DEPARTED FROM
Nigeria, Nigeria
ARRIVED IN
Durham, North Carolina
YEAR
2017
AGE
10
NOW LIVES IN
Durham, North Carolina
Who met you when you arrived?
My dad, brother, and cousin.
What made you immigrate to the United States?
I had family here and I came with other family.
What was your first impression of the place you arrived to?
Everything was clean, very neat and straightforward.
What were some of the things that surprised you?
It wasn't like the movies, I had higher expectations and thought it snowed all year round. I didn’t know there were trees; I thought electrical poles were weird because I thought everything was underground.
What did you do on your first day?
I went to get my social security number, got mcdonalds (or maybe it was bojangles). Met with my family and ate so much ice cream.
What was your initial reaction upon arriving in the United States?
Excitement at everything, there was a little anxiety but I was happy because of my family.
How did you feel during your first few days in the United States?
It was a new place, so making to make new friends and having bigger room were cool.
What were some of the biggest cultural differences and similarities you noticed between the United States and your home country during your first days in the U.S.?
People actually follow the laws, wear whatever they want, and fashion is different from what I thought it would be.
Did you face any challenges or barriers in your first days in the U.S.?
Not in the first few days but later on school testing and having a language barrier was difficult.
Did you have any support or resources available to you during your first days in the United States?
Mainly just family.
Did you have any presumptions about American culture that were challenged during your first days in the United States?
Not really, I had an idea of what things were like from TV.
What advice would you give to other newly arrived immigrants in the United States?
Be thoughtful, let your interactions make your perception of what life is like.
