By the time our transaction is over, I know her due date, I know that she has a son and I know that her mother will babysit for her while she works. Most people here seem to have no problem with disseminating detailed information about their lives to complete strangers.
7. All babies are so cute and so adorable and random people will keep telling you that. I can not count the number of compliments I have received about my girls. When I had my third baby and went for Postpartum check-up, the nurses almost while cried saying, “she is so cute”. They kept ‘awwing’ and ‘ohhing’ as though they had never seen a baby. Meanwhile, they see lots of babies all the time. If I had to be paid for each compliment I have received about my girls, I will be so rich right now.
8. Calling 911 brings a very fast response. I wonder if the police already know you will get into trouble and are ready to help you at that particular time. My young nephew got off his school bus and went to another apartment instead of going home. After searching to no avail, my brother-in-law called 911 to inform the police. In about 5 minutes the police invaded the building to search for him. My mbanya (sister-in-law) had a fast labour at home and called 911. In 5 minutes a team with paramedics, fire fighters and police men stormed her house. In 15 minutes she gave birth at home with all the medical help she needed present.
There are so many fascinating things about this country and I will share more in the days ahead. If you left Africa for the United States, please share the things that fascinate you about America below.
I love you and you and yes, even you too. Have an awesome weekend!
Nice. Probably an old post but I’m only seeing it now. I like your post, not too many things to talk about (though I am sure there are more), not too great detail, just enough spice too keep you going to the next and leave you feeling just full (not bored) when you are done.
You are a good writer- not that I am an expert on these things, I just like reading your stuff and not much else.
Timmy, you are too sweet. I’m glad you love the way I write. Thanks so much for the encouragement! God bless.
Amen! Failure should not be an option. My mother often says, "A lizard in Africa will not become an alligator in America. " This is so true. Success doesn't come by simply being on American soil. It comes by working hard and smart. I believe when most of us concentrate on finding our purpose on earth and accomplishing it, we won't crowd the "group/nursing homes" for a very long time. We will leave that for those who are cut out for that.
Thanks for your intelligent viewpoint, Josh!
Interesting post Precious! I just bumped into this. Here is my own two cent; On the "group home" and "Nursing home" job thing for Africans, i don't personally have problems with African's starting their "American dreams" this way, especially when they are in school and hoping for something better. On the other token i become a little bit apprehensive when folks play the complacent game and stay on this path forever…
This country (USA) was not originally designed for Immigrants, but immigrants from all over the world have made this nation great. Once you're here you must search and discover what works and what don't. The realities in Africa and here are completely uneven. Trying to integrate and fit into the US domain can really be challenging. Alluding to your point again, I have met folks who are well educated, had very good jobs back home, who immigrated here for whatever reason with high expectations, but before you know it the system quickly humbled them.
I can spend time unearthing some more specifics of these challenges faced by us all who come in here from the other side of the Atlantic, but i choose not to on this blog.
We should all work very hard like the others have rightly mentioned. Failure should not be an option. Let us continue to teach our kids Godly values. We should concentrate on the good. There are a lot of African success stories out there!
Keep up! the good writing.
Josh
Hahaha there is really so much to write about on this topic. I know a few grandmothers here who are doing their undergraduate studies. There are so many opportunities for those who are searching.
Yes, when you work hard here, you make it. You need to sow hard work in order to reap good results. The lecturers also evaluate you based on what they teach. In Cameroon sometimes a lecturer teaches X and asks you about Y during exams.
Looks like Akatas are not as ambitious as us. I can't equally live in their neighbourhood even if I'm given a million dollar home there. The crime rate there is alarming.
Here, having car is a necessity oo. It's not a luxury at all. When I came here, I was amazed at how almost every Tom, Dick and Harry had something on wheels. Now I know we all need those cars. No okada. lol
That one for animals eh. My neighbour 'adopted' two cats. They don't say bought. They say 'adopted'. Here animals are well treated and yes, even more than some humans. Could this be misdirected charity? Hmmm
America is a land of opportunities.i discovered that age is not a barrier to achieve your educational goals.you may become whatever you want to become depending on your brain.i equally discovered that education in America is not as easy as many people in Cameroon think.if you don't work hard in school,you can't make it.
