Although universally valued and recognized, hygiene is something that displays some particular traits that can be regionalized. As an immigrant from Africa, you may often witness customs that seem jarring to you but are considered normal within the United States. One of the hardly talked about aspects of American culture

Defined by the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary as “the belief that America offers the opportunity to everyone of a good and successful life achieved through hard work,” the American Dream is the poetic end goal behind the concept of the “self-made man.” As such, people seeking better opportunities beyond biological,

The United States is overwhelmingly large—nearly as wide as the entire continent of Africa, to put it in perspective. So, transporting from either coast extreme is an overwhelming task that can take several days if done through roads. Perhaps this necessity helps explain the United States’ dependence on their vehicles,

As an expat establishing within the United States, it is essential to forge new bonds with the people around you. However, the first step to achieve that goal is to understand the way people in the United States tend to carry their friendships and other interpersonal dynamics. Americans tend to

One of the most jarring aspects of daily life after leaving Africa and moving to the United States is undoubtedly adjusting to their unique measuring systems and dates. The country is notorious for following a set of standards that are not commonly found elsewhere in the world, least Africa of

A concept that regularly confuses recently-arrived African immigrants is the overwhelming importance of credit history within the United States. In simple terms, your credit score registers aspects of your financial history—particularly if you pay your bills promptly—and determines whether or not it is risky to lend you money. As such,

We all know how African Time works—at its own pace, never too fast. Most African countries have a relaxed approach to punctuality, as schedules tend not to be followed strictly. Although it is a widespread aspect of African culture, the notion of “African Time” has lately come under scrutiny due

According to Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory, one of the aspects that define cultures and societies is the degree of interdependence between individuals in a community. This position is granted on a scale between individualism and collectivism, often called the Individualism Index. In simple terms, individualist societies emphasizes individuality—“I” before “we”,

According to multiple studies across the decades—from academic research to essays by National Geographic—citizens of the United States have long struggled with geography. Often scoring below average, many have failed to locate any country within a map—sometimes, even their own. Luckily, newer generations seem more concerned about understanding the world

Few aspects of American culture are as perplexing to expats as the intricacies of tipping. Immigrants arriving from Africa are no strangers to tipping. However, the act is always optional, and it is not embedded with the heavy connotations it has within the United States. In American culture, tipping is

A peculiar aspect within the American job market that many African expats only begin to grasp after some time in the country is the encouragement of specialization within particular fields. Although employees with general skills do succeed within the job market, it’s clear that companies prefer to hire individuals that

If you keep track of U.S. news and political debates, you must be aware that healthcare remains one of the most controversial points of discussion. It is not surprising because the medical system within the country is very polarized. The United States has, undoubtedly, one of the world’s most capable

The biggest export of the United States is their entertainment industry. Part of the soft power imposed by the U.S. upon the rest of the world comes from its solid and restless media machines. Regardless of the African country you come from, it is probable you’re familiar with some of

For any immigrant, the goal is to make the new country your home. Not merely your residence, but the place where you feel comfortable living, working, and interacting with others. But sometimes—particularly when facing cultural shock—that goal seems to be far away, and it is almost encouraging you to go

One of the deadly sins immigrants and expats commit regularly is comparing their journeys with others in similar situations. Each experience is unique and takes place across different timeframes and circumstances. As such, although cultural adjustment takes place over four different stages, some individuals may skip a couple of them

Cultural shock is arguably the most discussed topic in immigration and cultural integration, and it is not unwarranted. For decades it has established itself as a near-unavoidable event for expatriates who leave a culture and settle themselves in a vastly different one—including Africans arriving in the United States. But rest

Suppose you have recently arrived in the United States and find yourself taken by the culture and way of life in a manner similar to that of a kid in a candy store. In that case, you might be in the Honeymoon stage of the cultural integration journey—the first out

Despite the opinions of many, the immigration experience is not universal. Aspects such as personal circumstances, socioeconomic profile, language, and cultural background profoundly impact the cultural integration process. African immigrants don’t experience the same as Latin American ones. In turn, Somali immigrants have a different journey from Cote d’Ivoire ones.