It's a free, question-and-answer based forum to discuss How long is your commute? However, they try very hard to remain faithful to only one lover at a time. Weak signals and poor reception are common challenges, especially in the rural areas. The reason being that the Americans are serial polygamists- meaning they may have multiple lovers in their lifetimes. WebKenya and the United States have similarities and differences in the way they run their governments, education system, and culture. Finally, am just curious where the well dressed kenyans learnt their dressing from. I Like most Africans, Kenyans place a large emphasis on the respect and reverence of their deceased ancestors. That said, locals in any country tend to give plenty of leeway to foreigners for mucking up cultural norms. Sobania, N. (2003).Culture and customs of Kenya. In United States, 36.2% of adults are obese as of 2016. When conducting a prayer he is expected to bow down and not look upright at the mountain just in case he sees the face of God whom they call Ngai, which Joel explains means the giver of life and distributor of wealth (Sobania, 2003). Kenya remains East Africas largest and most important business, financial, and transportation hub, with 80 percent of East Africas trade flowing through Mombasa When you make an acquaintance with a Kenyan, and exchange phone numbers, you will likely be asked to 'flash' them, meaning, call their phone to confirm you have the correct number. 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. (2021, May 5). WebHospitality. Haraka haraka haina baraka. Meetings seldom have scheduled ending times since what matters is finishing the meeting in a satisfactory manner to all concerned. In nearly every country I have visited, the standard hotel checkout time is noon or, at the earliest, 11 a.m. Grandparents are considered part of, the family unit. Kenya vs USA compare and contrast assignment BUSN225.docx, Samantha Walters - Individual Project Culture ORGD 341 (1).docx, From the Caf Kenya case of Harvard Busines School Apply the Timmons model to Caf Kenya. Even some presidential functions takes minutes, na watu wanaenda shughuli. While traveling in Egypt and Morocco in December and January, my partner experienced harassment and verbal abuse related to both her gender and her race and was even followed particularly when I was not with her on the street. I had a similar experience while leaving a national park in Tanzania, though my tour guide was able to talk the officer out of asking for a bribe. Long, D. (2005). United States has a total of 19,924 km of coastline. I moved to the US almost a year ago from Kenya and these my biggest culture shocks and main differences I noticed Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. Afghanistan - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. Joel is a Kikuyu, In Kenya, there are only four telephone service providers. Being fat as a woman or pot-bellied as a man is a good thing in Africa. The term is an umbrella that encompasses behavior, Mr. Bean did not just create his memes from the air. The phrase translates roughly to "if God wills it so," but the colloquial meaning of inshallah depends on the context. 2022 MyLifeElsewhere.com All rights reserved. We could not give it to charity as there might be a law suit if someone got sick from it. Initially we thought it was because its Sunday and everyone was attended church or temple. In Egypt and Morocco, it punctuated the answer to just about any question I asked a local. World Heritage Sites. Kenyans waste time greeting and eating A Kenyan will greet you The statistics above were calculated using the following data sources: 2.5. Typically, with both dishes, a large platter is placed in the center of the table, and each person takes turns either rolling balls of couscous or using pieces of Moroccan bread to scoop up pieces of meat or sop up sauce. (We dont even dress up for that here unless its a holiday.) Ethnic 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%. Kenyans pride themselves on their emotional control and expect the same in others. Americans comment about what a firm handshake I have. We do not dress well. The most common greeting is the handshake. In Cairo, Egypt, my partner went for a walk one morning. WebMany Kenyans were already exposed to different facets of American culture because of the close relationship between Kenya and the United States. Keep them coming mate, a good laugh goes a long way! Climate: varies from tropical along coast to arid in interior. Mobile phones are also more expensive to acquire than here in the U.S. Use the honorific title plus any academic or professional title and the surname. You are allowed only one opportunity to shake a persons hand; when you meet for the first time. This paper analysis cultural differences and culture shock experienced by three of my friend who hails from Kenya, Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia; they are in the United States for their college studies. An American might find visiting a Muslim nation a shock for a simple reason: Alcohol is often either forbidden or very taboo. Since there are so many different tribes they have lots of native languages. On mention some of the t-shirts and jeans apiece cost as much as 5 mitumba suits plus dress shirts! 