ANASTASIIA

Adjusting to life in Oklahoma. . . or NYC

My story in NYC is completely different because I didn’t have the problems that immigrants had in those years, especially immigrants from Nigeria. Now immigrants are not treated with prejudice and people around are ready to support and help us. The cowboy is a very brave guy and he did what he thought was right despite the unfriendliness and ridicule of those around him

Being pushy

I think that if you want to get a job you don’t have to be pushy. You have to show your knowledge and skills instead of being pushy to someone. I don’t think that Igwe was pushy. He just wanted to get this job and he really deserved it because he was the best student and that would be fair.

Westerns are fun not only for kids, but also for adults. They have action, heroes, and simple stories of good vs. bad. There are horses, fights, and big open lands.

American movies also show beauty and small details. I remember one cowboy sleeping with a hat on his face. Even when resting, he was ready because danger was always close.

Adjusting to life in Oklahoma. . . or NYC

What I found most interesting was lgwe’s spirit and confidence in his life.The hardest of my adjustment was that I felt alone here and I had difficulty communicating with others.The easiest was the chance to study in English. Thanks to all the people who taught me how to speak English and how to get better here.

“Only in America”

I find that an interesting thing is TIPPING – when we go to a restaurant, when we take a taxi, or when we want to call someone who can help us,  we need to pay tips.  I think this is a culture in America, and it’s different from our country .

Igwe’s adaptation to Oklahoma – and mine to New York

Igwe’s adaptation to life in Oklahoma seemed very interesting to me because he embraced a new culture, but still faced challenges — especially in how others perceived him.

I can relate to that: my move to New York also required a lot of effort. Everything was new — the language, mentality, lifestyle, and communication with other immigrants. The hardest part for me was understanding humor and emotions in English. The easiest part was connecting with people — there are many friendly and open-minded people here.

Igwe’s persistence — and mine

Yes, I believe Igwe was persistent — he didn’t give up even when it was hard and people didn’t believe in him. Persistence is also very important to me — it helps me keep moving forward, even when it’s scary or difficult. I consider myself a persistent person too: I had to adapt to a completely new life in another country, and I did it. I also had to change — to become more hardworking and confident in myself in order to build my own story here. Just like in my home country, I was — and still am — a public person.

Cowboy movies

I love Clint Eastwood. I know that THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY made him famous. Unfortunately I have never seen it, but when I was young, I watched another movie by him, UNFORGIVEN. It attracted me so much. He was cool and powerful. The stories were grand and wild, and tense and they had exciting plots. All these things couldn’t happen in my world! I think maybe that’s the reason the films appeal to kids.

Although Igwe loved these films while growing up in Nigeria, I don’t think he chose to move to Oklahoma because he would find cowboys there. It was just a coincidence. Being a young immigrant, it seemed that he did not have so many choices for the place he would study and live.

“Only in America”

My ONLY IN AMERICA thing is about. . . HUGS. In China we don’t like to show our love and kindness very obviously. For me I often hug my mother, my husband, my son, but I rarely hug my other relatives and my friends, not to mention my colleagues.

When I came to the U.S., I found that people love to hug. I studied in the NYPL and Immigrant Centers. I received a lot of kindness and support from teachers, staff, volunteers, classmates. Once we were familiar with each other, they naturally gave me a hug when we met or said goodbye. That surprised me first, and then I felt warm. Sometimes I even felt tears in eyes!

You might think that I was too sensitive, but it’s a true feeling for a new immigrant living in a whole new strange place. I’m so grateful and after that I hugged my teachers, volunteers, classmates, if they like it. Recently I was back to my hometown in China. I hugged every relative I met. I felt them shaking lightly. I thought they liked it! Every time I think of this, I smile.

Adjusting to life in Oklahoma. . . or NYC

I think Igwe’s adjustment to life in Oklahoma was very different from my experience, because he suffered rejection from almost all people in town, so, this situation made his adjustment hard for him and also he was the only Nigerian there. In my case I came to New Jersey, which is a place that is friendlier to immigrants and a lot of people from Latin America live here.

The most interesting part for me was when he wore a cowboy outfit because I think it was a really happy moment for him and also he showed his outfit with pride no matter if somebody laughed at him.

