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The Difference Between Living In Kenya And The USA
By Mwakilishi | Tue, 03/16/2010 01:04AM -0500
All,
I have been thinking of Kenya with great nostalgia even though I do make frequent trips to that place (Kenya). Previously I was even thinking, seriously, of relocating to Kenya within the next 12 months (for good) as I have investments that would "ordinarily" allow me to live there without ever working for anybody...
Investments aside, I have done some serious thinking and since I live in the United States of America I have concluded that, and in comparison to Kenya:
a) There may be "wealthy" people in Kenya but they still cannot compare to the middle-class in the USA. Being wealthy in Kenya means driving a Range Rover, living in Runda, taking your kids to good (expensive schools), et cetera. It does not mean that you are not a target for carjacking and your kids being targets of kidnapping...
Being middle-class in the United States means that you own your home and you live in a neighborhood with security and peace. It means that your children have a realistic chance at either becoming "middle class" or achieving the "highest level of excellence" they can given equal opportunities (in most cases).
b) Being "upper middle class" in Kenya means that "you can fly from Nairobi to Kisumu regularly" while in the US flying from point A to point B is the cheapest and most convenient way of traveling within the United States.
c) Being wealthy in Kenya means that occasionally, you can go on vacation abroad (mostly Dubai or sometimes Europe) while most of Americans going to Kenya as tourists are not even considered middle-class in the US. The wealthy Americans buy homes in their desired exotic destinations (using legally generated money.. not stolen money).
d) Living in Kenya as an ordinary Kenyan means that you are doomed for life as there is no realistic chance of upward mobility (save for the lucky 0.1% who manage to move upwards due to their professions e.g doctors, lawyers, etc). Living in America, whether you are starting from the ghetto, means that there is still hope for a better life. You just have to dream big, work hard, and "go get yours". MAJORITY of Kenyans doing well in the United States would probably be tarmacking in Kenya even with their university degrees...
e) Living in Kenya means that mediocre but well-connected people e.g sons and daughters of political class will be your "bosses for life" while in the United States most of the time, corporate titans and political bigwigs are ordinary people with ordinary family backgrounds. Also, in the US, your boss (employer) could easily be your college friend who started his/her company e.g google, facebook, twitter, etc. If you get a job in Kenya you will most likely be working for either a dinosaur boss (over 60 yrs of age) who knows nothing about social-networking technologies.. ***They still have secretaries type their emails..*
f) Tribalism vs Racism: Kenya is becoming a MORE tribalist society where your tribe MATTERS in almost all aspects of productive life while the United States is becoming "less and less" racist-- meaning that the trend towards equal opportunity for all is becoming practical in the United States...
g) The Average Life Expectancy in Kenya is about 55-yrs while in the United States is about 79 yrs.
h) The US Passport is the mother of all Passports you can go anywhere without problems. In fact, you can rent and drive a car in most countries in the world with just your US Passport. The Kenyan passport can get you killed in some places e.g Migingo Island.. smile Kidding here.. but you get the point, ama?
i) When Kenyan parents force their kids to study sciences/medicine/engineering because those are the only fields that offer "a promising future", Americans generally have a lot of options in life-- everything pays in the US provided that one is good at what they are doing.... even writing "self-help books" can net you millions of dollars. Art (artists) and athletes are very appreciated in the US so if you have those talents, you will be ok.
j) Entrepreneurship: America is the best place in the entire world to start a business and succeed.. this is because of a combination of large qualified consumer market, business networks & incubators, and fabulous business schools and engineering schools.. Americans CAN DO attitude is also awesome.
In other words my dear friends, in this interconnected world of internet, VoIP phone service, Video-conferencing, etc communications, I do think that America offers the best of both worlds... whenever you miss home/Kenya, you can easily connect via video technology and communicate with the people you miss in real time....airfare to Kenya from the US is also very affordable (compared to back in the day when people had to budget and save for years before they can fly)...