2 and more on them. Meeting schedules may be structured or not at all depending upon the ownership of the company. At times, I found the phrase frustrating, until I learned to decipher the meaning. A Kenyan will greet you animatedly in the morning when you meet, at noon during lunch break, and in the evening when you meet at Magomano for a drink. Again, serial monogamy and polygamy are similar to me. Different societies have different, cultures that make them different from each other. In Kenya, however, that number is 36.1% as of 2016. Villagers would come early in the morning toyou guessed right, gawk at the huge earth movers and trucks the whole day. They are all proudly in display in the city, in the suburbs and in the village. On the same token, Kenyan English, as with American or any other version spoken around the world, has culture-specific expressions and dictum. The next morning, all the neighborhood dust bins will be full to the brim with wasted, and good food. Comparatively, those in Kenya have better quality of life. It is a sign of respect to lower your eyes when greeting someone of a higher status or someone who is obviously older than you. 2.2 Roles of prominent researchers in Europe and North America. Vacations were more often a trip to a cottage on a lake or ocean by car. 7 times more than Kenya. Unless they are eating South Asian food not many other spices are used. I spent the past three months of the trip in Africa, visiting Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania. Na T-shirt. StudyCorgi. WebKenya has incredible ethnic diversity. In their attempt not to cause problems, Kenyans often use metaphors, analogies and stories to make a point. While I was visiting Business Insider's Lagos office in January, there was a power outage followed by the office building's generator breaking. The amount of grease that came out of it as I tried to fold it scared away my appetite. This results in wide-ranging cultural differences even for closely neighbouring countries. You don't have to take off your shoes, but you do have to go through a metal detector, put any bags you have through an X-ray machine, and possibly receive a pat-down. If so, hold your hands over the basin while water is poured over them. In most cases, children live with their parents past the age of eighteen years in Kenya. Next time, address more topical and interesting issues of the day. Countries with significant Muslim populations and customs informed by Islam include every country I visited: Egypt, Morocco, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Kenya. WebThese cultures are the American and Kenyan cultures, and their point of comparison and contrast would be on the issues of money and success and sex and marriage. For newly established and more formal relationships, diplomacy will be of utmost importance. I respect that because these are two cultures with none being better than the other. More than half of the country's ethnic groups have Bantu origins. Wait to be invited before moving to a first name basis. Here are some quick, key facts you should know about Kenya: Population: 52,214,791. When is doubt, watch what others are doing and follow their lead. What is viewed here as wastage is called spirit of abudance-more than enough for all including the unfortunate in society. Americans also question and contradict their superiors openly, within reason, while in India, this would be seen as disrespectful and rude. 3. The level of conservatism can vary greatly depending on what part of the country you are in. Traditions in Eastern Culture, Auto-Ethnography: US and Saudi Arabia Differences, Value, Mores, Folkway, Sanction in Holiday Celebrations, Chinese Culture, Society Language, and Religion, National and Cultural Identity of Canadian Population, * Hyperlink the URL after pasting it to your document. Culture and customs of Saudi Arabia. Iphoneg4, i did my research, I consulted the knowledgeable and hurray..I found out that you are a kikuyu.One angry kikuyu. What should happen is that parents from the mans side should seek permission from parents of the womans side to have their daughter hand in marriage. WebIn Kenya, that number is 7.1% of people as of 2016. live 10.9 years less In United States, the average life expectancy is 81 years (78 years for men, 83 years for women) as of By the end of the project, a few babies had been born in the locality that had similar eyes and complexion with the Chinese laborers. This is a major issue. I did appreciate that trdation which I had lost since coming to the US. You are free to use it to write your own assignment, however you must reference it properly. In fact, practical gifts are preferred. Other major ethnic groups include the Luhya (14%), Luo (13%), Kalenjin (12%), Kamba (11%), Kisii (6%) and Meru (6%). Therefore, it is a good idea to provide a historical framework or context when attempting to introduce a new idea or process. They are generally served at the completion of the meal. Serving the University of Rochester community since 1873. They may ask questions until they feel comfortable and are able to proceed satisfactorily. Yes, I do agree we throw a lot of food out.In high school I worked at McDonalds and after the food was cooked and no one bought it, we had to throw it away after 20 minutes. Mandazi - Kenyan version of a heavy donut, typically eaten with a cup of hot chai. In Kenya, 342.0 women do as of 2017. be 5.4 times more likely to die during infancy. Considering the issues with terrorism that both Nigeria and Kenya regularly experience, the tight security is understandable. May 5, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/cultural-differences-kenyans-malaysians-chinese-and-americans/. Culture clashes are impossible to avoid, particularly when you are an American. 