The harder part of my adjustment here is not being able to communicate well, and incredible the easiest part of my adjustment is the weather, because I come from a warm valley but here it is so different, but this doesn’t bother me. Instead I like the different weather in each season.

“Only in America”

I think America has wonderful things, but something really impacted me. When my son started kindergarten here, he had a lockdown drill. He told me that he had to hide in the closet and this was unexpected. So I realize that in America, school shootings happen. It’s a sad reality and I hope it never happens again, but it is my ONLY IN AMERICA story.

Adjusting to life in Oklahoma. . . or NYC

I think it has been similar to my adjustment if I refer to my mind, because moving to another country has always changed in behaviors and almost everything is different, although I could find some similar nuances. I mean, to me, people are people, but for our mind every place and every face is new.  Sometimes you create more barriers inside you because of your own doubts.

For example: I tried to ask for help in a store and people were rude, but it also happens in my country. But since I was practicing my English, I felt upset since I asked myself if I was speaking correctly.

Adjustment to life in America

About his life – how he was immersed in the culture is so interesting. The confidence he showed when he changed his clothes, and how he helped the other guy with the animal on the ranch. . . . I mean, he just tried to be part of the city, not pushing the situation.

The hardest part for me is to avoid thinking in my own language, not about translating words between both languages.  It is about what is the first idea which crosses my mind. I was playing a game with a friend which consists of choosing words with a specific letter of the alphabet, and the first word I thought of was in Spanish every time.

The easiest part is that I have no problems with other cultures or ideas, so I can learn while I am talking with new people and have fun at every moment.

Igwe’s relationship with his professor

Probably the conflict was more related to expectations. In my country, to get a university career, you need to study for 5 years and then do a graduation project (as research) which takes around 10 months. With my team, we did it in 1 month because we were working so hard, but the professor who oversaw us always showed a low interest in our requests about getting more feedback or about providing us with instructions to finish that research early.

We had to spend 10 months waiting because of that, so it was very frustrating. There was no real solution for us, but at least when we faced a specific situation with one guy on our team, we could show he had worked all the time, so he received the approval to get his title. We understood there are some rules we could not break, so we decided to adjust our plans to pay attention to other tasks as we looked for jobs.

Adjusting to life in Oklahoma. . . or NYC

In my opinion, it’s quite different about adjusting to life in NYC when compared with Igwe’s adjustment. The hardest part for me is the weather. It changes a lot in one day. I never had allergies before. I don’t know why. The easiest adjustment for me is changing my mind and going easy with myself. That helps a lot when I live here.

“Only in America”

I think the Only in America thing for me is FREEDOM.
That freedom means a lot to me, because no one cares about you. You can do everything you want, and I am learning to love myself more than in the past.

I can tell that it was totally different when I lived in my country. Everyone always stared at you. . . checking on you all the time. I’m happy to be here, to be myself.   I love NYC!

Igwe’s relationship with his professor

During my studies, I had a conflict with a teacher. She was a teacher of economic geography. When she asked students something, she demanded that the answer be based only on the textbook or her lectures, but economic geography is very dynamic, and what was written in the textbook 10 years ago is no longer relevant.  Now the situation is different.  I read a lot of economic literature that was relevant at that time. I traveled a lot around Ukraine and saw a different state of Ukrainian economic objects (factories, industrial enterprises, farms, etc.)

Once she told me about a large agricultural state enterprise. I said that this economic object no longer exists. I lived in that place and saw it. She did not know about it. I suggested to her that I would like to write a scientific paper on the state of agriculture in my region. I conducted extensive research and presented it to her. Then we worked on this topic for 4 years of my studies. Interestingly, she included my research in her lectures for other students.

“Only in America”

I am an immigrant. I live in Brooklyn. I am constantly learning English. My level is not very high now. However, I need to communicate in English more. And I need to live here, so I go to stores, pharmacies, cafes. I buy the necessary things and try to communicate with people. People in Brooklyn are very tolerant. They try to help me, they speak slower and more clearly, and they explain things.

However, I had a different situation in the cities of Dayton and Cincinnati in Ohio. I was on a business trip. And when I tried to order something to eat in a café or buy something in a store, I had problems. These people were not as tolerant as in Brooklyn. Yes, I understand that this is their country and language, and they had trouble understanding my low level of English, but I came to them to spend my money. In one café, they even told me that they did not understand me well enough, so they could not serve me!

