Life In America
First Impressions of America
“Land of the free, home of the brave. The land of opportunity.”
The United States of America—these are all phrases I’ve often heard used to describe this country. I’d even go as far as to call it “the land of excess and convenience.” I was mesmerized by how the U.S. has tailored life for ease—there’s literally a drive-thru for everything: the bank, pharmacy, coffee, food, and more. And don’t even get me started on the portion sizes—they're massive!
Small yet significant things like that weren’t part of the world I grew up in. Coming from Zambia, everything felt new, surreal, and at times, overwhelming.
Culture Shock and Anxiety
When I first moved to the United States, I was filled with wonder—but also with anxiety and fear of failure. Failure to fit in, failure to adapt, and even failure to survive.
It was overwhelming at first—from the sheer number of cars to how people drove on the “wrong” side of the road (well, coming from Zambia, it felt like the wrong side). I looked around at the buildings and unfamiliar streets and asked myself, “Will I ever know which way to go?”
Going from a life of routine, friends, family, and familiarity to suddenly starting over was a tough reality to face. I’ll admit—there were many moments of loneliness and homesickness.
Finding Community
Thankfully, I got plugged into church with my family and soon began building a new community. I joined a small group for Bible study once a week and a young adults’ gathering as well. Slowly, I started developing a routine and rebuilding my social life. I got my first job as a Sales Agent and part-time an Event Sales Marketer on some weekends. I got to experience a little bit about how cooperate life might be like.
During this time, my parents were driving me everywhere. Living in Northwest Arkansas, where public transportation is limited, I had to learn to drive. I was nervous—it seemed like such a daunting task—but I knew I had to do it.
Adjusting to a New Normal
Gradually, life began to take shape again. I found myself experiencing things that were once so foreign to me, forming new friendships and connections, and adapting to a way of life I had never known before.
The saying “There’s no place like home” became so true and so real to me. Even though I had acclimated, I still sometimes felt like an outsider stepping in.
In my previous blog posts, “Coming to America” and “A Zed Girl,” I shed more light on the family dynamic between my parents and me. (Check those out if you haven’t already!)
Bittersweet Reflections
Living in the United States has been such a rewarding and eye-opening experience. I’ve had the chance to do so many fun and unique things and meet some truly amazing people. But I often miss home—Zambia. I miss the food, the culture, the people. I watch life pass by back home and feel the sting of missing out on moments there. That’s something many people don’t consider when they see someone immigrating or moving away.
But the joy in all of this is knowing that each one of our journeys is unique. There is no one-size-fits-all timeline and no perfect path. There is beauty in appreciating the individual stories that weave together the greater tapestry of our lives.
