But first, a word from the webmaster: “WOW!” (Elaine hired me to put your submissions up on the website, and the many insights you presented had me SMH (“shaking my head”) – so many of them were totally “on the nose,” as they say. . .)
AUNG
adjusting to life in the US?
I think the cowboy’s adjustment to life in Oklahoma was similar to my own adjustment to life in NYC. Well, I mean not in exactly the same way but kind of similar in terms of living alone, families in other countries, we all have to survive and live on our own.
It’s amazing how he tried to fit in with his class, his surroundings and he finally got the TA job because he was able to change his professor’s view of him. As for me, everything was difficult when I first arrived in the US. I mean food, living style and the hardest one was communication with people because I was really afraid of making mistakes.
But I am trying really hard to fit in and it is getting better.
Igwe and his professor
I did have a conflict with my professor when I was postgraduate student. We argued about how to remove a POP cast from a patient’s leg. He asked me “ Do you know how to remove this POP from this patient’s leg? Tell me in detail.” At first I thought “Is he joking?”. Of course I knew how to remove this POP. It was a piece of cake. I had been doing this since I joined the post graduate program. I gave him my answer, but he did not like it. He kept asking me again and again until I gave the exact answer he wanted. I was wrong and I should not have misunderstood my professor because he wanted me to always get it right.

American westerns
For children, Western films are like adventure, another time, another era, They are interested in everything. Good guys fight bad guys. These films are especially interesting for boys: shooting, chases, Indians, romance.
Personally, I was interested in these films in childhood and adolescence. Now, I hardly watch them.
About Igwe: On the one hand, it was a coincidence, but on the other hand, it looks like he was looking for a meeting with cowboys under the childhood impressions of Western he watched in childhood.
adjusting to life in the US
Our adaptation was also ambiguous. At first it was hard, then easier. There was no nostalgia like Igwe had.
The most interesting thing was that he was persistent and went towards his goal. And the most important thing was that he diligently received an education in the US and this bore fruit.

Igwe being “pushy”
I don’t agree with professor. Igwe wasn’t pushy. He was only determined and persistent. I think that to get job at a university, even if there is a lot of competition, being pushy is not a good idea. If he was really pushy, he would be more polite. I don’t realize my adjustments in new culture because I have been living in a new country only 8 months and I don’t have a job here. I meet mostly Russians, except at English school. I became very nervous and anxious person since I left my native country.
“Only in America. . .”
• Only in America you can have a blue collar job and you can provide for the family.
• Only in America people waste money (or spend money) for lights and illumination and decorations on great holidays.
• Only in America children can get a lot of candy on Halloween.
• Only in America you can be fed for free at events.
• Only in America you can get free food.

Igwe being “pushy”
I think that Igwe was pushy, but I believe he only wanted to show interest in the job position because he felt confident about his knowledge and abilities required for the role. I noticed that he quickly understood that, in America, he needed to be more patient and respectful in that situation. He is now in another country, where things are done differently.
In my case, I needed to change a lot of ways I did things to become more conscious about my surroundings. For example, simple things like waiting in line to take the bus, using headphones in public spaces for calls, and being more respectful to others.
“Only in America. . .”
Only in America do people eat boring hot dogs!
In Colombia eating hot dogs is all a science. You can eat hot dogs with quail eggs, bacon, chicken, beef, pineapple, mayo, shredded Potato chips.

adjusting to life in the US
I think that my adjustment to life in NYC may have something in common with the cowboy’s adjustment to life in Oklahoma. Here is an example. When Igwe came to the hat’s shop, he was asked about the hat’s size. This is the common thing for the people who used to wear the hats for their whole lives. However, such a simple question may be a bit confusing for a person who has never worn a cowboy hat. But finally, Igwe got a hat that suited him. I think this may be considered as an example of life adjustment.
And here’s an example from my own experience. For my entire life, I was using Celsius scale to measure the temperature. For those, who were born in NYC, or in general in the U.S, it is very natural to use Fahrenheit scale for the temperature. Having arrived here, I switched my phone to the Imperial measuring system and now I am more or less familiar with the measuring scale that at first seemed totally odd to me.
I found the part when Igwe was making his first steps as a newborn cowboy to be the most exciting, as it usually is very interesting to start something new, not because you were told to do that, but following your own feelings.
The hardest part of my adjustment was to recognize and to accept the fact that I have to use credit cards. I never used credit cards as it makes you dependent on the banks while I prefer only to count for what I have. But now I have to use it just accepting the fact that I need to build a credit score that is supposed to be a person’s social rating, and you need it everywhere.
Igwe being “pushy”
I agree that Igwe was pushy. In some cases, such insistence may help in life, but it looks annoying and badly in the eyes of the others. On the other hand such behavior may thrust a person away, so as per my opinion there is an extremely thin border between the insistence and pushiness. Indeed, Igwe had been pushy, and he changed. If I am not mistaken, as some point he refused to fight for a job that he wanted to get initially.
I think it may have happened because Igwe became more self-confident and realized that you need not to be extremely annoying to get what you want. For sure he should have changed. When a person wants to assimilate into a different culture, the first thing she or he needs to do is to look at the other peoples’ behavior, since your own cultural habits may look weird and even unacceptable in another culture.
It is difficult for me to say at this stage that I have changed in a particular way, as I arrived here only half a year ago. I.e., I am still looking around trying to adjust my behavior to the frames accepted here. So I need a little more time to answer this question with more details.