Cowboy movies

I think American westerns appeal to kids because of the hero stories, the natural scene of the Western, the tense action, not complex words, the duel plot, and the exciting result of just victory.

I like American westerns, especially THE HATEFUL EIGHT directed by Quentin Tarantino. I like the Western heroes. They are brave, despite the danger. I think it was just a coincidence that Igwe chose to move to Oklahoma, because there are still many cowboys in almost all Western states. Maybe, there are many Nigerian people who immigrated to Oklahoma and Igwe followed them.

Being pushy

I think Igwe was a little pushy because he couldn’t lean on anyone and he didn’t have too many choices. In my opinion, pushy means I must be the best when I face any competition. We must work hard and get a good position, so I think that being pushy was necessary for Igwe to get a job at a university. After Igwe got the job, he bought a motorcycle for himself and relaxed, being a cowboy. Soon, I believe he will be pushy in some new situation.

Everyone must change when they leave their native country. Me, too. I must study a new language and learn a new lifestyle including foods, housing, and communication. For example, we used to talk with familiar people in China, but in America, we get used to conversation with strangers.  I learn small talk, I feel happy to communicate with everybody, so I have new friends.

Cowboy movies

When I was a child, I rarely saw movies about cowboys. What I remember is a small part from the movie, Back to the Future, where there was a short scene about cowboys. And of course, the TV series Westworld, which also shows that time – with cowboys, robbers, sheriffs, gunfights, and drinking. And of course, the fastest one was always the winner.

Igwe’s relationship with his professor

My opinion about the professor is very simple. I think he saw something of himself in Igwe and didn’t want him to succeed. It’s like, if YOU didn’t reach success, then no one else should – this is called selfishness!!

I had some professors like that too, who told me, “You will not succeed.” At that time, I took their words very personally, but we all get older, and everyone has their own path in life. So, I think we should not take criticism like that too seriously.

Cowboy movies

I don’t like western movies about cowboys. They never motivated or inspired me in any way. I also find them too violent for my taste.

Igwe’s relationship with his professor

I’ve never had conflicts with my professors. I was a passionate person who valued learning and communication. Whenever challenges came up, I found a way to compromise and solve things calmly.

Adjusting to life in Oklahoma. . . or NYC

I think lgwe’s adjustment to life in Oklahoma is different from mine in New York City. He wanted to be a cowboy-style man, so he bought the appropriate clothes and shoes and imitated cowboy activities. However, there isn’t a definite style in New York City, I don’t need to be similar to someone. The most interesting thing about lgwe, I believe, must be his imagination, always imagining with his family.

As for what I think is the hardest adjustment in New York City, it must be the environment of language. Meanwhile, the easiest for me is to familiarize myself with the quick life style in New York City.

                                                                                  “ Only in America”

The most different thing for me in the U.S. is that ONLY here, you can share your opinion and thoughts freely. When I first came into the New York City community, I found not only the American flag, but also the flag of other countries. People can live here but can also show their love to their motherland, and the local people also respect it.  There is no conflict – just peace and love. This is the first time I realize that the US is a really free country!

“Only in America”

One experience that was totally different for me happened when I was attending the Adult Learning Center in the USA. In my country, schools don’t usually organize events where students bring food to share. But here, every two months, they organized a food-sharing event. All the students had to bring a dish, and our teacher always brought pizza. We would eat together and enjoy food from different cultures. It was a wonderful way to connect and learn more about each other. It was a new and beautiful experience for me.

Cowboy movies

American westerns are popular with children because they are always adventurous. The American template in movies is to have a positive ending. Both children and adults like them. I have always liked watching adventure movies and different countries and times, so I also liked westerns. I think Igwe chose Oklahoma, because it was a good place to study, not because of the cowboys.

Being pushy

In my opinion, being “pushy” is not bad. It helps you achieve results in life in some situations. Igwe had to be pushy to stay in the US and help his family.

Igwe’s relationship with his professor

This conflict was between a student and a teacher, and I was the teacher.

I had recently graduated from a teacher training university with a degree in General History.
The student had high marks in all subjects – except history – and demanded that I give him a high mark in history as well. He did not find history an important subject and did not study it. I did not like this, of course.