I have also discovered even though university education is very expensive,if you have a GPA of 3.5,you can have college grants and scholarship thus can get through your education without a student loan
Also,I am still to wonder why some African Americans aren't hard working.infact even if I'm given a house for free(njoh) I can't live in an area dominated by Achatas because it is often characterized by high crime wave.
I have also realized that Mexicans dominate the informal sectors like car wash,and local construction n are Mexican women are synonymous to igbo women who give birth to many children.
In America, no mater how well you speak English,you are identified as one who has an accent.i believe this accent issue is both ways .
one of the things that fascinated me the mist is that cars are not regarded in high esteem as in Cameroon.i can remember the first Cameroon gathering I attended,the cars I saw were synonymous to that driven "big people" in Cameroon.
Also the cleanliness of the city cannot be overemphasized.
What borders me the mist is how animals are treated like humans.a person who has a pet often introduces that pet as part of the family .in all animals are treated like humans while some humans are treated like animals….an example is the recent police involved shootings….from my small military experience back in cmr,I know you don't play with a gun.
Lastly some Americans are too patriotic so much so that they think the world evolves only in the USA.
in fact precious,If I had your writing skills,I would have written a book on this…haha so many things to write about….but let me end here.
Hahahaha I was wondering why this Precious has the same surname as you! Chai, I've never seen that one oo. I can imagine the surprise on faces when you get an A. Hard work pays and not all hard workers speak much in class. Most Africans came here to achieve something so no time for slacking mehn.
Precious it's me ooh Eucharia. Just showing precious Unamba because of my Google account. Have you seen this fascinating thing Here in schools that a black kids is looked upon like a doomed person just because he or she doesn't run their mouth so much in class, exam day comes and supposed to last an hour, almost all the wazungos submit their papers in 10 – 15 min time, making you black feel like what am I still doing here. But wait ooh make result come out, most of them passes with C and they are happy, but we Africans take our time doing the exam and come out with A because that's what strick for to prove our hard work in this country and they look at you like they've seen a ghost hearing that you got an A in the class. Hahaha Oyibo no go kill me ooh.
Namesake, that farting one is the bomb! There is even a show here on teenagers who are pregnant. Chai, this country eh
Flogging your own child is considered abuse ooo. However I learned that for that to be considered as abuse, there must be visible injuries on the child. All the same African parents are scared about flogging their kids so CPS (Child Protective Services) doesn't come for them.
That Public Assistance ish is a huge trap- especially for lazy people. You never grow when you depend on Public Assistance. I heard of a Somalian woman who has not even been able to buy a car for herself though she has been here for years. That's because she chose to depend on the government instead of working. Abeg I no fit shout.
Thanks for stopping by, Precie!
You got me cracking up with the farting one, but here is one a 13 year old in Africa gets pregnant and everyone one looks at her like she's committed an abominable act, she runs and disappear if she hears strangers are coming to her home, she's laughed at by her mates and shame keeps her in doors and finally when her baby arrives, people call him or her basterd openly like no man business just to stop other teen girls from doing such but here in America , it's the other way round, the 13 year in question will be the one to open the door for you, begin a conversation by telling you how far along her pregnancy is without shame. Dem no born you well, open your mouth and tell her anything that will course her to cry, your own don finish bi that. It's called an ABUSE. Before you know it, you've caused her stressed and your charged for abuse which messes up your future in this country.
Secondly, here in America, flog your own child as in punishment just to correct a bad habits and that child dares opens her mouth in school and these their child protection people comes to your house for investigation, another journey don begin there for you ooh and if cares is not taken, your pikin don go bi that ooh. America God Will Save us.
