DID YOU GROW UP OUTSIDE THE US? IF SO, WHAT WAS IT LIKE GROWING UP IN YOUR NATIVE COUNTRY?
Yes, I did. I grew up in Nigeria and the lifestyle is very different from here. It is more carefree and even though it wasn’t always comfortable, it was home and that feeling is not overrated.
HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO ATTEND A UNIVERSITY OUTSIDE OF YOUR NATIVE COUNTRY?
It was my father’s idea. I had trouble gaining admission into the University back in Nigeria, it is very competitive to get into state and federal funded universities because they are inexpensive and private universities are very expensive. When my my father saved enough, I started at a private university but when my visa application fell through a year later, I transferred here.
WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS ABOUT COMING TO THE UNITED STATES? DID THOSE CHANGE?
OMG!!! I was ecstatic. It was my first visa ever and getting the visa is the most difficult ordeal. I had high hopes and expectations but those quickly changed when I set foot in New York and I saw how the subway looked – the grime and dirt of the streets. I thought to myself, this is no better than my Ibadan and the streets are not lined with gold…lol. However, when I arrived in Cleveland, that perception changed slightly and I have since realized that though it is the land of opportunities it is professed to be, you have to fight for what you get just as it it back in my home country.
DID YOU FACE ANY CHALLENGES TRANSITIONING TO THE U.S, OR TO CLEVELAND?
Changing how I spoke and wrote English. I still have to correct my spelling of honor vs honour, or labor vs labour every time. The most difficult transition however was understanding that being black was actually an issue. I never saw racism as a thing, tribalism – yes but issues with color was never an issue because I understood the biological reason why we are different and I embraced that but like I tell people “I never felt black until I came to America.”
WHAT TRADITIONS OR CUSTOMS DO YOU CONTINUE TO PRACTICE?
Speaking my language every chance I get, wearing my traditional attires on special occasions – it’s a big thing back home.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO WELCOME IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES?
Asides from the fact that this is a country built on immigrants – the melting pot its called. I believe every country should welcome immigrants and refugees because that is the meaning of globalization. Besides we thrive from learning from one another and what goes around comes around.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO TRAVEL ABROAD?
Speaking from the perspective of someone who travelled abroad last year for an exchange program, I would say it is very important. A person will always think they know something until they actually experience it firsthand. I met someone during my study abroad program and the entire time she knew me, she always thought I was tanned (she didn’t know I was naturally black). She was so shocked that she lost her sense of coherent speech when she saw me dressing up one day. When she was finally able to talk, she asked how I tanned my entire body without getting tan lines, it was my turn to loose my train of thoughts because I didn’t even know where to begin. I then explained that I was black because I had a lot of melanin. It was quite an educating experience.