I agree – teachers don’t like it when students push them. But I decided to give the student a chance to get a high score. I asked him three easy questions in class. He couldn’t answer them, but he kept pushing me.

He wanted to be an excellent student. Then I told him: Choose: either be an excellent student or be an honest person. The class laughed, and my opponent became very silent.

He is now an adult and he always greets me respectfully when we meet.

“Only in America”

I have 3 thoughts on this issue.

• only in America is there such a large number of people of different nationalities with different cultures and religions.

• a simple human dream is included in the founding document of the state. The Declaration of Independence is the foundation of the American dream. It states that all Americans deserve to be treated equally and have the right to “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”.

• I think that only America has such an attitude towards public toilets. Toilets are accessible, tidy and in sufficient quantity!  You know, we had a school inspector from the Ministry of Education. He would start his inspection of a school by checking the toilet. This may seem like a joke, but the cleanliness of the bathrooms affected the total assessment of the school!

Therefore, I think America may deserve a high rating.😊

Cowboy movies – Did you like them?

Undoubtedly! I really liked cowboy movies. Chases, shooting, fights and of course love! As rule these films have good endings. Good triumphs over evil! And they also have a beautiful musical accompaniment. The fact that Igwe moved to Oklahoma is a coincidence, an unexpected and happy coincidence as a chance to change his life.

Being pushy

Being “pushy” is a good quality for achieving and implementing plans and dreams. As a result, Igwe became who he wanted and dreamed. Even without paying attention to the misunderstanding of others, he achieved his goals.

Why do you think American westerns appeal to kids?

I think westerns appeal to kids because of the way they act and because the sets look so funny. Sometimes they appeal to me. The way the cowboys act excites the kids. Maybe because Igwe liked the cowboy theme and didn’t keep it a secret!

Being pushy

Yes, I agree with the professor. I am not “pushy.” Being pushy is a bad idea. He changed when he controlled himself. I did not change when I left my native country, except to be a better person.

I think that American Western movies appeal to children because they’re full of action, adventure, and strong characters like cowboys. Many children like to imagine themselves as brave heroes, and Western movies allow them to dream of that kind of wild, free life. In the trailer for The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, you see a lot of suspense, exciting music, duels, chases, and mysterious characters, which can be very exciting for a child or young adult. Personally, I wasn’t that drawn to these types of movies because I was more interested in other genres like comedy or science fiction. But I can understand why others, like Igwe, did. I think if Igwe loved those movies so much as a child, he probably felt a special connection to cowboys and perhaps, subconsciously, chose Oklahoma because it reminded him of the world of the Old West. However, it could also have been a coincidence. Sometimes you end up in places you never imagined, but they have a deeper meaning, unbeknownst to you.

Igwe’s relationship with his professor

Yes, it’s not uncommon to have some conflict with a professor. For example, I once disagreed with a professor over the interpretation of a piece of literature. I felt the professor was dismissing an alternative perspective without giving it much consideration. We ended up discussing it outside class, and I explained my view in more detail. Though we didn’t fully agree, we reached a mutual understanding and I appreciated that he encouraged respectful debate. That experience actually strengthened our academic relationship.

Being pushy

In some ways, yes, Igwe was pushy – he was very eager, maybe even desperate, to secure a job at the university. He pushed his ideas and qualifications strongly, and that might have seemed too much to his professor. To me, being pushy means crossing the line between being confident and being forceful. It’s when someone insists too much or doesn’t respect boundaries in trying to achieve their goals.

Am I pushy? I try not to be, but I do believe in speaking up for myself and pursuing what I believe in – just with respect and patience. In a competitive environment like a university job market, sometimes being a little pushy can help you stand out, but it’s important to balance that with humility and professionalism.

If Igwe was pushy at first, he eventually learned to be more patient and respectful of the process, which showed personal growth. I think that kind of change is positive – it means adapting and becoming more mature. As for me, moving away from my native country required some changes. I had to become more independent, open-minded, and resilient. I learned to adapt to a different culture and to express myself more clearly. Change can be hard, but it helps us grow.

Being pushy

I think that Igwe is a really pushy person. To my mind, this behavior is more common in his native country then in western world. Being pushy is a good quality for person who sells something – a product or a service. In this case (this story) he “sold himself” (his services) to the professor. It’s a good quality in many careers. I’m not a pushy person by nature, so I’ll have to develop this quality.