Thirdly, The government sets up a system and call it public assistance, for me I call it Real Kill Glue Trap for black people. It kills just like this traps kill rats. SOMALIANS can testify to this. Hahahahahahah.
You got me cracking up with the farting one, but here is one a 13 year old in Africa gets pregnant and everyone one looks at her like she's committed an abominable act, she runs and disappear if she hears strangers are coming to her home, she's laughed at by her mates and shame keeps her in doors and finally when her baby arrives, people call him or her basterd openly like no man business just to stop other teen girls from doing such but here in America , it's the other way round, the 13 year in question will be the one to open the door for you, begin a conversation by telling you how far along her pregnancy is without shame. Dem no born you well, open your mouth and tell her anything that will course her to cry, your own don finish bi that. It's called an ABUSE. Before you know it, you've caused her stressed and your charged for abuse which messes up your future in this country.
Secondly, here in America, flog your own child as in punishment just to correct a bad habits and that child dares opens her mouth in school and these their child protection people comes to your house for investigation, another journey don begin there for you ooh and if cares is not taken, your pikin don go bi that ooh. America God Will Save us.
Thirdly, The government sets up a system and call it public assistance, for me I call it Real Kill Glue Trap for black people. It kills just like this traps kill rats. SOMALIANS can testify to this. Hahahahahahah.
You got me cracking up with the farting one, but here is one a 13 year old in Africa gets pregnant and everyone one looks at her like she's committed an abominable act, she runs and disappear if she hears strangers are coming to her home, she's laughed at by her mates and shame keeps her in doors and finally when her baby arrives, people call him or her basterd openly like no man business just to stop other teen girls from doing such but here in America , it's the other way round, the 13 year in question will be the one to open the door for you, begin a conversation by telling you how far along her pregnancy is without shame. Dem no born you well, open your mouth and tell her anything that will course her to cry, your own don finish bi that. It's called an ABUSE. Before you know it, you've caused her stressed and your charged for abuse which messes up your future in this country.
Secondly, here in America, flog your own child as in punishment just to correct a bad habits and that child dares opens her mouth in school and these their child protection people comes to your house for investigation, another journey don begin there for you ooh and if cares is not taken, your pikin don go bi that ooh. America God Will Save us.
Thirdly, The government sets up a system and call it public assistance, for me I call it Real Kill Glue Trap for black people. It kills just like this traps kill rats. SOMALIANS can testify to this. Hahahahahahah.
You got me cracking up with the farting one, but here is one a 13 year old in Africa gets pregnant and everyone one looks at her like she's committed an abominable act, she runs and disappear if she hears strangers are coming to her home, she's laughed at by her mates and shame keeps her in doors and finally when her baby arrives, people call him or her basterd openly like no man business just to stop other teen girls from doing such but here in America , it's the other way round, the 13 year in question will be the one to open the door for you, begin a conversation by telling you how far along her pregnancy is without shame. Dem no born you well, open your mouth and tell her anything that will course her to cry, your own don finish bi that. It's called an ABUSE. Before you know it, you've caused her stressed and your charged for abuse which messes up your future in this country.
Secondly, here in America, flog your own child as in punishment just to correct a bad habits and that child dares opens her mouth in school and these their child protection people comes to your house for investigation, another journey don begin there for you ooh and if cares is not taken, your pikin don go bi that ooh. America God Will Save us.
Thirdly, The government sets up a system and call it public assistance, for me I call it Real Kill Glue Trap for black people. It kills just like this traps kill rats. SOMALIANS can testify to this. Hahahahahahah.
Hahahaha farting in public got me.
Chai u eh.
Thanks for contributing!
1)In America kids call their teachers, adult neighbours, and even pastors By Name!
2) Farting (Gassing) in public, Even very loudly right in someone's nose, is a right! Don't expect an excuse.
4) Good morning, good afternoon, or good evening are all shortened to "Hey", especially to someone you don't want to talk to.