@ forumites. hey all. poleni sana av been away from this site for a while. am in atlanta now.
First and foremost i left the airport and went straight to buy a fon. then i went to the drivers license place n renewed my licence. my georgia license had expired in may2011. as i told you ealrier i lived here in 1995 to 2000 when i went back to kenya for my kids "proper customs education" i then visited usa on and off until october 2006. since my license number was in the system, i got my license on the same day. i then went to the ss office where i had my old number reissued to me.i received my welcome to america letter on tuesday17th october and am waiting for my permanent card to enable me to leave for kenya as soon as it drops in my mail box.
anyone in kenya who can drive,has a license etc etc can only use it in the usa for 30days after which you have to sit for their exam and then after passing the computer based exam you do the practicals in their parking lot. if you pass, and its not complicated you then get ur license there and there.however when you do the practical exam, you have to obey all signs as the examiner rides with you. if you pull up to a stop sign, then you just have gotta stop, period. if you drive kenyan style, where you approach the stop sign, and just slow down, and then keep driving because you didnt see a "vehicle" then you flunk and have to repeat the exam.
for you to prepare for the drivng exam,request your host to mail you a hardcopy or please do visit online the respective states DMV website, eg: in my case Georgia you search for georgia department of motor vehicles rules and regulations.if you cant get it then email me on
atgjuja@gmail.com and i can scan it and send it to you by email. i have a copy in kenya.
about work, it all depends on ones background. one may want to be employed in their areas of specialisation depending on your academics, or one may want to go to school or engage in biashara. if you were in a particualr trade in kenya,and you were good in it,then my suggestion is you carry it on over here and you may be surprised at how good you can get to be considering the kenyan business climate can be much tougher as our market in kenya is much much much smaller than the western markets.
am very lucky as to the fact that am in business in kenya and as all my family members(immediate) are in the usa, and ive lived here before, i got to continue with what i do in kenya.
finally, thought it can be nerve racking, keep your heads up and be positive. they do tell you that america this or that due to the recession, but believe you me ,you, with time,patience and good judgement will have a better time. and yes, EAST OR WEST HOME IS BEST(cant get over the cold weather for now) !!! ciao