Comments on: Guest Post: Seinlife from Seinlife

By: What Everybody Ought to Know About Immigration and Njeri’s Guest Post » The Displaced African

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:08:12 +0000

[...] a) Seinlife on 5 Mistakes to Avoid as a Foreign Student in the US [...]

By: The Secret to Working Beyond the 20 Hours Per Week Work Limit » The Displaced African

Tue, 13 May 2008 17:32:17 +0000

[...] brilliant guest posts from Acolyte and Seinlife that touch on this subject, I felt that this post was in order. After all, it’s something [...]

By: gal africana

gal africana — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:58:36 +0000

I’m really not surprised when I hear of Kenyans sabotaging their lives abroad in all sorts of ways. When you think about it, most of us left the confines of our parents homes, where our parents decided and run and paid for everything, and end up in the US where we suddenly have 100% say in what goes down. Most of my friends in Kenya, the boys especially, used to drink themselves silly, all the time, and in all manner of places…why should a continental relocation miraculously cure that habit? Most of those I went to high school with, went to UNI because that was the next natural step…not because they were focused and in tune with their “GOALS”…why should those same people miraculously become focused when they go abroad?
Most of the Kenyans abroad, also have to contend with families who require that they not only work to pay for fees and their own livelihood but that they send cash home….
The problems arise waaaay before Kenyans leave home. These issues need to addressed among parents and grown kids at home before they leave the country.

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:57:05 +0000

@Acolyte: I agree, a post, and an investigation, of why we drink so much is definitely necessary. Here down under there are a lot of people who do nothing with their spare time (no church, not even partying) but drink in a variety of locations.

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:55:18 +0000

@majonzi: Here in Australia, fortunately the work permit you described is the default work permit. That doesn’t stop a lot of people here from going way over 20 hours. However my guess is that the whole work permit thing was devised so that people don’t go to work at the detriment of their education and there are quite a few people here who have managed to balance the excess work load of 20+ hours with their school and had no problems with authorities. In short, I think the message can be summed up, IF YOU ARE HERE TO GO TO SCHOOL, MAKE SURE SCHOOL COMES FIRST AND YOU DO WELL IN SCHOOL and make everything else secondary.

By: acolyte

acolyte — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:13:47 +0000

Peeps are put to work at the CNA/call centre or gas station ASAP when they get here so point number one is moot. The point is not to get caught
Dropping out I have seen and heard of happening, some people have managed to get reinstatement after a long hard fight though. Most dont even bother going back.
DUIs have brought many a Kenyan down out here, most peeps dont listen when they are warned or you find even the designated driver himself/herself drinking. At times I do think its the stress of being undocumented out here that drives Kenyans to the bottle, in fact that is another post in itself. Kenyans and their love for pints.

By: majonzi

majonzi — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:53:45 +0000

*they above refers to Immigration. Oh, your school, international student office, will have to sign off the letter … btw, even a shortage of jobs on campus is a legit cause for getting a work permit.

By: majonzi

majonzi — Fri, 02 May 2008 02:51:54 +0000

In the US after your first year of school you can apply for an economic hardship work permit. (it’s $300) I don’t know anyone who has applied and not got it. It allows you to work 20hrs a week off campus and 40hrs/week off campus during school breaks. The permit lasts year and is renewable. Best thing, you can find a job anywhere that pays more than a campus job. Hardest thing, is writing the letter. Basically, you have to prove that your financial situation has changed– be creative! Anything from a younger sibling is going to college so your parents are stretched out to parents economic status has changed– loss of property, jobs, demotion.. etc.. .Refrain from saying your parents are dead coz they might want a death certificate.

By: Mwangi

Mwangi — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:18:46 +0000

@Fimbo:No doubt that is the case to a large extent here in Australia as well. However, I think, now that we are so many and have so many varied experiences we can definitely begin to think about AND IMPLEMENT some sort of community wide programs and practices that will help ease the burden of these disadvantaged folks who show up in the West so they can focus on going after their goals.

By: Fimbo

Fimbo — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:11:29 +0000

Most kenyans who head to the states to study have no money…it goes without saying that they will violate their status. 4 and 5 are obvious no nos

When caught between a rock and a hard place, opt for numero uno

it is the least of all evils