Culture Shock: 10 hilarious stories from Nigerians abroad

19 January 2022 at 9:05

Imagine someone not thanking you today for what you did yesterday. The audacity!

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Ayoola Adetayo

Nigerians abroad are using Twitter to share the first/ most jarring moments of culture shock they’ve experienced while settling into new places all around the world. And yes, it’s just as interesting as one would expect of a thread like that.

Nigerians who are abroad? What's the one thing that you've experienced that sent you into waves of culture shock?
— Olabinjo (@binjoadeniran) November 9, 2020

We’ve rounded up 10 interesting and fascinating stories from that conversation initiated by user, Olabinjo [@binjoadeniran]

1. This one, OAU lecturers will have to unlook. LOL

Years ago, back in UK, my 1st time in my Masters class, the Dean was addressing us, I had a question and kept saying excuse me sir, excuse me Sir; the man didn’t answer, then one small girl on my table called him by his first name and voila he answered.😳🤷🏼‍♀️.
— Eniola Holmes 😉 (@enisullyman) November 9, 2020

2. Idumota women left this chat

3. Lmao. Nigerian employers, come and see your mates o

The first job I got, the oga would always say “Thank you for your hard work today, really appreciate you!” I was always confused because una no go pay me 😭?
— Bisola (@solaripe) November 9, 2020

4. A Nigerian living in Lagos may have died from all the possible 'shocks' in this single tweet

Seeing professors with nose ring and stud, e shock me.

If them invite come birthday dinner, carry your wallet cos you go pay. God no go shame us 😭😂

In Germany you don’t say sorry. my flatmate cut herself and I was like “ah sorry” she said “but it wasn’t your fault” 😭😭
— Funmi smallz (@funmy5gz) November 10, 2020

5. This brings that Prof Wole Soyinka airplane story to mind

‘Twas a small plane from Paris to Manchester and there were just 2 seats by the window. There was this elderly couple, the wife was beside me and the husband behind me. I offered to switch seats so they could be together and they refused because they didn’t want to ‘bother’ me
— Oshoke (@Ekhamane) November 10, 2020

6. Lmao. Imagine a Yoruba mummy in this situation...

I was expecting to hear: 'thanks for yesterday' after I bailed someone out at a soda dispenser. I asked him if he had forgotten what I did yesterday and he said "what the fuck". I was embarrassed.
— Aniyikaye (@TomTeeLFC) November 10, 2020

7. Oh, snap!

Unilag was on strike, so ìyá wale let me travel, got a job in superdrug store. A week in2 d job a woman came in with her guide dog, I walked up to her confidently telling her to take her dog outside. She snapped "its a guide dog"
Me: so?
Then I looked at d dog & d woman again😢 pic.twitter.com/5pqKix2Jxq
— Wale Gates (@walegates) November 10, 2020

8. Somebody said abroad weather shocked doctrine out of this Deeper Life sister

A friend told me about their family friend (a Deeper-Lifer who stayed with them on a short visit)

She was begged to wear trousers, but Aunty said "NEVER".

Few minutes later Aunty ran back inside saying she felt her pad freezing inside her this thing.
.
.
— Kambbi 🕸️ (@kambbi) November 10, 2020

9. I can’t even blame this guy. I for do same

I ironed like 15 shirts first week expecting NEPA to comot light. 10years and still counting e never happen!
— Olú (@holukayod3h) November 9, 2020

10. When you go from Naija to a place where they don’t honk like hoodlums

Oh another thing that shocked me

Nobody blares horns here. In fact you can go years without using your horns.

For naija we dey use horn greet
— kenna (@kennagq) November 10, 2020

Food & Travel

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Ayoola Adetayo