MY CULTURE SHOCKS IN THE USA

Culture shocks will make you feel like you just had some dreams that lead to another, then another but the only difference is that, the earlier you admit that this isn’t a dream, the better for you. While America can be a dream come through (sneak peek- my next stop is Barbados), I’ve encountered some very stunning cultures, and I would be taking you on some of them soon, of course. However, I’m sure you know the impacts of culture shocks aren’t at any rate a write-off or a reason to feel I do not love the country. I’m sure you know better.

Moving on, if you’ll be in the US or working towards it, these are some things to prepare yourself for. Lego!

• Food product varieties- I don’t even know the one I knew anymore.

Come to think of it, I knew my foods before leaving Nigeria and I would usually just have a specie of everything before leaving for the store. In America, I am always both confused and clueless exactly what I really want or know I needed when it comes to food products. The varieties are wild, there are about a thousand (exaggerating, but maybe close in future-lol) types of the same onions, potato, bread, fish, beans and everything. I still don’t know how they came about them all but yeah, you would be amazed. I was and still am. This is a good thing since they allow for several expressions of other people and tastes.

• Why is everyone (strangers) smiling at me?

At the airport, I was at first thinking they were all welcoming and warm towards fellow passengers or so but asides the airport workers, crew members, fellow passengers, and every other stranger that I had absolutely nothing to do with were also smiling at me. At some point I learnt that I should hide my suspicion and smile back, which was very hard because I often forgot myself wondering. I’m aware of the race glitch and personality disorders that many would present from time to time but the smiles are usually a major cover up. One may get so caught up thinking there are no inter-racial issues in the America. Everyone is nice to you, the last person is holding the door for you, and the driver in the intercession is waving a right of way to you. All the good stuff and that bright smile to crown it all. There’s got to be a school they learnt that from right? It just goes on and on and you probably end up having a good thing about your day. Isn’t that amazing?

• There has to be a reason for these small talks. Right?

Usually, I’m used to people talking to break the ice, talking when asked to, having conversations with friends, family, and colleagues at specific places and times, I didn’t really know a place is all that is needed to have all the small talks which usually seems like the whole big talks of one’s life without hesitation. I know I can ask a person how she is without a problem but I wasn’t used to having that conversation everywhere and anywhere. One time, some colleagues asked if I do well with workplace sarcasm, my response was that the sarcasm wasn’t the problem, the time is because where I’m from, you may really need to think, ask yourself if it’s important and be sure you have to before you go all out to talk about it especially in some sectors. In America, everyone is either talking to you or just minding their business. The ability of a people to do that is so exceptional that I had to flow into it. Feels cool too-smiles

• Motorbikes are for recreation? No one is cutting my traffic time {sobs}.

I’m very familiar with how Nigeria and Rwanda cut the traffic time with motorbikes and ride them for a business purpose only, but Americans ride motorbikes mostly for recreational purposes and not utiliterianization. Well, that should have been dope but too strange for me. However, this shock didn’t cut me out because the state I stay is tranquil and traffic predictable. The only thing is I may never for a long time ride on motorbikes as a passenger or something. Maybe I will have to do with bicycles or get a motorbike for myself if the desire rises more than it is now. What do you think?

• Confession time, American English is some hard work!

I’m gonna, wanna tryna be sincere y’all, I totally freaked out on realizing the British accent is truly different from the American’s. I know that’s not anybody’s fault because even America herself has several accent strengths based on which part of the country they grew up from. I’m always big on languages, in fact, learning languages is a hobby for me and when coming to the U.S, I didn’t think I would have to learn a new language as it is also English we speak in my home country. When I got here, I thought being able to speak and hear them are all I needed to communicate but it turns out that I needed to slur, intonate and even soften my pitch to be heard. People, that’s some hard work, I tell you. Grateful for my Muff and some friends who always came through to give me American English hints. So, it might take less or more time for you, just be prepared to make some amends. I want to believe it is really for your good and the betterment of the world at large. Remember, you cannot dump your host’s cultures because you think you have a better one. If it was so, maybe you should have stayed in yours.

• Nothing runs out.

My eyes hurt from the constant electricity because of the constant lighting. Just kidding but there has not been an outage of electricity and is just as it is. The water supply and all the good stuff are available. This is a big one on me, you’ll probably understand more if you’ve been to my country. So, welcome to the constant availability of power.

• Credit cards!

Everyone can have it. Where I am from, you want to beg for credit, here, they will beg you to take the loans, in fact, they will shove it on your face every day with letters and notes while at it. That’s just very funny because, why do you have to do that?

• Trained to never offend you.

This is another good. An average American will do all but want to offend you even in heated situations. Everyone is trying to be on the good book with you so much that even when they are unhappy with you, they can and will still stay cool with you, and most times use their words to sort things out. Isn’t that amazingly goofy?

• That’s my underwear, I bet.

I know I probably don’t have to add this but what’s with wearing those very short or extremely slit outfits in public without feeling too cold or maybe too hot. Why would I talk about this? Is it to make a judgment? Nah, it was stunning to me at the time, yet, I really respect that but this is just one of my own shocking culture and it really doesn’t make it wrong or right. I was really bamboozled about it until I realized that it is what it is here. I would believe that it has to be included in this list for the reason that I accepted the culture for what it is. Amazing right? I’m not sure every skin can withstand the weather though. Just saying.

• Where is the Market?

Y’all, I’m not even joking about this, where is the market? Why do I have to go to some stores and shops online and offline to get myself every little thing? The stores and shops where I cannot negotiate, taste the Garri (which they don’t even have-lol)? This really gives me cramps, no jokes.

• Am I getting disrespectful?

So, I’ll add a 2-in-1 last one, have you ever been caught up being somewhat embarrassed of a thing you’ve been trained to do all your life. Let me be straight with it. Why am I not kneeling to greet the elderly ones anymore? The last time I noticeably knelt to greet an old American was at my wedding, thank God she appreciates cultures and traditions, in fact, I’m more grateful that she pointed it out later though I sincerely forgot myself while on it. Don’t get me wrong, I still kind of bend a little to greet Nigerians here but I’m not so comfortable that I now have to greet most people with a “Hey”, “Hello”, “How are you?”…

This leads to the similar other; I really can’t lavish the use of sir and ma’am in my online and offline conversations with Americans no matter the person’s age or how formal, in fact, especially when in a formal gathering. I only get to tease my pets with the words when struggling with them to get them do something. Isn’t that wild?

I want to believe these are the major culture shocks I have felt in the United States of America and I must admit that America is picturesque, lively, attractive and beautiful place to be. There are some minor shocks like; there are too many rules with allowances (fun right? But you won’t want to break them), and use/ownership of guns and ammunitions by many households (imagine a note in front of a house saying-“due to the high cost of ammunitions, there shall be no warning shots” or “stay off, we’re tired of hiding the bodies”). Well, none has shot at me before and I would love to keep up with some friendly and scary instructions.

Having wrote these, would you be visiting or moving to the U.S or here already, you can let me know the ones you have different from these and or which ones you relate with the most from the list. You can do that in the comment section or shoot at me directly through the website mail. Thank you so much for reading this far. I always really appreciate.

Dr. Adebankemo O. Michael

If you had questions and or additions while reading this write-up, kindly leave a comment or reach me directly on info@omnipurpose.org