In United States, the average life expectancy is 81 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of 2022. As my partner reminded me, she had experienced plenty of catcalls on the streets of New York and harassment related to her gender and race growing up in a suburb of Washington, DC. The continent is larger than North America and comprises over 3,000 ethnic groups, speaking over 1,500 languages, residing in 54 countries. No wonder in many banks, they intentionally have one or two very lazy cashiers serving customers even when there are 12 cashier windows. It s them who approach the parents and seek to start marriage negotiations; in case of divorce, American courts are used but in Saudi Arabia, the process must follow Muslim teachings that call for an elder determination of a case. If the relationship is intimate the communication style will become more direct. In Kenya, that number is 4.6% of GDP as of 2019. Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior. In United States, 15.1% live below the poverty line as of 2010. When greeting someone with whom you have a personal relationship, the handshake is more prolonged than the one given to a casual acquaintance. Any function or meeting that lasts more than 30 minutes is frowned upon. The working culture in Kenya vs Abroad Weak signals and poor reception are common challenges, especially in the rural areas. Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. Afghanistan - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. European style coffee shops in Nairobi. Ati Kenyans wasting time in eating and greetings? This paper was written and submitted to our database by a student to assist your with your own studies. It should also be noted that America has changed in the last 50 years. Even though each home has a fridge and maybe a freezer, people will just not eat yesterdays food today. Long, D. (2005). Please bear with us as some older content may be temporarilily unavailable. Close female friends may hug and kiss once on each cheek instead of shaking hands. She could never understand this eating on the go. When poverty mentality superceeds abundance mentality; people turn to misers fearing to spend lest they become destitute like so and so in their midst. Cultural Differences Between USA and Kenya.edited.docx This results in wide-ranging cultural differences even for closely neighbouring countries. Do not be surprised if a conversation you thought you are a part of winds up in another language. United States has a top tax rate of 39.6% as of 2016. "As an Egyptian woman, you spend your entire life dealing with sexual violence," an Egyptian woman told Der Spiegel. Simply change the country name depending on which guide you are referencing. Culture According to the Kenyan culture, after marriage and payment of dowry, a wife becomes one property of the husband; she is not supposed to visit her parents without the approval of the husband. This is a huge contrast to the US, where most Americans claim to be Christian. Kenyans may gesture for emphasis when speaking. My reason is simple; a trip to the Emergency Room from food poisoning is way more expensive than another trip to the grocery store!!! In America we say to our children "do not waste food, there are children starving in India." If you are from a culture that prizes directness, you may wish to moderate your delivery style. Culture and attitude almost deceptively underpin most of our actions, thoughts and aspirations. Your discussion evidences the extremities of slavery engulfed in capitalism for the sake of profits. In United States, approximately 100% of people have improved drinking water access (100% in urban areas, and 100% in rural areas) as of 2020. Kenyans waste time greeting and eating. "Cultural Differences: Kenyans, Malaysians, Chinese and Americans." Typically a side dish with ugali, sukuma wiki, and nyama choma. Americans will buy a whole turkey during Thanksgiving Day to be eaten by a family of two. That is the dynamism of Kiswahili language. Ts called the rat race coz the winner is still a rat! What are differences you notice between our Neo-Nazi movement and the NSDAP? That is unlike us Kenyans where you can talk as you eat. Have you heard of any workplace mass shootings in Kenya? Retrieved from https://commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/afghanistan-guide. I am guilty of this one. The fact that the American lives in the same country do not guarantee that they have a common culture; however some things can be attributed more to them than countries. I never met anyone who had actually been to Kenya or even Africa until I was 17. And by the way, what exactly did you want to convey in this piece? May 5, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/cultural-differences-kenyans-malaysians-chinese-and-americans/. This might happen in a formal conversation as well, like briefing sessions in your internship, lectures during field trips, and classes you may be taking in our partner institutions. This is a humorous light piece of writing and not in the least, intellectual. Back home, I was medium size but when I came here, I am considered a size small to extra small-something that upset me terribly! There are many English foods incorporated into Kenyan life from colonial times that include chips (french fries) biscuits (cookies), etc. If a person is deviant to the culture, before he is prosecuted in a court of law, culture demands that elders of a certain village should sit and try to handle the matter in so-called Kangaroo courts. Guests are expected to wash their hands before and after the meal. More than half of the country's ethnic groups have Bantu origins. An analysis of their governments, education and culture can reveal which country is superior to the other. Regions and countries are sometimes as different from one another as America is from them. 8. You can imagine standing to answer to an old mama how you night was, how your family is faring, your domestic animals, your bicycle, that uncle of yours who lives in Nairobi, on and on. Culture Shock: From Kenya to America - Campus Times Prepare five-year growth plan for