adjusting to life in the US
My life has always been about adapting to new environments, starting from high school. I attended a high school located in another city, two hours away from my hometown by car. Later, I attended college in Beijing, which is a three-hour flight from home. Each time, I initially struggled to adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings, feeling helpless and even in pain. I remember how embarrassed I felt during the first few months of college when I couldn’t speak standard Mandarin fluently due to my hometown dialect. However, I managed to adapt to my new life quickly and achieved my goals.
When I moved to the U.S. as a new immigrant, the first six months were especially frustrating. The language barrier and cultural differences often made me feel awkward. Despite these challenges, my previous experiences taught me that adapting takes time. I remind myself that, just like before, I will eventually overcome these difficulties.
For me, life is about learning new things and gaining new experiences. These challenges, while suffering at first, always lead to growth and fulfillment. That’s the meaning of life.
Igwe being “pushy”
Being pushy can be a good thing when you’re determined to achieve a goal, especially in difficult situations.
It’s important to stay open-minded to new experiences and cultures while actively seeking solutions to the challenges you face. For example, when I first moved to NYC, I didn’t have any friends. As an introverted and shy person, this was particularly hard for me. However, I pushed myself to join group activities and took the initiative to start conversations with people. Over time, I gradually built connections and made many new friends

adjusting to life in the US
Very interesting and inspiring video to watch. Unlike the cowboy, I do not have to deal a lot with the culture in NYC as here I it is more a melting pot or “bowl of salad” than Oklahoma I guess. However, I would still have to adjust to the cold and harsh winter which was the hardest part compared to riding the public transportation which was the easiest adjustment.
I find that the sharing time with his fellow international students during the ESOL classes interesting as well as his short time in the farm, his communication back and forth with his family through the cassette tape and the gathering with his friends.
Igwe and his professor
More a misunderstanding than a conflict I had with one of my professors. It was about a graded assignment where he was accusing me of plagiarism. My work was similar to not say the same as one of my fellow students according to the professor. He was not convinced even though I provided him all the sources I have cited in my project and arguing that I have never worked or saw the work of the other fellow students. He finally graded the first assignment after reading my second and my third assignment. He stated that after reading my two last assignments he might be mistaken regarding the first one.

adjusting to life in the US
I think that my adjustments were very different to Igwe. In the first place, Oklahoma is so different to New York and in general, for people it is more common to interact with persons with different origins. So, from this point of view, things were easier, and I could be myself.
But there were, and there are, some fields where I had to learn, and I am still learning today. It’s about the working field for two reasons: recognition of knowledge and the specialization that is required here.
Therefore, I have had to ask myself what I really know how to do, or what I can contribute to the labor market. It was a rethinking of my skills and even today I continue to develop and delve deeper into this. In some way this also translates into an adaptation or adjustment to the forms that are usual here.
About the most interesting thing about Igwe’s life, I think that he was able to see and realize what things had to change. And something even more valuable, he knew how to persevere.
Igwe being “pushy”
I think that it’s true, he really was pushy. But at the same time, he was a little kind and sympathetic, maybe a little arrogant too. Anyway, in this life one way to get what you need, or you think you deserve, is pushing. It means go for it, be kind, but go for it. And he did. There is not just one way to do something, if you do it with respect and humility, and this is what Igwe changed: at the end he found his humility.

