Join the Elsewhere community and ask a question about Kenya.or United States Cultural Differences Between USA and Kenya, Culture is defined as the way in which people go about their daily lives. In United States, approximately 100% of the population has electricity access as of 2020. StudyCorgi. We sip and bite as slow as possible until we finish reading the Nation newspaper tied to the table with a steel chain by the restaurant owner for reasons better known to you and me. WebCultural differences range from differences in language and dress to body modification, beliefs, mores, landscapes, and even gear. It is important to note that teenagers in Afghanistan - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. Cheap raymond that look presentable is not to be confused with dressing up. Finally, am just curious where the well dressed kenyans learnt their dressing from. In Kenya, that number is 71% of people on average (91% in urban areas, and 63% in rural areas) as of 2020. I once worked in a certain place where greetings would take a whole five minutes! Irio Kikuyu staple; mashed peas and potato mixed together with maize. Considering the issues with terrorism that both Nigeria and Kenya regularly experience, the tight security is understandable. Also discuss any future, Question 1 The profit-maximizing firm equates the marginal benefit of labor to the marginal __________. Kenya is known for several well-known dishes in East Africa. Country comparison: Kenya / United States of America Kai andu mathire ku? (Where is everyone?) 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from Germany and the lady insisted we must sit dow for meals, now for the American I have become my dinning table had been replaced by a desk with a computer on it. Americans comment about what a firm handshake I have. Please bear with us as some older content may be temporarilily unavailable. Muslim men/women do not always shake hands with women/men. Just because we do not agree with certain observations, we should not crucify those who make them. No wonder simple ceremonies take forever in the village. We almost cherish pangaring queues in banks, hospitals, everywhere. 1 Jan. 2020 https://commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/afghanistan-guide, Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. (2020, January 1) Afghanistan - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette. Frequently, and unconsciously, many people use all the three languages simultaneously in a conversation. Intelligence across cultures - American Psychological Association It was expected we would put our some sweets and coffee or even an entire meal.. Today everyone has at least two cars. cultural differences between The country is known for its deep harbors and is one of the worlds densely populated countries. Or, 2. 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%. Do you think we dress like actors and actresses? Kenya is not a homogeneous country ethnicity wise. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. Little do they know it comes from a lifetime of handshaking in Kenya! Yet, despite having these many languages, a foreigner can get around Kenya with relative ease by speaking English, or Kiswahili. Regions and countries are sometimes as different from one another as America is from them. In the Kenyan culture, families, are extended with more than two children (Anthropology, 2021). Mzee Moja, take a walk into the black community and interact more with them if you can and you can see no. In January, Al Shabaab attacked a hotel complex in a wealthy district of Nairobi, killing more than 20 people. Make no mistake, the sheer amount of food wasted in one county in the USA per day is enough to feed the Horn of Africa for a month. That is beside the point. Villagers would come early in the morning toyou guessed right, gawk at the huge earth movers and trucks the whole day. And they wear them with pride. Even today, I am still perplexed at the large portions of food served at almost all eating places. Although the two countries have a close relationship, their cultures have distinct, differences (Anthropology, 2021). When is doubt, watch what others are doing and follow their lead. At times, I found the phrase frustrating, until I learned to decipher the meaning. Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2%. WebBeing that Kenyan and America are two different countries from different continents, they might be differences in cultures and customs. Forty-two is the official number. What do you call it when the West give food and other aid to the needy peoples of the world? Direct and frank communication is not the norm in Kenya. American Here! What about our love affair with hats? Kenya Tofu is available at health food stores and sometimes at larger grocery stores. World Heritage Sites. Retrieved from https://commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/afghanistan-guide. Here in America many people dont look at being fat as a good thing. 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. Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. (2020). 