Same Planet-different worlds
Growing up partly in Nigeria and in the United States gave me an insight into how different and sometimes similar cultures and values are. I was fourteen years old when my family relocated from Nigeria to the U.S, but at that age I was already groomed by my parents and society to act and think a certain way. This was a mindset that was ingrained in me right from a tender age. There was one acceptable way to act in public and quite a different one with family and friends. As limiting as that was, it was an acceptable lifestyle in Nigeria. Coming to the U.S. and experiencing the differences in culture was a big shock to me. It was not an easy transition. I quickly found out that some of the things frowned upon in Nigeria were acceptable in this society. Some of the fundamental cultural differences between these societies are in their outlooks on divorce, homosexuality, and the roles of women.
One of the differences that struck me was how briefly marriages lasted in America because of divorce. Although many marriages are arranged in Nigeria, married couples tussle to sort issues out for better or for worse, no matter what the situation is. I, like most Nigerians, believe marriage is a form of blessing if married couples are willing to grow old together. The divorce process is fairly easy in America; however, most couples will file for divorce at the first sign of trouble. My first year as a freshman in America was devastating mainly because many of my classmates were separated from their father or mother through divorce. The ideal “traditional marriage” is a man, a woman, and their children in Nigeria but now in America, it is his, hers, and theirs. Watching the news, listening to my peers’ discussion about divorce and doing studies on divorce increased my awareness that divorce in America must be the easiest thing in the world! My