Comments on: Report: Mistakes Overseas Students and Migrants Make and Just Pay With Credit!! http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/03/mistakes-immigrants-and-overseas-students-make/ African's personal development blog Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:44:15 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Mwangi http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/03/mistakes-immigrants-and-overseas-students-make/comment-page-1/#comment-841 Mwangi Thu, 01 Jan 2009 08:20:49 +0000 http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/170/mistakes-immigrants-and-overseas-students-make/#comment-841 @Frank: Hey Frank, welcome to tDA. So far, the only huge difference I have seen between African immigrants in the US and African immigrants here in Australia are that there are more immigrants in the US and so group habits have been deeply ingrained and group problems that could have been dealt with when the group was small e.g. creating and pushing role models who define the group culture- haven't. Otherwise, all the problems in Oz, including huddling up and never focusing on growing outside of your community, are the same problems here. And as such making any changes to the immigrant culture in one place will probably have effects on the immigrant culture overall. Happy new year chief @Frank: Hey Frank, welcome to tDA. So far, the only huge difference I have seen between African immigrants in the US and African immigrants here in Australia are that there are more immigrants in the US and so group habits have been deeply ingrained and group problems that could have been dealt with when the group was small e.g. creating and pushing role models who define the group culture- haven’t.
Otherwise, all the problems in Oz, including huddling up and never focusing on growing outside of your community, are the same problems here. And as such making any changes to the immigrant culture in one place will probably have effects on the immigrant culture overall.

Happy new year chief

]]> By: Frank http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/2008/03/mistakes-immigrants-and-overseas-students-make/comment-page-1/#comment-842 Frank Thu, 01 Jan 2009 01:08:34 +0000 http://www.thedisplacedafrican.com/170/mistakes-immigrants-and-overseas-students-make/#comment-842 Sasa Mwangi, The pdf article was a good read. I'm based in the US and I can attest to what Rohith is talking about. Ive heard and felt many say the very issues he has addressed. 1.The illogical behavior of ignoring the solution, and burying head in sand (as is well illustrated by the image) and hoping the problem will go away is widespread. Many will say its the accent or not having the right documents.Its a struggle for many to find their self esteem through the accent barrier. Since language, or the way of speaking it, is a carrier of culture, many lose pride in their heritage. Many Nigerian friends in the workplace, for instance, have exhibited such confidence, accent or no accent, papers or no papers. 2. About having the right associations: Inasmuch as knowing and socializing with one's brethren from Kenya is needful, its at times taken too far with the "Kenya Ndogo" notion. Huddling together and doing things in the same fashion, oblivious to what else they could be engaging in as immigrant or non-immigrant residents. Networking and being mentored has proved helpful to those who have thought outside that box. Associating with others outside one's brood yielded good and long lasting networks. But I still love to be with my people from time to time. The good thing is that there is a good bunch who have gone beyond African origin and accent, and have been assertive and needed no affirmation from others. You can tell one when you meet and speak with such by the confidence they exude. I hope the days of "flossing" are long gone (we saw many pictures of people based abroad in all manner of designer labels when back home, but that does not imply they are doing well in their life goals.) How about Australia, are some immigrants in the same dilemma? I mean based on what Rohith talks about? * Listened to your podcast with the lady in Amsterdam and can see how non-immigrants can fall under the tyranny such regulations. And i'm glad many make it their aim to earn an honest living, (in the words of St. Paul) albeit with their hands in moving people and cleaning homes. Sasa Mwangi,
The pdf article was a good read. I’m based in the US and I can attest to what Rohith is talking about. Ive heard and felt many say the very issues he has addressed.

1.The illogical behavior of ignoring the solution, and burying head in sand (as is well illustrated by the image) and hoping the problem will go away is widespread. Many will say its the accent or not having the right documents.Its a struggle for many to find their self esteem through the accent barrier. Since language, or the way of speaking it, is a carrier of culture, many lose pride in their heritage. Many Nigerian friends in the workplace, for instance, have exhibited such confidence, accent or no accent, papers or no papers.

2. About having the right associations: Inasmuch as knowing and socializing with one’s brethren from Kenya is needful, its at times taken too far with the “Kenya Ndogo” notion. Huddling together and doing things in the same fashion, oblivious to what else they could be engaging in as immigrant or non-immigrant residents. Networking and being mentored has proved helpful to those who have thought outside that box. Associating with others outside one’s brood yielded good and long lasting networks. But I still love to be with my people from time to time.

The good thing is that there is a good bunch who have gone beyond African origin and accent, and have been assertive and needed no affirmation from others. You can tell one when you meet and speak with such by the confidence they exude. I hope the days of “flossing” are long gone (we saw many pictures of people based abroad in all manner of designer labels when back home, but that does not imply they are doing well in their life goals.)

How about Australia, are some immigrants in the same dilemma? I mean based on what Rohith talks about?

* Listened to your podcast with the lady in Amsterdam and can see how non-immigrants can fall under the tyranny such regulations. And i’m glad many make it their aim to earn an honest living, (in the words of St. Paul) albeit with their hands in moving people and cleaning homes.

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