OK, you have heard all the good things about america. But is it all true? For example:
• Why do well qualified professionals who left their jobs take between 3-5 years to get a decent job?
• Why do so many student get "lost", not coming back even for important issues?
• Why do most kenyans spend many years doing survival jobs?

Here are some of the issues that you need to consider before (and for some, abandoning your job) making that all important life decision.

• Life is difficult everywhere. The west have their own problems.
• If your experience is in an area such as Management, finance, etc, that is not considered a skills shortage area (e.g.high tech, some select engineering areas, some select healthcare), you are greatly at a disadvantage when competing with Americans for jobs.
  The generally agreed but unspoken rule is:
  you have to be twice as good as a white on a skill to be picked over the white!
• Racism is still very real, though indirectly expressed.
• Fortunes can change just as fast. Remember that the Tech boom was just a couple of years back? Think about this: if things changed and employers had to suddenly carry out layoffs, who do you think would be the first to go?
• If you are in your middle ages (late 30s and above) and have a family, or holding a senior position in Kenya, expect the possibility of a disrupted career growth and lost networking.
• Your kids may find difficulty fitting in: If you are a parent and have school going kids, and they have to attend schools that are mostly white (as you are most likely to do, with private schools or schools in good neighborhoods (white neighborhoods)-since most public schools in most areas are useless), think about the pressure to fit in that your kid is suddenly presented with.
• You are at a disadvantage when competing with American Citizens for employment/resources, unless you posses some of the sought after skills
• That pay may appear huge by Kenyan Standards, but the cost of living is also very high.
• Culture shock is real. Fitting in can be a real problem to many foreigners. Americans have a high sense of individualism. Forming close lasting relationships is very difficult.
• The law enforcement is generally very unfriendly to African Americans ( you may be profiled into this category). African americans may show deslike towards successful African immigrants (who they believe make them look bad! )
• If you ever find yourself on the wrong side of the law and go to Prison, you may NEVER work again, NEVER RENT a reputable apartment, e.t.c., i.e you are forever marked.
• If you have/hope to raise a family, America is not the best place for raising Kids. The social environment is totaly unfriendly to kids (If you did not know this, then perhaps you have been seeing too many "Happy-Joy-Joy" Movies ). It is especially unfriendly to those with strong Christian ethics. For Born-again christians, your faith may be tried as never before, not to mention that you may miss your African worship experience!
• Adverse health due to change in environment and costly health care. Your immune system most likely is not used to the gremlins in the west.
• Too late to move back: If you moved after abandoning your Kenyan job, and realise that things are not working out for you, it is normally too late to go back. Possible reasons: fear of being labelled a "failure", re-starting again in Kenya can be difficult, tasting the western lifestyle has an addictive effect, etc .


If you know of other problems that face Kenyan immigrants, please share it with others. Write us at info@mwalimu.com or use the web contact form

SO SHOULD I GO?

Despite the potential problems, IF
• You are young and/or
• You have nothing to loose and/or
• Your risk tolerance is high AND
• You do not care much for your country

How Africans under-developed Africa

Consider all the devastation your action in going to the west is likely to cause to your home country,especially in professional areas in healthcare ( Doctors, Nurses) and academics and foremost, your contribution to manpower and capital flight. If there are problems at home, who will provide solutions if bright people such as you do not?

• US Immigration ( Green Card) :Always visit the US government immigration site, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services ( USCIS ) site for authoritative information and documents.
• Canadian Immigration (Landing Rights ): Find Forms, Information, HOWTOs here, the authoritative government site
• Australian Immigration ( ): Visit mwalimu's Australian site to for the Australian Skilled Immigration Program
• UK Immigration ( ): Visit mwalimu's UK site