Kind regards,
Dr. Fred Shamalla Masinde, MB; ChB, DDS
Brooklyn, NY
Source: http://geraldbaraza.blogspot.com/2009/07/difference-between-living-in-kenya-and.html
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Tue, 03/16/2010 07:04AM -0500
#1
In kenya i was always broke but i had so much happiness in my heart. In America iam never broke but i am always sad i love kenya kenya, kenya, kenya always in my heart..............
Tue, 03/16/2010 08:26PM -0500
#3
"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it"..... home is the best, the land of my birth, where i belong, where my heart is..... Kenya...
Wed, 03/17/2010 12:56PM -0500
#4
The difference between living in Kenya and in the USA:
1.There is a sense of belonging in Kenya; you don't have to deal with always proving your worthness, be this your legal status, productivity, verbal expressions, among others;
2. Kenyan food tastes best and is always healthy: matumbo, sukumawiki and nyama choma;
3. In Kenya, you don't have to deal with the white carpet alias the snow;
4. In US you must have money to pay rent or house morgage: in Kenya, you may easily live with friends or go mahambani;
5. What you earn in Kenya, however little, you could invest in some small bussiness or buy land or build some home;
6. Most important, in Kenya you are very free to worship any way and to mention Jesus with pride, without turning people off.
God Bless.
Thu, 03/18/2010 10:44AM -0500
#6
Do you really have a doctorate? Are you really Dr Shamalla? The contents of your article look insincere to me, just like the title of your name. Who said that its all about materialism? l have just checked the mwakilishi obituary pages only to be saddened by the loss of so many young Kenyans thro "unexpected" deaths here in the US. lf the USA is heaven, as you want to paint it, why are so many of us dying like flies? Why throw the towel on our dear country, albeit the many negatives that define it? And how many years has it taken the US to reach where it is today? l live here in the US but will not lose hope in Kenya because l believe l have a role and a stake in its future, whether good or bad. And its for me to choose.
You surely, at an individual level, can do something about the vice of tribalism, poverty, corruption and many other ills that afflict our country.
You may be educated but surely you still have quite some learning to do.
Finally, you may need to pay a visit to 17th n 18th century London, and many other so-called developed areas of the western world to learn how life was in those days, otherwise Kenya n Kenyans dont need people like you in their midst.
Think again
Thu, 03/18/2010 04:52PM -0500
#7
Well. I agree with the writer for the most part.
Facts:
Kenya's economy represents 0.001 of the worlds economy. America represents
0.2 of the Worlds economy. Need I say more. The numbers speak for themselves no need to muse over that.
But..... and a Big BUT here.... Kenya gave us something....yes you and me....
And we need to give back..... Yes. Not ati in hand outs but in real
investments that will help relieve the situation for the many that did not
get the same opportunity as you did. Ok.
Sat, 03/20/2010 11:13AM -0500
#8
I love being in Kenya, there are so many friends and family around, I don't need to ride on a plane to show my wealth, I don't need to take my kids to the braeburns and braesides, a middle-class school will do just good.
It's a bit dumb to say that some people are doomed to stay poor, I see stories everyday of people who broke through poverty to make it BIG. And yes, their money id LEGIT.
I can work my job, pay for my school fees, and not have to do odd jobs like waitressing, doing kitchen work, being a janitor, etc, etc... I have a side hustle which pays well, and it requires the use of my brains rather than manual labor.
When I get extremely stressed, I take a trip upcountry... affordable and very relaxing. Most Kenyans save for holidays these days - we have off-peak packages for Kenyans to the beautiful coast resorts, our national parks and leading hotels...
There's a lot about Kenya that people don't know - atleast the people that left in the 80s and early 90s. Pay a visit home sometime... you'll be surprised!
