Insights, two months later
Sorry I took so long to reply, stopped getting automatic updates from the forum for some reason and only just noticed. If anyone needs to ask me a specific question, just send me a message, i'll probably see it sooner.
njugunuts
Which state are you in? Which city?
What is it profession? What kind of job did you get?
Would really appreciate if you write some more about it.
Both my husband and I have quite good jobs in Kenya, He is in IT field works in quite a good world wode known company and I do business + 2 other jobs. So, we still have some doubts wheter to leave everything and just go or continue growth here. Yes, 95% that we will try our luck, but still...there is a lot to think about.
We are still thinking about which state to go and most probably will go in October, but will have to come back here to finish everything..
I'm the pharmaceutical industry in Virginia. I'd say if your husband works in IT, a good place to be would be any of the major cities. I can speak for New York and Washington DC/ DC Metro area (Northern Virginia and around the Beltway in Maryland, off 495). These are big in IT contracting business, for software and commercial giants and also for the government. Some jobs may require security clearance which may not be available for a PR, but they have a lot of IT-related firms and jobs. I can't speak for the West Coast but I would guess any of the major cities would have the same. IT's a good place to be, especially if he has good programming skills and is proficient in at least one programming language and can show solutions he has come up with. This is the country of innovation and I think you'll be fine. There are also more nationalities in big cities coz it's more of a melting pot so he should fit right in. He can start looking for jobs before he gets here just to get a feel of the industry and what particular skills are in demand.
You'll meet people who have horror stories about trying to land a decent job and granted, that's a concern with unemployment and a foreign education/work experience, being Black and an "accent" (I get so cracked up that everyone thinks I have a British accent) but I say keep praying for it, and do your homework before hand. There's no substitute for time spent actively searching for jobs and mailing out resumes and good old luck!. The truly good companies (which is where you'd want to be anyway) value diversity and may give you a shot, after all it looks good on their diversity statistics!
I'd sum it up with confidence, prayer, common sense and the ability to package yourself to what the potential employer is looking for.
I'd also suggest having someone host you for a bit, even if you have savings. For a couple of reasons: they will have a good idea of what companies are in the area, what the mainstay of businesses in the area is, and before the official documentation comes through (SSN, GC etc.), you'll be able to get around and get familiar. I would suggest carrying an international driver's license from AA (though check with the DMV of the state you choose, some states may not need it) so that you can get some hours on the road and get a State Driver's License. Being without a Driver's License can be pretty hard, unless you're in a place with very good public transport (like DC and NY cities) but even with good public transport, sometimes you may have to get from the house to the metro/bus stop using a car (taxi's are terribly expensive). You can opt to get a learner's permit but this means that you'll have to wait for your host to be available so you can go driving with them (coz you need a licensed driver with you), and I didn't want to do that coz I didn't want to feel like a burden. Also, you can only test after a month if you opt for this route. An extra month doesn't seem long, right? Add this to the time till you get your green card (at least 2 weeks), SSN (you can have your number in about 2.5 weeks, which is the most important, but physical card later though you don't really need it) that means when you get your learner's permit, you've already been here at least 3 weeks, and you now have to wait ANOTHER month (because you can't get the learner's permit without those documents). I couldn't afford to wait. With the Kenyan DL+ International, I got my state license in under 3 weeks total. The driving around also kept me busy and sane as I waited for the documents to arrive. Now you should see me zipping around like a local
I started off just driving in a parking lot with my host because I needed to get comfortable with being on the other (wrong
) side of the road, and the turns signals are on the other side so everytime I wanted to indicate I hit windshield wipers (!) and getting the hang of very tight parallel parking. I was not too worried about being on the road because I used to drive in Kenya (and a stick shift at that!). (And of course by this time I knew the DMV manual like the back of my hand and used to ride with my host to observe the peculiarities like yielding on green, right turn on red). After I got comfortable with the car and signals, I started going shopping in the late evenings when there was hardly any traffic so I could get comfortable and then started going earlier and earlier..... I now have been about 1400 miles since I got here (2 months ago) and that includes time in DC, the capital beltway (I-495) and the interstate (I-95) as well as some little road driving in the boondocks
And since I got my license about a month later, I've been around quite a bit the last month. I enjoy driving here coz the roads are much better and the drivers more courteous though once in a while you meet some nutty ones (though that happens everywhere and Kenyan has lots of nutty mat drivers).