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. I find the story entertaining but i don't agree with dressing part.. Can't understand why @mlachake was so harsh to mzee moja. as well as other partner offers and accept our, Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories, After spending months in the Middle East, I'm convinced a single phrase with more than a dozen meanings is key to understanding Arab culture, traffic cost Egypt about 3.6% of its gross domestic product, A year ago I left New York to travel around the world as Business Insider's. Some of these must be jammies. Weak signals and poor reception are common challenges, especially in the rural areas. Cultural Differences: Kenyans, Malaysians, Chinese and Americans. WebThe distinction between East Asia and the West is only one of many cultural distinctions that separate different ways of thinking about intelligence. I never met anyone who had actually been to Kenya or even Africa until I was 17. A short intense period of honest love and then part ways with your spouse in divorce (American love). StudyCorgi. They often go out of their way to keep from doing something that could bring shame to another person. If Americans were gods, they would make a 29 hour day. Beyond the turkey, they will make mountains of pies, corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and the whole gamut of mishmash added to a variety of drinks. A sentence would start in English and down the road, wanders off into some other language before finding its way back to English. With a couple of hours left in the workday, some employees started heading home. In Morocco, I made the mistake of offering alcohol to an observant Muslim, who replied with a smile that he drinks only "Berber whiskey," or Moroccan mint tea. Family is a key difference between the American and Kenyan cultures. For us his readers, the best we can do is egg him on. Any function or meeting that lasts more than 30 minutes is frowned upon. Many other African countries, like Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, have cuisines designed to be eaten with your hands. 34 New House, 67-68 Hatton Garden, London EC1N 8JY, UK. While traffic in Cairo isn't quite as bad, it far outpaces traffic issues in any American city outside of maybe Los Angeles. That is beside the point. In United States, approximately 5.2 children (per 1,000 live births) die before they reach the age of one as of 2022. This is a humorous light piece of writing and not in the least, intellectual. While I'm used to greeting and shaking hands with my right, it was very strange to try eating with my right hand. Lakini go to Nairobi, and all colors of the rainbow are in exhibition. They can be comparatively as I remember commenting to my mom that visitors had stayed too long. The African languages come from three different language families - Bantu languages (spoken in the center and southeast), Nilotic languages (in the west), and Cushitic languages (in the northeast). Kachumbari - Kenyan version of salsa. In the city, in the suburbs, at work, in social places. In this respect, Kenyans have a better quality of life, Americans have quantity. If you know that you are going to visit someone's house for lunch, it is advisable to warn them beforehand so they do not go to the expense of purchasing meat. In some homes, a washing basin will be brought to the table. "My mother is in her mid-fifties and she still gets harassed.". According to the population census of 2009, the population of the administrative region stands at 7.4 million with 95% being of Chinese origin and the remaining 5% being other nationalities and tribes. WebThe culture in Kenya is only advancing in certain parts, mainly the bigger cities. In United States, approximately 19.0 women per 100,000 births die during labor as of 2017. In reply to Beyond your first assertion by Mwakilishi. I think you could have done abetter article for education purposes. It should also be noted that America has changed in the last 50 years. Most Kenyans interweave native beliefs into a traditional religion. 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 She intended to spend half the day exploring by herself. Kai andu mathire ku? (Where is everyone?) You will understand if you speak more than one language, that sometimes it is a lot easier for people to express particular concepts in one language better than another. How big is Kenya compared to United States? Once a personal relationship has developed, you may be able to address a person by their title and first name, first name alone, or nickname. Give it to Mzee Moja, or whoever he is. As a traveler, I found that getting used to the different meanings of the word was challenging and critical. I know in Kenya, you say "Eat your food, there are children starving in Turkana" or something like that. www.commisceo-global.com. There are also many very remote towns and villages that still have some of the native people left in them. Not only are these foods inexpensive to buy, but by buying them one is promoting the local economy and directly helping someone to support their families. Nigeria has a long history as a place perceived, by both its citizens and outsiders, as incredibly corrupt. Many restaurants throw uneaten food out. Retrieved from https://commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/afghanistan-guide. The Massai of Kenya. American Here! In January, Al Shabaab attacked a hotel complex in a wealthy district of Nairobi, killing more than 20 people. Two of the biggest were getting accustomed to not using my left hand to eat in Nigeria and underestimating the extent to which traffic affects the pace of life in Lagos and Cairo. "Cultural Differences: Kenyans, Malaysians, Chinese and Americans." Children generally refer to adults as Aunt or Uncle, even if there is not a familial relationship. A long suffering (In most cases women and more and more men are joining) marriage (African love). We almost cherish pangaring queues in banks, hospitals, everywhere. 