My transition from life in Kenya, to life at Southeast

As of [Thursday], it is exactly one year and 11 days since I landed in the USA. First of all, I missed my flight from Chicago to St. Louis since I had a two-hour layover in Chicago, but actually spent all that time in a customs check line. I got to St. Louis around 9, and I did not know what to do since SEMO greeters had not known that I missed my flight. I almost decided to take a cab to Cape, but before I could do that I saw Kim Roberts, one of the greeters, holding a paper that had SEMO initials on it. If it was not for the SEMO paper I saw, I would have had a very long taxi drive.

Kenyan student Nelson G. Mwangi. Photo by Savanna Maue

Calling back home was tough. I bought a calling card and borrowed my friend's phone, and for the $10 calling card I only talked for seven minutes (tax not included). Eventually my parents had to call me from my friend's phone since it's much cheaper for them to call me. Internet is a luxury in Kenya, so Skype is not available for my parents, but I at least talk to them.

The food was different and is still different, since in Kenya the food has more quality and quantity, where I can eat one plate and be full. Now I have to eat close to four plates to satisfy my intense metabolism.

I was lucky enough that I came when the winter was mild. So the first time I saw snow I was excited, and me and my friend, Sindupa De Silva, played with the snow, but the neighbor called the cops on us thinking we were having a party. Luckily by the time the cops came we had gone back to bed.

In my country we tend to have public transport, and before I knew people around, me and my friend, Raphael Pellenard, walked all the way to Walmart, which was a very good workout. But now I tend to ask my friends to let me know when they are going shopping so that they can offer me a ride.

Saael Alyamani, Xinya Wei, Noor Alfaiz, Fhad Alrayes and Tejasree Akula take advantage of the resources offered at the International Center. Photo by Nathan Hamilton

The fact that I spent a lot of time in the International Center helped me settle very, very well with the help of my awesome sister from another mother, Suzanne McKinney. Having good friends helped a lot, and working as team with Raphael Pellanard and Sindupa De Silva helped me conquer things faster.

Apart from the weather, the biggest challenge was finding a job. Coming from Kenya where you start working at the age of around 21 was such a disadvantage since I had no work experience. Also, the fact that I could only work on campus makes it even tougher. With all that, Troy Vaughn, the director of Recreation Services, took me and taught me about football and made me a football official, bearing the fact that I knew nothing about it. Thanks to Troy, I eventually had my first work experience.

Saael Alyamani, Xinyu Wei, Noor Alrayes and Tejasree Alkulatake advantage of the resources offered at the International Center. Photo by Nathan Hamilton

Otherwise all is very, very good, and I mean very good. Thanks to SEMO and Cape for having me and for the past one year and 11 days.