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. Nigeria has a long history as a place perceived, by both its citizens and outsiders, as incredibly corrupt. BTW while we are at the subject, I read in one research journal that Americans have more sex partners in their lifetimes than the polygamous Africans. Unless they are eating South Asian food not many other spices are used. Diversity. May 5, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/cultural-differences-kenyans-malaysians-chinese-and-americans/. Your discussion evidences the extremities of slavery engulfed in capitalism for the sake of profits. You've simply written about the obvious, uninteresting stuff. As a traveler, I found that getting used to the different meanings of the word was challenging and critical. Meetings seldom have scheduled ending times since what matters is finishing the meeting in a satisfactory manner to all concerned. It is the sad day when we wake up and all of the left overs are gone. In almost every situation where someone helps you with a service a waiter, a hairdresser, a taxi driver, a bartender, a masseuse, etc. Both are the countrys official languages and used for instruction in schools: Kiswahili in lower primary and English through upper primary and high school. American English is only one of the versions spoken around the world. Three Cultural Differences Between Kenya and The USA 1. Like most Africans, Kenyans place a large emphasis on the respect and reverence of their deceased ancestors. Life is on the go. Comparatively, those in Kenya have better quality of life. From Minneapolis to Valhalla, Albuquerque to Tallahassee. 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. In United States, approximately 91.0% of the population has internet access as of 2020. Kenya remains East Africas largest and most important business, financial, and transportation hub, with 80 percent of East Africas trade flowing through Mombasa Children have sports, musical instrument, after school school EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK. Everyone is wearing them. I read the comments and obviously the iphone guy was .I am so proud of the writer of this article ..A mugikuyu by the few words i read in that language. Let me be clear. It is a sign of wealth. In some cases that is accurate, while in others it's more about Western perceptions. It's fairly common in Africa in both North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa to eat the traditional way: with your hands. I agree, there is a lot of food wastage around here. I think a lot of people writing comments need to chill out. In America Spanish is one of the only other languages spoken. I spent the past three months of my travels in Africa, specifically in Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania. StudyCorgi. 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. It's fairly easy for a tourist to find a bar, nightclub, or hotel where you can drink, but if you make friends with an Egyptian or Moroccan, be aware that there's a strong likelihood they don't drink. Personal values, attributes, ideologies, beliefs, and religion are elements of culture. Am so sorry .You have reasons to be angry with all kikuyus because you are an idiot. It is the largest Arab country in the world. And Kiswahili is only one of the few dozen languages spoken in Kenya. Saudi Arabia is a Middle East country that has undergone a rapid economic growth rate in the recent past. As drinking is banned by the Quran, according to many interpretations by Muslim clerics, it should be little surprise that drinking is not a major part of the culture. During that time, I experienced countless culture clashes, culture shocks, miscommunications, and misunderstandings. It is a good idea to take a small amount the first time the platters are brought so that you may take second helpings when urged. The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly. When poverty mentality superceeds abundance mentality; people turn to misers fearing to spend lest they become destitute like so and so in their midst. You are truly ridiculous..exactly what is wrong with that? You are allowed only one opportunity to shake a persons hand; when you meet for the first time. Despite the free movement of labor, capital, and international trade, the difference in culture can be seen in metropolitan states like the United States. Americans also question and contradict their superiors openly, within reason, while in India, this would be seen as disrespectful and rude. In our home we don't really throw much food away unless it is bad as is the case with fruits and vegetables. 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. Just relax people. I know that because half of the Taarifa ya Habari in the evening was dedicated to the Presidents diary. Kenya is one of the most diverse countries in Africa. Kaburini au sio? How long is your commute? 