The other reason I suggest having a host is that bills can quickly pile up here. You pay for literally everything and coming from Ksh to USD is rather painful
If you have a nice host who lets you stay for free or who you pay a sub-lease fee, it's much better than getting your own place for at least about 2-3 months as you try and find your feet. Also, leasing requires you to have credit history or you'll have to pay like 2 months deposit: one as security deposit (incase you mess up the house) and last month's rent (a buffer so they have adequate time to tell you to get lost
if you are not paying rent on time). Add this to the various deposits you'd have to put down for the gas company and electric company and in some cases water depending on whether it's a condo or townhouse or regular house. If it's a furnished apartment, these may not arise since you may lease plus utilities but this means your rent is at least twice the normal. Add the cost of furniture to the house and you can see what I mean (though since it's summer you can get some decent furniture from yard sales). I haven't even added the deposits you may need to put down to get a cellphone (depending on carrier and what kind of plan you want), I opted to go prepaid with Boost mobile for a while as I try and get acclimated but people have varying needs/tastes and also the deposits for a secured credit card so you can start earning credit history, and the cost of gas and buying a decent and reliable used car, insurance....... I think having a reliable host to begin with saves you a lot of frustration. You can probably go at it alone and be fine, but it'll cost you a pretty penny and may frustrate you some of the time (actually a lot of the time!).
Well, enough about that. Hope it gives those of you back home an idea of what you need to deal with when you get here. I will put a disclaimer that these have been my experiences as a single, female in the Northern Virginia area so I cannot claim to have knowledge of other States (and what I know about New York and Maryland I know from Kenyans who are also female and single) so always ask those in your potential state what to expect. Local knowledge goes a much longer way than Wikipedia.
I must also say that despite the successes I've had, it has not always been rosy but I keep in my mind why I emigrated and that helps me keep focused on the bigger picture. Thought I'd put this here so that you know it's not all roses but keep your eye on the reasons why you moved, and if/when they are met, say a prayer of thanks and keep your head up. You must also be willing to work hard (not usually a problem with Kenyans
and deliver as promised, if not more. Don't forget you're the one trying to fit in and not vice versa.
I wish you all Godspeed as you prepare to get here, may God shine his favor upon you and stay true to yourselves, you can easily get sucked into consumerism and the search for bigger, better, faster (as with anywhere else) but America is on a whole different level. Enjoy it, I do, and celebrate the diversity. Only time will tell but so far, so good.
Edit: Decided to add one last bit for
Kseniasat's sake, someone suggested that you stay right where you are. This is a very personal decision and one I'm sure you don't take lightly but here's my two cents worth. If you feel you still have space and growth in Kenya and things are proceeding in such a manner that you feel given time, you'll meet your financial, family and societal goals in Kenya, by all means stay. Also, think 10-20 years from now and think if you'll look back and regret not taking a chance. If the answer to both these questions is no, then don't bother, after all contentment is a great thing and what we're all trying to achieve.
However, if you feel that you're not able to meet your societal, fiscal and other goals in Kenya, or feel you have outgrown/reached the ceiling in where you feel you could get to (listen to instinct, it's usually dead on and proved right over the course of time, not always in the short term but definitely in the long-term), then make the move. As I said, won't always be easy but having solid reasons why you moved will keep you focused and help you quantify you gains/losses (hopefully fewer of the latter). I know I'd like to bring up my kids here because they have the ability to excel in whatever they want to be, and I like not having to worry that my handbag will get snatched in traffic from my backseat, or my bluetooth will be ripped from my ear, or not obsessing over the fact that I forgot to lock the front door when I stepped out, and the fact that I can return shoes I bought because when I wore them around the house they hurt my feet without being abused, and driving around at 9pm without worrying about carjacking. I know, the crime here is also prevalent, but as I said, I use my common sense and take the necessary precautions, but I like not having to OBSESS about security. I like the fact that customer service is not just a word in the dictionary here but if you have a legit concern, you can raise it and it gets sorted (It may take forever to get a human being on line/someone who understands English, not just speaks it but actually comprehends, thanks to call outsourcing
, and sometimes it may take a while for issues to get sorted) but the fact that you can at least try with an expectation of success, I'm fine with that. I like the fact that the library has good books, internet and a librarian who actually cares about their job and who understands what they have/don't have and resources to get what you they don't. I like the fact that your kids don't have to Einstein to make a decent living here, and not every success of theirs is determined by what position they are in school. Child growth and development is more well rounded.
On the other hand, the stress of living here does seem to have it's definite place in marital stress (I'm sure you know this coming from Europe). The fast pace of life here and the crazy (often out of synch) hours make it easier to drift apart. Add in the lack of extended family (the Kenyan way so you're always doing stuff with family and thus bonding and have more in common than just yourselves and mentors who kinda stop you from sweating the small stuff), it could be a recipe for family disaster. However, you know yourself and your family best. I'm sure you and hubby know what you want to be as husband and wife, as a family and even though sometimes things do go wrong, if you're honest with each other and yourselves, you'll be fine. Again, I'm single, what do I know?
But you get the point.
Put all these things in perspective with regard to your life, prioritize them and then make the big leave-or-stay decision.