Why Does My PhD Feel Like a Nigerian Movie - With Chinese Subtitles and an American Soundtrack?

Sitting here sipping my tea (because despite the American fascination with coffee, I've stayed loyal to my non-caffeinated roots), it's hard to believe a year has passed since I embarked on this PhD journey in the USA. My story, however, didn't begin here. From the bustling streets of Ado and Lagos to the vibrant cityscapes of China and now, to the sprawling American university campus, my academic journey has been nothing short of a world tour.

Landing in America a year ago with a suitcase filled with memories, and of course, a generous supply of indomie noodles, I was no stranger to adjusting to new cultures. Yet, every new country is a different song, and learning to dance to the American tune while juggling my PhD responsibilities has been a fascinating dance.

This past year, there've been times when I was waist-deep in research papers at 2 a.m., questioning my life choices. I even found myself missing the simplicity of my master's days in China or the familiarity of my undergraduate years in Nigeria. Yet, it's in those silent pre-dawn hours, as I wrestled with complex problems, that I have also found moments of triumph and a sense of accomplishment that's as sweet as a well-cooked pot of jollof rice.

The quest for a spiritual home in America was a journey in itself. Finding a faith community here reminded me of my initial days in China, searching for a church where the sermon didn't get lost in translation. However, this journey has reinforced my spiritual resilience and allowed me to grow in ways I hadn't imagined, adding a new layer to my faith.

Building friendships in the USA felt like a complex game of 'ayo', taking patience and strategy. It's in these newfound relationships I've found shared moments of joy, like when my American friends attempted to pronounce "Nǐ hǎo" or the excitement in their eyes when they tasted their first Nigerian puff puff.

And then there's love. The American dating scene is a new chapter in my cross-cultural romance novel. With its straightforwardness, it's a far cry from the subtleties of Nigerian courtship or the etiquette-laden dating in China. But as they say, love is a universal language, albeit with a different accent in each country.

As I mark my first year in America, I recognize that this journey has been a mosaic of beautiful experiences, stitched together with threads of resilience, adaptation, and personal growth. Despite the inevitable pangs of homesickness and the numerous WeChat and WhatsApp calls made to family and friends across time zones, I am grateful for the opportunity to call another corner of the world my home.

Each day, as I navigate this PhD journey, I draw strength from my Nigerian heritage and the resilience honed during my master's in China. And so, as I prepare for another year, I sip my tea, fortified by the wisdom of my past experiences and ready to embrace the unfolding chapters of my American journey. As we say back home, "no wahala" - we press forward, one day at a time

With love

Oluwatoyosi