Sat, 03/20/2010 09:47PM -0500
#9
A Man Woke Up From A Deep Sleep. Unbeknown to Him, There Were Two Naked Women in Front of Him. One was His Mother and The Other an Unknown Stranger. The Man Was Given One Blanket and Asked to Cover Only One of the Two Naked Women, He Quickly Covered the Stranger. That Is How I Read This Story.
Fri, 03/26/2010 09:00AM -0500
#10
Absolute nonsense from the so called Doctor. I have been privileged to live
in Europe in the 80's and the US in the mid 90's and after all that I came
back to Kenya. Problems are always there, no matter where you are and USA
problems are not any better than in Kenya. I have since managed to get two
(2)yes, two masters degrees and at less cost and hustle than I would have had
in the US of A. Kisumu by road is 4 hours away in my small car and my village
another 45 minutes. The beer is fantastic and the fish, wow! My late Mzee,
God rest his soul, schooled at Alliance and Makerere lived to 88 years and my
mum is 90yrs of age. So what bull is this guy talking about. I'd never go to
Dubai for holiday when the Mara, Nanyuki, Baringo, Vic Falls, Zanzibar, Lamu
beckons... Tribalism we'll learn to live with. Even Israel has been at it for
over 2000 years. My partner is from Mt Kenya while I am from the Lake and??
There are many in Kibera slums richer than you would ever imagine but they
choose to live there. It is their choice. Many Kenyans are enterprising and
it is paying off like never before Daktari, do not give excuses for not
wanting to come back home. But good enough, once less hustle to deal with. We
are a happy lot here....
Mon, 05/17/2010 09:34AM -0500
#12
This is sad indeed coming from a Dr. Shamalla. Are these the type of brains
we expect to change the Kenyan society? Well, American is where its today
because men and women in this land have done spade work and therefore, Dr.
Shamalla should inject the ideas and values he has acquired in America to
catalyse change in his motherland. We cant always keep comparing the
crookedness of our society with what happens in the developing world
especially countries which have been in existance for more than two
centuries-America. Instead, we should strive to use our knowledge and
expertise that we have acquired to reflect in our society. During the clamour
for Kenya's independence, the men and women who were at the front line to
fight for freedom are in fact those who acquired their education in the West.
They went back and risked their own lives and delivered Kenya from the jaws
of colonialism. Why cant Shamalla take the same challenge if he is patriotic
enough.
Mon, 07/19/2010 09:04PM -0500
#13
It amuses me that you call yourself a doctor. Maybe a bush doctor with no
identity. Please be proud of your motherland, Kenya,my country. Your so
called education should be an inspiration to others. Do not load others with
your miserable life here potraying yourself as happy. Wake up and be
realistic.Stop aping.
Wed, 07/28/2010 09:37AM -0500
#14
saddens me when somebody call the land of his/her birth "THAT PLACE". its
like refering to your mother like that. the reason i checked this blog out is
because i would like to come to the US. but of all my friends and relatives
who have gone to US, 90% do not give very good stories. They discourage and
say that they all plant to come back one day. only one abused housewife who
ran away and come there is full of praises. she is very happy taking care of
old ladies. so i wish somebody would give me the true picture. i earn
150,000/- per month in an office job. i am paid mileage and full medicare
plus pension. is it advisable to come there?
Thu, 10/14/2010 03:23PM -0500
#16
For an educated brother you sound very ignorant comparing the two countries
side by side yet we are not mirror images of each
other....Mexico....maybe...lol!!. Yadyada.....all the good things you like
about the US, i think its time people abroad embrace the environment they are
in and nature it to work for you. Keep your good memories of Kenya but look
at where you are now and make it work, contribute to that environment,
network with your community, church, politics and watch yourself grow. I live
in the US and am tired of kenyans congregating over beers romanticizing the
Kenya you left (frozen in time), if you have been abroad for 10 yrs
plus....."you are Kenyan only in your dreams". Its such an injustice for our
kids in diaspora being brought by parents who are frozen in time not willing
to wake up in 2010. Kenya will always be in my hear but thats not my
reality.....Be blessed!!