“Only in America”

Before moving to the U.S., I traveled a lot. That’s why I have used a hotel service a lot. In the U.S, I was surprised by the hotel pricing system. When you book a hotel, they show you one price, but then they ask you to pay extra charges for amenities – like local phone calls, gym, etc. You must pay for these, even if you didn’t use them!!! I have visited Las Vegas and the last time I paid $40 for my room, but a total of $60 extra for amenities!! [$20 covers the EXTRAS fees and taxes per night.] So the total amount is more then 2 times higher than what they tell you during the booking!!

I have never seen this in Europe or Asia. You can see this Only in America.

Cowboy movies

American westerns appeal to kids because they are full of adventure and brave heroes. I also liked movies like this as a child because the characters always fight for justice

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly shows how heroes can survive difficult times. Maybe, Igwe fell in love with this world as a child, and that’s why he wanted to live in America.

“Only in America”

For me, the strangest thing was how people in America smile and say “How are you?”  Even if they don’t know you. In my country, we don’t usually talk to strangers like that, and it was a pretty positive surprise. I like this tradition because it helps create a friendly atmosphere. I remember when I followed my son in high school, and all the teachers and principals were saying “Hi” to me, even though I didn’t even know them.

In my opinion, Igwe’s adjustment was more difficult than mine, because Igwe had immigrated earlier. It was a different time, not as tolerant and democratic as it is now. For me, both at the beginning of my arrival and now, the biggest difficulty is the language. Igwe had no problems with language, but he had some difficulties with socializing and understanding a different culture from his own. The most interesting part, in my opinion, seemed to me to be the part when Igwe decided to become a cowboy and realized that cowboys have a similar culture and values to his culture. It’s wonderful when you find something very familiar in a new country because it helps to adapt to a new country better and faster.

For me personally, the hardest part about immigration was at the very beginning, when a lot of things are different and I have to adapt to it quickly. Over time, these things become fewer and fewer. The easiest part of immigration for me is now -because I got the ID documents, rented an apartment without a credit history, took out medical insurance and submitted a tax return!

Being pushy

I think Igwe was pushy in a good way. Sometimes there are situations where it is absolutely necessary, as in his situation. He needed documents allowing him to stay in the country legally and he tried to do everything necessary for this.

For me, being pushy means knowing exactly what you want and achieving it in all possible legal ways that do not infringe on anyone or contradict moral and ethical norms in society.

Cowboy movies

I think westerns teach kids the consequences of decisions made. I like these kinds of movies. They have style in them. I don’t think Igwe came to meet the cowboys on purpose. It was just a coincidence. After all, his purpose was to learn, and when he met the cowboys, he was in awe and remembered the movies he had seen as a child.

Being pushy

No, I don’t agree that Igwe was pushy, because he was a simple student who wanted to study and being with a good feeling in the new place. To me, pushy is people who have a dispute every time, and want to tell all people how they need to do something, but they do nothing.

Cowboy movies

Westerns often appeal to children because they’re full of adventure, cowboys, and vast landscapes. Stories of heroes facing off against villains are captivating!

For Igwe, it’s possible he loved westerns and moved to Oklahoma to experience the cowboy vibe, but it could also be a coincidence.

Adjusting to life in Oklahoma. . . or NYC

Regarding the COWBOY video, I think Igwe must have found differences in his life in Oklahoma compared to New York. Perhaps he enjoyed the nature and quiet, while New York is more lively. What’s interesting is how everyone adapts to a new place.

For me, the hardest part of adapting has been getting used to a new environment, while the easiest is making friends.

Adjusting to life in Oklahoma. . . or NYC

For me the most interesting part of Igwe’s adjustment is when he decided to follow his dream about being a real cowboy and got encouragement and confidence to buy his special hat and then he changed his way to get dressed like a cowboy.

The hardest part of my adjustment was the food, because eating outside was not an option for me so I had to learn how to cook for myself, and the easiest thing was to adjust to the weather. I enjoyed seeing how everything changes with the seasons.

“Only in America”

Only in America do people celebrate Christmas evening in pajamas. It is different and new for me because in my country, Colombia, Christmas evening, people dress up and we celebrate with a fancy dinner and party.