“Only in America. . .”
I’m living in NYC for 6 months. For now, I have questions started to appear similar to Igwe’s about food – Why does almost all food in America contains sugar? Sugar is everywhere. I hope salt doesn’t contain it. If I walk in Manhattan, the smell of food is everywhere. It’s no surprise that people have problems with their weight. If it’s not about food, what about Laundromats? Why do people still go there? 21st century outside of window, but not all people have washing machines in their homes. When I lived in Moscow, I could find the smell of food on the street very rarely. It was negative qualities.
But NYC has positive qualities – 24-hour subways, tolerance to different people who can live their own lives and without fear to express themselves, unlike Moscow.
adjusting to life in the US
When I’m comparing my life with the cowboy’s life, I see a lot of differences. For example I live in NYC which is a huge city unlike Oklahoma. I can find many kinds of career opportunities here. I don’t think there are a lot of opportunities in Oklahoma. At the same time I have something similar with that cowboy – learning English. It’s the hardest part of adjustment in America. The easiest part of adjustment is moving because I used to live in many different cities, moving from place to place like a true nomad.

American westerns
American westerns are so exciting because there are a lot of gun shooting, horse racing, and fights, and often all of this is accompanied by cheerful music. Most kids and adults like them – I do, too. Igwe loved these films while growing up, but he chose to move to Oklahoma to get his master’s degree in economics.
Igwe and his professor
Initially the relationship with the professor was difficult. He is right about the ban on smoking in public places. He is uncompromising like a cowboy. He is persistent and hardworking. But after he showed his good knowledge of the political and economic life of Nigeria, the professor changed his attitude towards him. I never had conflicts with professors when I was studying, maybe because I am not as brave as Igwe :))

adjusting to life in the US
The part of his life I find most interesting is his success at the university, despite that he is the only black person with a lot of stress. He has to deal with it about his family. He never gives up The hardest part of my adjustment is to speak with and understood native speakers. The easiest part was to find good and nice places to relax and to stay connected with my family.
Igwe being “pushy”
I agree with the professor.In my opinion when there is a lot of competition and you want that Job so much being pushy is a good idea. He changed by being uninterested and yes, he should because that helped him to get the job. When there are many differences to learn in a new culture, you can make friends with people whom you can discuss things with, and spend time talking about the differences between both of your cultures. That will help you to adjust to the new culture.
Yes I did change a lot. I was not patient before when I wanted something. I could not wait to get it, but now I take my time, let things happen when they are supposed to and in general, I get the most satisfied result that I expected.

American westerns
Westerns are exciting – with cowboys and adventure. I didn’t like them much; I prefer modern movies.
Igwe being “pushy”
I think being pushy can help you get a job in a competitive place. Igwe changed by becoming more patient, but I don’t think he needed to change too much.
“Only in America. . .”
In America, I was surprised by how often people smile at strangers. It was very different from my home country!

American westerns
American westerns often appeal to kids, especially boys, because of their adventurous plots and exciting action. I am familiar with them because of my brother who enjoyed them a lot, but I didn’t find westerns particularly interesting myself.
As for Igwe, I believe his decision to move to Oklahoma was not driven by his love for cowboys. Instead, it was likely because of the opportunity to study at an American university. However, his warm memories of watching westerns with his father helped him adapt to his new environment and find comfort in a foreign place.
Igwe being “pushy”
I agree that Igwe was pushy when trying to get a job. I couldn’t say whether this was a good idea or not, but it’s clear that he had reasons for his behavior. First, he was highly motivated because he needed the job to afford a trip home. Second, he was one of the top students, which made him confident in his abilities. Then Igwe changed his approach after a key conversation with his professor. The professor explained that being a teacher requires building trust and understanding with others. Igwe took this advice to heart and found his own way to connect with people by embracing cowboy culture.
As for myself, I try to be mindful and respectful of cultural differences, especially in New York, because it is a mix of so many cultures. The biggest change for me has been learning to adapt quickly. I also have to work much harder and keep learning new things. It’s not always easy, but these changes have also been a positive transformation for me overall.

American westerns
Westerns appeal to everyone, not just children. Most often, it is an exciting plot with love for horses and guns, shooting, racing, murder, where romantic relationships intercross with the worst and the best human nature. Of course, Igwe was fascinated by such movies and he wanted to be like a cowboy – his choice to live in Oklahoma was not accidental.
adjusting to life in the US
I am still getting used to my new place of residence. At first, I was most surprised by the various little things of everyday life, such as different sockets and their voltage, different windows, air conditioners, measure of weight, area, temperature, different paper formats, different traffic lights and loud street noise. Now the differences have become less noticeable.

Igwe and his professor
Once, my teacher sent me out of the classroom, thinking I was the one who made a joke about what he was saying, while his back was turned. When he told me to leave, I walked out without protesting. Once outside, I called him to say that I wanted to explain myself. After listening to me, he apologized for his mistake and punished the real culprit.
Igwe being “pushy”
For me, I disagree, Igwe was not pushy. Being pushy is not a good idea, but knowing what you want and where you want to go is important. You have to observe, listen, and understand the culture. Adapt yourself to how people live there, because man is a product of his environment. Yes I changed since I left my country , for example, I can speak the language that everyone speaks.

