A friend of mine just returned to Nigeria for the summer holiday after some years studying in the UK. When he first left Nigeria he said he found it hard to cope which is what is tagged as ‘Culture Shock.’ If not clear about the meaning of Culture Shock Google would help. So my friend arrived Nigeria last week and couldn’t stop complaining about everything from the airport service to the weather especially the internet service. My friend was ‘different’; good different. Want to know how your experience was returning back home from ’ other nations’. Congo and Iran not included. lol
IMHO I’m not sure that your friend is going through “culture shock” as much as “naija bashing”. As for me, the biggest reverse culture shock is how:
- much more friendly we are
- much more caring we are
- interruptive we are (I can hardly get 1 full minute with a teller, bureaucrat, or mechanic without somebody interrupting him/her for something or another).
- multi-tasking, self-confident, go-getters, and hopeful about the future we are
- all bark and no bite (I mean this in the most positive sense: we’ll make all that noise and gra gra, but nobody really wants to do any harm, not in their heart; if somebody in the West growls at you, your life may well be in danger)
- Nigeria makes you work very hard, but you’ll also get a chance to relax and bond with your mates at the end of the day. In the US, it’s always on the grind.
- my skin glows from the great food and humidity
- I have no fear of being shot by a cop, stand-your-grounder, or some other mis-negro-thrope
In the West, there seems to be such a despondency that makes me always look forward to my time at home
7 Likes
LOL @ Congo and Iran…
This is the MOST positive review I have ever seen online about Nigeria/Nigerians from an NRN.
Not sure I fully fit the demographic you want to hear from, but since I return home regularly for business and social reasons, here goes
- There is no place like home, irrespective of any inadequacy, there is a spiritual energy that fills my veins when I step out of the aircraft at MMIA
- I am amazed at the rate of internet penetration relative to our infrastructure investments as a nation and the cost…everyone still finds a way to make so much on-line presence within meagre means
- I am inspired by the young people hustling, despite the many knock-backs…most people in the Western World would have given up and joined welfare queues
- I still don’t like the informality of major business decisions…the words contract and document seem very alien at home
- I don’t trust anyone anywhere, but at least in the Western world, there are avenues for redress…every venture at home is a big gamble, if you get cheated the police cannot really help…we are still far from ombudsmen authorities too…
- On a final note…the variety of food here is heaven…not everyday potatoes in various guises