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? In terms of cultural management styles will continue to present significant differences. Loud voices are generally only used during disagreements in business situations, although in rural areas, louder speaking tones are the norm. As usual i was waiting to read the haters comments (Tribalists). I heard one man ask when he entered a deserted banking hall at 1PM. From Minneapolis to Valhalla, Albuquerque to Tallahassee. ?This is called problems n they wish they can have a beta life than that.Compare that life with somebody who leaves in village back in kenya who owns a small mawe or mabati hse,3cows,few chickens,4goats/sheep!that someone leaves n enjoys life beta than the one who is changing diapers,or doing matriples in USA .We need to know what quality life means?? Even though each home has a fridge and maybe a freezer, people will just not eat yesterdays food today. In Kenya, that number is 4.6% of GDP as of 2019. Before you enter any public building, hotel, bar, restaurant, or shopping complex in Lagos and Nairobi, you will have to go through a security check akin to what you might experience at an airport in the US. Population: 51+ million (estimated - 2019.). 1.93K subscribers. Opines that it is important to assess families and aging in each of these cultures to gain a better understanding of their cultures. This makes it difficult for Americans to the Kenyan culture or Kenyans, to adapt to the American culture. If it was earlier, concierges had no trouble pushing my checkout time by an hour or two to accommodate me. The only issue is economics. What do you call it when the West give food and other aid to the needy peoples of the world? Although innovativeness is regarded as a virtue in American culture, it is not as valued as it is in Saudi Arabian. Muslim men/women do not always shake hands with women/men. You can get proper methods to improve your social skills and make yourself more appealing out there in front of the partner of your choice. 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. Not its adherence to any particular culture. Kenyans table manners are relatively formal. No worries, a baseball cap and a pony tail will do. Children are not supposed to shake hands with adults but they are expected to bow and give adults a chance to touch their heads as a sign of blessing and respect (Kam, 2010). The guy did do a thesis paper or Capstone for those who attend Johns Hopkins on Kenyan vs. American life. There are also the Nilotic tribes such as the Luo, Kalenjin, Maasai and Turkana. StudyCorgi, 5 May 2021, studycorgi.com/cultural-differences-kenyans-malaysians-chinese-and-americans/. By logging in or registering, you agree to our. Except for formal functions, there is generally not a seating plan. I see you are doing your best to become an intellectual but you may need to be more substantive and original in your thinking. Signing in allows you to change your location, ask questions in our community, contribute to our cost of living database, and more. The writer has done a good job sharing his observations. Also: a group of people that share the same Business cards are exchanged without formal ritual. For example, many North African countries constantly use the Arabic word "inshallah," whereas the word is unheard of in many sub-Saharan countries. I once had a visit couple from Germany and the lady insisted we must sit dow for meals, now for the American I have become my dinning table had been replaced by a desk with a computer on it. The term is an umbrella that, encompasses behavior, norms, and institutions found in a given society. If I had a sponsor, I would prepare a two hour documentary of Kenyan men and their hats. It could mean "hopefully," "I hope so," "maybe," "who knows," or "it's not my problem," among a dozen other things. 28 Apr 2023 19:10:25 It all depends on who is reading the write up. We typically shop for the entire week on Saturday, so lettuce and fruits, such as bananas can easily go bad in 6 days. This comes down to wanting to protect peoples face and the relationship. This led to lots of early-morning scrambling to pack my bags. Read more: After spending months in the Middle East, I'm convinced a single phrase with more than a dozen meanings is key to understanding Arab culture. Official languages: Swahili, English. Githeri Kikuyu staple; beans and corn mixed together, with our without another vegetable. Enough said. We all know that Africa is a huge continent and cultures vary from country to country but here are some of the general differences that one will notice when dating a traditional African man: Before marriage, dating couples are not expected to express their love; they are not supposed to go into the streets showing that they love each other.

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cultural differences between kenya and america