1. Once I arrive, there is no system to help me figure out housing, getting a job, navigating my new life, etc., therefore, I am on my own unless I have family and friends who can assist me
2. I will need time to adjust because the culture is different, the language is different (even if I speak English), the food is different, life is different
3. Life is hard in a different way, but I need to be patient because I will adjust
4. People call each other by their first names regardless of their age
5. Not everyone is rich in America
6. Not every place is clean or well kept, in fact some places look like my neighborhood back home and many places back home have better infrastructure
7. I would have many options (of everything) to choose from, I don’t need to try everything at once. Ask for others’ opinions when I’m confused about my choices.
8. I won’t automatically get rich; I must work hard to make something of myself
9. I will have a lot of bills to pay, but I’ll get used to that too
10. Racism is an experience that I might not initially understand, I shouldn’t be afraid to speak up when something doesn’t seem right
11. Black people’s lives are not like those on The Cosby Show
12. There has been a lot of systemic oppression that influences the lives of Black and Brown people, I shouldn’t be so quick to judge, rather I should seek to understand
13. It’s okay for me to speak with my accent, I don’t have to change it to help other people understand me, they will adjust to hearing me. But my accent may change anyway.
14. People may struggle to say my name, it’s okay to teach them 
15. I may never return home for good. Africa may always be home, but never be my home again, unless I am intentional about a plan to return
16. I may feel confused about my African identity at some point, but it’s okay, I’ll figure it out 
17. I may marry out of my tribe, out of my culture, and out of my ethnicity and race 
18. I may have American children who might not understand life back home
19. If I take loans I will have to repay them with interests, a lot of interest
20. Many things are not really free, there is a catch, look out for the scams
21. Live within my means, I don’t need to show off, this is not a competition
22. Follow the rules and ask for help if I don’t know what to do
23. My family back home may never truly understand my experience in the U.S. which can affect our relationship, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try to help them understand
24. When I go back home to visit, I may feel like a stranger, that’s because life is constantly moving. Change is inevitable!
25. Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions, people like to be helpful

Which of the items can you relate to? What else would you add to the list? Respond in the comments below.