American westerns
I think Westerns are popular with kids because:
• They are full of exciting adventures.
• Lots of action makes the film interesting.
• It’s always clear who the good guys and bad guys are.
adjusting to life in the US
I think the cowboy’s story is interesting because he adapts to a new life.
For me, it was hard to:
• The subway was scary at first because of strange people.
• The noisy city life and traffic on the streets.
• Also, learning English was hard, and I was nervous about speaking.
The easiest part for me was:
• Making new friends and getting to know the new culture.
• Getting used to the new style of communication and manners.

Igwe and his professor
Last year, my daughter was a freshman student in the first year of college. She likes to take the higher level math class, instead of the introductory level because she is confident of her math knowledge and she already studied math-AP in her high school. She talked to her professor to allow her to skip the introductory class, but the professor strongly did not agree. She had to stay in this class, feeling disappointed. She pursued the professor by talking with him and emailing him many times. My daughter told me that she could feel how the professor hated her at that time.
I told my daughter that the reason why the professor did not agree with her proposal was because he had not believed in her. So, she should continue to participate in the class more actively to prove her studying attitude and ability. After a while, the professor not only allowed her to take the higher-level class, but also chose her as his teaching assistant (TA) in math.
“Only in America. . .”
I have met many troubles with my name in the US. The most difficult case happened to me when I applied for the SSN four years ago.
The Vietnamese name is far different from the American name. The order of the Vietnamese last name and given name is opposite with the American. My full name in Vietnamese is: “Nguyen T. Vivian”, in which “Nguyen” is my last name.
I arrived in the US during the Covid time, when the processing of legal procedures was slow and limited. I decided to apply for the SSN, filled the form and made an appointment by phone. After many calls with difficult spelling of my name with my poor English, I finally got an appointment.
On that rainy day, I came to the Social Security Administration Office so early and was the first person standing in the long line with so many people. I queued and waited outside the office for about 1 hour in the rain. Then an officer came and checked the ID. He looked at my name in my passport and checked a paper in his hand and said: “You are not in the list of applicants today. Go out of the line”. I told him: “Could you please check it again, maybe my name is in the opposite order,” but he replied angrily, “No, not your name. You should call the number. . . to get an appointment.”
I was so tired and in distress. It was not easy for me to get this appointment by phone. After some minutes relaxing outside the SSA office, I thought I had to start again to solve this problem. I tried my best to call the phone number right on the street. The staff person who answered the phone was so nice and patient. She listened to me carefully and told me that: Don’t worry, you are on the list of applicants today. Let me talk to my colleague about his mistake.”
Wow, I returned to the line and talked to the officer. He checked my name, smiled at me: “Sorry, you are on my Iist. I did not recognize your name.”

American westerns
I think American westerns appeal to kids, especially boys, because they are exciting and full of adventure. I like them too, except for the shooting and killing. Although for boys, the chases, shooting and horse racing are what make American westerns so exciting.
When Nigeria had just emerged from a very brutal civil war and the country was devastated, Igwe decided to move to Oklahoma in search of better opportunities, but not because he liked these movies and could find cowboys there. It was just a coincidence.

adjusting to life in the US
Cowboy’s life in Oklahoma was different from life in NYC. In Oklahoma, cowboys lived in nature and had a simple, peaceful life. In NYC, life is very fast, noisy, and crowded. For me, the hardest part of adjusting to NYC was getting used to how expensive everything is, like rent and food. The easiest part was exploring the city. There are so many interesting places to see, and it’s exciting to walk around.
“Only in America. . .”
My “Only in America” story is about Halloween. In my country, we don’t celebrate Halloween the same way. Here, I saw people decorate their houses with pumpkins, skeletons, and lights. Kids were dressed in costumes, going door to door for candy. I even tried to carve a pumpkin for the first time. It was fun and something I never did before.

BAINA
American westerns
American westerns are adventure films. And all kids love adventure!
The action in those films is quick and exciting. There are good and bad characters. I think Igwe choose Oklahoma not coincidentally. Maybe, it reminded him of his father.
“Only in America. . .”
I have an ONLY IN AMERICA story that I want to share with you.
Coming to America, it was the first time I can’t count coins. They don’t have numbers. I recognize coins only by shape.
So, I just gave some coins to the seller, and he choose how many he needed.