Caf Kenya Explore the current target market of cafe. (2021) 'Cultural Differences: Kenyans, Malaysians, Chinese and Americans'. Most Kenyans interweave native beliefs into a traditional religion. United States has a GDP per capita of $60,200 as of 2020, while in Kenya, the GDP per capita is $4,200 as of 2020. be 10.3 times more likely to be unemployed. Life is on the go. You are free to use it to write your own assignment, however you must reference it properly. Back home, food is served in moderate portions so that if one needed more, they could always ask for more. "Cultural Differences: Kenyans, Malaysians, Chinese and Americans." The villagers would be heard complaining. Most businesses and major complexes like hotels, company campuses, or schools have their own diesel generators that kick on when the power goes out, but sometimes generators break. Pilau - Indian origins; rice, typically with goat meat, with lots of spices that might include cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. Use the honorific title plus any academic or professional title and the surname. Education. I once worked in a certain place where greetings would take a whole five minutes! Economically and technologically, the nation has developed in parallel with the US, its neighbor to the south across the world's longest Men should wait for a woman to extend her and first. Kenya is one of the most diverse countries in Africa. Githeri Kikuyu staple; beans and corn mixed together, with our without another vegetable. In United States, approximately 5.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. Direct and frank communication is not the norm in Kenya. As you might expect in a group-orientated culture, the extended family is the basis of the social structure. If you are driving into a complex, security guards will check under the car and in the trunk for any weapons or explosives. Sometimes it is not enough. At work, people act like I dress up when the truth is, they are too dressed down. You've simply written about the obvious, uninteresting stuff. Kenya remains East Africas largest and most important business, financial, and transportation hub, with 80 percent of East Africas trade flowing through Mombasa The most common greeting is Jambo? (How are you?), which is generally said immediately prior to the handshake. AU Nairobi | Kenyan Culture | American University, Washington, DC Therefore, it is a good idea to provide a historical framework or context when attempting to introduce a new idea or process. In this video I explain all the things that I have struggled to understand all these differences since moving to Kenya! And it is pretty accurate give or take from the authors experience. For newly established and more formal relationships, diplomacy will be of utmost importance. Harambee took on a more political resonance when used at the time of independence by Jomo Kenyatta as a way to bring people together. To submit feedback, or to report an issue, email the Web Staff at online@campustimes.org. Beverages are not generally served with meals since Kenyans think it is impolite to eat and drink at the same time. A 2013 United Nations study found that over 99% of Egyptian women said they had been harassed. AU Nairobi | Kenyan Culture | American University, Washington, DC Even if you have paid your house off, the property taxes will be paid until you sell off the property, an income that will still be taxed. Forty-two is the official number. Just because we do not agree with certain observations, we should not crucify those who make them. Kenyan Americans - History, Modern era, Significant immigration It's fairly common in Africa in both North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa to eat the traditional way: with your hands. Poverty, lack of sufficient supply of food and scarcity cannot be mistaken for prudence. It must be noted that most of the food in Africa is natural and fresh, as opposed to the artificially-flavored, refrigerated food mostly consumed here. From Minneapolis to Valhalla, Albuquerque to Tallahassee. He simply made a few observations. , Sunday was church day (I had never met a non-Christian until I left for university. REMEMBER TO SHARE IT! Dining patterns vary tremendously according to ethnicity, location and socio-economic position of the host. In all, I celebrate the two cultures I bestride, because they make me richer and wiser. Socialization tools are responsible for the passing of culture from one generation to another; culture is not static, undergoes various adjustments and changes. This is a major issue. 2.2 Roles of prominent researchers in Europe and North America. WebIn Kenyan culture, communities are generally conservative, with some embracing progressive changes in lifestyle in urban centers. You will gain an understanding of a number of key areas including: Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania. WebEthnic Make-up: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%. Servants often bring the courses to individual guests who are expected to take what they want. Mandazi - Kenyan version of a heavy donut, typically eaten with a cup of hot chai. Nyama choma - (roasted meat in Swahili) Kenyan staple; heavily roasted goat and beef are most common choices, usually eaten with hands and every bite dipped in a bit of salt. 1. Opines that it is important to assess families and aging in each of these cultures to gain a better understanding of their cultures. It made me laugh. 2 and more on them. It is all a part of the experience. An American might find visiting a Muslim nation a shock for a simple reason: Alcohol is often either forbidden or very taboo. cost of labor production units of labor profit question 2 Salaries for professions (such as, An accounting project. United States spends 16.8% of its total GDP on healthcare as of 2019. Since maintaining honor and dignity are paramount, Kenyans may offer what they believe is the expected response rather than say something that might embarrass the other person. Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2%. Something you don't find often here (depending on what part of the US you are in). Family is a key difference between the American and Kenyan cultures. Grandparents are considered part of, the family unit. It is similar in Morocco, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries. 34 New House, 67-68 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8JY, UK. Structures in business are flat and it is normal to be on first name terms with ones superiors. Kenya is an African state with a population of slightly over 40 million; the country has forty-two tribes with the Kikuyu as the dominant tribe. The ceremony will involve the slaughtering of a goat or a sheep has to please the gods. About Thanksgiving. Although the countrys constitution is against domestic violence, the culture supports that thus the reported case are few and only those to the extreme. As a Mom we LIVE in yoga pants, leggings and ballet slippers or "trainers" which we call "sneakers" or "tennis shoes" or "tennies". Be cognitive of the fact you too speak with an accent that may not be familiar. Web645 Dislike Share Save. The country is known for its deep harbors and is one of the worlds densely populated countries. It's a younger sister to racism, tribalism, clanism and many other forms of -isms. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. Or, 2. StudyCorgi. Finally, what does Mzee Moja mean? Children generally refer to adults as Aunt or Uncle, even if there is not a familial relationship. At this point in the presence of either sides family, the dating couple can meet and discuss different issues. (2021, May 5). Food for thought! So true about the handshake. They equally have less of mental / psychological issues, lifestyle diseases, weirdos etc, mass shootings relative to the U.S. And in the long run, hii mbio yelekeapi? Women over the age of 21 are often addressed as Mama and men over the age of 35 are often addressed as Mzee. She curtly responded in Kikuyu " here we are not like you Kenyans in America, we like people and want them to stay as long as they want when they visit.". As a traveler, I found that getting used to the different meanings of the word was challenging and critical. No wonder a Kenyan will waste their phone credit to ask you Wiku mani? (Where are you man?). American Cultural Different societies have different, cultures that make them different from each other. What about our love affair with hats? But, not quite so easily the average Kenyan with a high school education speaks at least three languages; English, Kiswahili, and their mother tongue. Kenyans value tradition. Kachumbari - Kenyan version of salsa. Differences If I had a sponsor, I would prepare a two hour documentary of Kenyan men and their hats. In Kenya, however, that number is 36.1% as of 2016. In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. If in a family of say 4, 6 or 8 only one person is productive; then you expect deficits in the needs of such families. The amount of grease that came out of it as I tried to fold it scared away my appetite. You will attune your ear to the version spoken here. If it's a mother or father speaking to their kids, it could mean "nope, we are never going to the amusement park.". In Kenya, there are only four telephone service providers. Food and drink > Alcohol > Alcohol consumed from > Homemade and illegal drinks. People even have Sunday bests! With a couple of hours left in the workday, some employees started heading home. Mobile phones are We do not dress well. Hours of productivity and economic output are lost every day to Nigeria's power grid, marking a stark departure from the consistent presence of electricity (WiFi) in my New York life. The drive through economy that thrives in the USA will take a long time to catch up in Kenya. How long is your commute? It includes relatives on both sides of the family as well as close friends. Their love affairs are intense and short lived. The practice is different from the American style where after a man or woman establishes his or her date, they openly show it in the public. We almost cherish pangaring queues in banks, hospitals, everywhere. What do you call it when the West give food and other aid to the needy peoples of the world? People still canceled on me at the last minute when it was too bad. Duh. Kenya: Exploring Kenyan Culture | AFS-USA Now, with that first observation, would you blame the writer of the diary for his simple observation of phenomena? In this respect, Kenyans have a better quality of life, Americans have quantity. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group. Often too, folks speaking English fluently would use non-English affixes and words in a conversation. You are allowed only one opportunity to shake a persons hand; when you meet for the first time. Ladies in lesos, and Khangas, and African design clothes, and skirt suits, and pant suits, and short skirts, and long ones, and stilettoes, and sneakers, and sandals, and head scarfs. Masala chips - French fries coated with a tomato base and plenty of spices. In almost every situation where someone helps you with a service a waiter, a hairdresser, a taxi driver, a bartender, a masseuse, etc. Kenyans usually never eat alone or 'on the go' as we are used to in America. WebThe data for each country can be found here: Kenya and United States Native languages Religions Data inventory and updates A country comparison like this can be based on As relationships are important in Kenya, devote time to small talk in order to get to know your hosts and vice-versa. WebCultural Differences Between USA and Kenya Culture is defined as the way in which people go about their daily lives. Moving from Kenya to the US: My top culture shocks + differences Kenya is a poor country and a gift of something that the person cannot generally afford is always welcome. World Heritage Sites. Here in America many people dont look at being fat as a good thing. They are generally served at the completion of the meal. They are uncomfortable with blunt statements. StudyCorgi. We are too busy to do our hair. Personal values, attributes, ideologies, beliefs, and religion are elements of culture.

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