NewStats: 3,261,751 , 8,175,022 topics. Date: Friday, 30 May 2025 at 12:00 PM c2f6t

Kachisbarbie:


E be like you go dey stingy o...

Hehe.
I'm only stingy when I have to pay for an un-planned service or good.

CFCman:

Okay.

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

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.

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.

Am greatful for that info.thank you very much ....so when is the anticipated report going to be on circulation to our emails..

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.

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.

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!

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.

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 ing 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.

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.

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.

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 ing 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.

Glad you're seeing it yourself. I bet if someone had told you when you were in Nigeria, you would have thought they were lieing. It's a great place, but it comes with a cost. I wish everyone in Nigeria could be granted visas to th US, let's see if most of them won't run back to Nigeria.
If the Nigerian government fixes the roads, electricity etc, I'm sure most Nigerians overseas will want to go back home.

At your comment about where people get capitals from, I'm sure you're already aware the US is more of a credit economy vs Nigeria that is a cash economy. You can actually take out huge loans with good credit, so you don't have to wait on someone to explain how they did it when you already know how some people are - many would prefer you to follow them rather than walk with them, the first lesson I learnt in the US.

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.

Yeah. That's the big advantage of renting an apartment. The land lord pays for the repair most broken stuff. But if you're living in a house, everything is on you.

The Mexicans probably learned all those handy-man stuff because of their limited knowledge of English and a lower educational credential.
So, repair-work is the most lucrative job that matches their skill set.
Most (if not all) of the Mexican handy men didn't go to college.

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.

You can do a PGD (Post graduate diploma) with your CGPA and maybe further to masters if you so wish.

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!

Not at all. Most of the pictures posted so far are of my travels through the state of Wisconsin. But -where I have been staying is in the suburbs-it is quite. Very different from the noise in Ikeja!
Black people-there are a lot especially in the cities-although much less than places on the East Coast. Good thriving Nigerian and African community at the places I have visited.

1st & 2nd pic: That neighbourhood is in a ghetto in near city. I always thought that ghetto was a dirty nasty place like SOME places in Ajegunle or Oshodi-but its seems ghetto is mainly composed of low income and government subsidized housing where most poorblacks live. There is usually lots of crime-but my investigation is that most of this crime is between people who know each other (gang ). But these ghettos have 24 hours light, running water, and good houses.
Some of the houses would cost up to $1000 or more as rent or mortage-but many of those in the ghettos just pay a fraction and the government pays the rest. My brothers and sisters-there is order in this land!
This ghetto to me is better than my oga's neigbourhood in Ikoyi!
3rd & 4th: Morning breakfast in Mcdonalds . Showing off Nairaland.

5th, 6th, 7th Pic: Some houses in a middle class neighbourhood. Most of the people are working people-getting paid per hour or middle level salaries. Notice that there is no fence. Looking back now-its possible that all the fences we have in Nigeria may be doing more harm than good. If robbers get into a house in Lagos-how will people know when the fence is so high!

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.

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

8th, 9th, 10th and 11th :Park, Park everywhere. Every city I went to had several parks. Imagine-5 parks in Ikeja. 5 in Ogba. 5 in Agege. Large parks where people can play football, tennis and little kids can play on swings and many fancy mechanisms. Wont crime reduce? Wont young boys exert there energy more on sporting activities.
PDP and APC. APGA and Fresh Part-you people need to do meeting fast fast. We now know why you send your children overseas and go and your medical check up and vacation in London and New York. Even the air at the airport is enough to cure many sicknesses.

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.

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

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

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

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

I know my sister. But my people need to see say I don change small when I land for Naija or dey go tin sey na Ghana I go!

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

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.

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

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

where is your base...

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.

that is not true. .
In most European countries like italy, and spain, their homes are built with cement. ....I think Americans likes doing their stuff different from others.
Take sport for example. ..football as we all know it, is played by foot but usa is played by chasing after the ball by both hands

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.

If is over 500k you're talking about, then you can fill me in.....I want to know the process.

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

my first post on this thread?

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

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

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

my first post on this thread?

Hey!....the guy is free to ta ke pictures! Do tourists or anyone need permission to take pics of the White House from outside the premises? .... and hmmmm......El Dorado....just curious.... what is that about? (my Google not working!)

jwillng:

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

Hmmm.....this kind statement you should make after you get your green card!... just pray your oga don't read this ... he would certainly arrange a ehmm.... bloody welcome back home for you!

tpiah11:


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

Why don't you leave me with the dreaming.

You enjoy the reality of what you have, whatever that is.

ireneony:

That is the reality. I pray things get better, but they are going to get really worse before it gets better.

More like breaking an egg to make an omelet.

Some clowns can tell themselves wat they want to believe.

1$ will not go less than 250 for another 6months. Does this clown know what that means? He knows himself

Beautiful pics

jwillng:

.
PM me through the Nairaland System and I ll reply

Ok. Thanks!

Congratulations bro, thanks for sharing. Please can you avail us the necessary documents you used?