Kachisbarbie:


E be like you go dey stingy o...

CFCman:

Okay.

You can imagine the inconvenience of shelling out $50 for a new charger.

jwillng:

The big factor is the cost of the ticket. With the crazy exchange rate. It can take a lot and change anytime.

Aside from that-you can manage everything else-especially if you have people that you can stay with or can show you around. If not hotels are relatively cheap when the standard is considered.

LUCAS99:


I didn't want to spend that much but I had no other choice. That was even the cheapest I could get. At Best Buy it cost about $55 and about $60 at Walmart.

Meanwhile if I was still in Nigeria I could take it to a computer shop and they would probably fix it for no more than #1000. Even If I decide to buy a new one it wouldn't cost me that much.

SmartMugu:
To me, the system is designed for everyone to keep working and end up spending whatever they make in the US in the same country.

CFCman:


I know right. That N55 is like N17,600. In Naija, you wou would have saved N16,000 at the computer village.

That brings me to another point. It's also important to know some basic stuff about fixing toilets and sinks. A certified plumber, in my area, could charge up to $90 for some repair work on those things.

LUCAS99:


I totally agree with you. Like I said before if you are looking for a better standard of living then America is the best place for you. One thing for sure is that the American society will offer you a better standard of living compared to Nigeria. Good roads, Stable electricity, Security etc… but all this comfort comes at a cost.

The white man is not stupid. The system is designed in such a way that most money you make goes back into the country. Besides if it was so easy to save money most people will work two or three jobs to save up money and leave the country and will only come back to visit. But the big question is how do you save up the money when you have to worry about rent, light bill, cable bill, water bill, auto insurance, tuition etc.

When you try to explain to your relatives back home what you are passing through and ask them to hang on that you will send them some money later. They think you have the money but you don’t want to give them. When you see people who have spent 5-10 years living here is not really their fault, sometimes they feel stuck in the system. I have already spent about four years here and still trying to figure it out

However some people have been able to figure out the system and how to work around it. You see them shipping containers and going back to Nigeria 3-4 times a year. But most of them are not willing to let you know how they initially raised their first capital.

The most important thing is to have a solid plan even before you decide to come over. Even when you arrive be focused and discipline. Once you lose focus in this country is always difficult to get back on the right track.

Hopefully everyone of us will make it in this country.

LUCAS99:


True. I live in an apartment and most repair work is carried out by the management. The usually send someone over to fix it and often times is usually a Mexican. It makes wonder how come Mexicans know all these stuffs. Do they learn about all these things before coming to the United States.

But One thing I like about the Mexicans is that they are always willing to help one another just like the Asians.

Thompsonneyo:
wow what a lovely post, am a graduate with a second class lower GPA 2.5,Pls people am thinking of applying for a students visa for fresh undergraduate studies,because I don't think I would be able to do Master's there with my GPA, Pls I humbly need a sincere advice..or what other ways can I go there...am really confused.

Originalsly:
Hmmmm.....OP.....as a travelling man around South Dakota....how long often do you run into Black people period?....looking at the pics that place looks desolate.... you must not be from Lagos or boredom and quietness would've already killed you!

jwillng:
All the houses here seem to be made of wood. When fire happens-the house is gone in seconds. Thats one bad thing I have seen here. Any strong wind and the house is gone. But the foundation looks Naija foundation.

jwillng:


Bros- I don send money already na. I don dey hustle before I even comot for plan. Nairalanders in Yankee are good people. They helped a lot.

ireneony:
just be careful of what you eat...always stay away from junk food.
65-70% of Americans are obese

ireneony:
nawa for u ooo...
It is becos of the hurricane and earth that often occur that's y they build their homes with woods

jwillng:
@lalastisclala, ishilove , Oga Seun-come rent house o!

24 hour light
Water dey run 24/7
Correct police dey just seconds away

jwillng:


I dont know for them. When I asked someone-he said its because building a house with cement will be too expensive. All these wooden houses sell for like equivalent of 60 million naira to 100 million naira. And those are the average houses ( although 99% is mortgage). So i can imagine maybe cement house will be like 1 billion in naira money.

Etinosajay:
Nice one jwillng, and congrats.

Congrats because you left at the right time. Things are gonna get worse here in Nigeria, a lot more before they get better.

By the way, did you travel as a student? Or through some other route

jwillng:


If I included all my attempts and losses-it was a lot. I made many mistakes at first. Paid almost 400k to someone who claimed he could help me get a visa. Thats a long story anyway.
But with my successful attempt-I spent over 500k including ticket, hotel for my stay, and some spending monet. What helped me was a deal I had with a Nairalander in the US-in importing some items.

Etinosajay:
Nice one jwillng, and congrats.

Congrats because you left at the right time. Things are gonna get worse here in Nigeria, a lot more before they get better.

By the way, did you travel as a student? Or through some other route

tpiah11:
Op I am not surprised you are showing people's houses on nairaland, but do you have authorized permission to do do?

Remember my first post on this thread?

jwillng:

This ghetto to me is better than my oga's neigbourhood in Ikoyi!

tpiah11:


If things get worse in Nigeria, they will also get worse everywhere, so dont daydream of El Dorado somewhere because there is none.

ireneony:

jwillng:

.
PM me through the Nairaland System and I ll reply