8. They are all proudly in display in the city, in the suburbs and in the village. Poverty, lack of sufficient supply of food and scarcity cannot be mistaken for prudence. Hong Kong Culture: Word and Image. For the villagers, such functions also act as an opportunity to count the number of cars in attendance, bet on the newest vehicle number plates, or just argue about the number of Toyota models in Kenyan roads. To skip or rush this element in the greeting process is the height of poor manners.People are generally addressed by their academic, professional or honorific title followed by their surname. In whichever country one is, the parents should be taken care of by the children. Mzee Moja leo kweli umenichekesha! Do not be surprised if a conversation you thought you are a part of winds up in another language. We typically shop for the entire week on Saturday, so lettuce and fruits, such as bananas can easily go bad in 6 days. Thirty minutes? Joel is a Kikuyu, according to the culture of the tribe, men are the breadwinners of the family; this is to imply that whether a woman is working or not, the man should provide for the family. The guy did do a thesis paper or Capstone for those who attend Johns Hopkins on Kenyan vs. American life. 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). He just made an observation and put pen to paper. The author needs to do more research if he tryly wants to display the American culture as it is. Kenyans on the other hand a very good dressers. 2. In fact, a majority of Czechs are atheist. Pilau - Indian origins; rice, typically with goat meat, with lots of spices that might include cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. Differences Americans will buy a whole turkey during Thanksgiving Day to be eaten by a family of two. Aberdeen: Hong Kong University Press. Do not bring alcohol unless you know that your host drinks. Be cognitive of the fact you too speak with an accent that may not be familiar. Kenya r better dressers than Ugandaa.pia than Somalia.. @Sam Ngugifirst I don't blog..I post comments.Second,am not a kikuyu.but I will say this,everything I write about kikuyu's nimeambiwa na wakikuyuhahahakwanza hata I have not written about how kikuyu give birth bila mpangookuz. I will admit that in the beginning, I definitely suffered from culture shock. 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. Commisceo Global Consulting Ltd. 2022 All Rights Reserved. While it is not impossible to live on a vegetarian diet in Kenya (there are many people descended from South Asia who are vegetarians), expect to see meat in many Kenyan diets. Is it A. WebThe one major difference that Ive noticed is that even though the Czech Republic has a lot of religious imagery most Czechs arent religious. How dare you take the whole day for a function? 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. 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. Women over the age of 21 are often addressed as Mama and men over the age of 35 are often addressed as Mzee. Kenya and the United States have long been close allies and have enjoyed cordial WebKenya and the United States have similarities and differences in the way they run their governments, education system, and culture. In the city, in the suburbs, at work, in social places. In this video I explain all the things that I have struggled to understand all these differences since moving to Kenya! In just about every country with a large Muslim population, the rule of thumb is to dress much more conservatively than in the United States. No wonder a Kenyan will waste their phone credit to ask you Wiku mani? (Where are you man?). Now, with that first observation, would you blame the writer of the diary for his simple observation of phenomena? What was the point of this haphazard article, if it was to portray the differences, it failed, if to educate, it failed. You will gain an understanding of a number of key areas including: Location: Eastern Africa, bordering the Indian Ocean, between Somalia and Tanzania. A Comparative Analysis of American and Kenyan Cultures 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 makes it difficult for Americans to the Kenyan culture or Kenyans, to adapt to the American culture. Gifts need not be expensive. Showing anger is considered a sign of mental instability. People still canceled on me at the last minute when it was too bad. Because people eat and drink on the go. In the United States, families are relatively, smaller in size. In the Arab countries I visited Morocco and Egypt alcohol is legal, and some partake, but it is definitely not a common practice outside of resort areas and hotels. For a married woman being fat means that the husband is able financially and can provide abundantly for his family. Initially we thought it was because its Sunday and everyone was attended church or temple. Similarities Between Kenya And America - 151 Words | Studymode More than half of the country's ethnic groups have Bantu origins. Culture A 2013 United Nations study found that over 99% of Egyptian women said they had been harassed. Learn more. It has highly modern developed infrastructures: these are both transport and those of communication. 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. In the social aspects of life, a difference can be noted among Kenyans, Malaysians, Chinese, and Americans. At work, people act like I dress up when the truth is, they are too dressed down. It is all a part of the experience. The notion that men are superior to women supports Hofstedes notion of power distance, the culture is used to create social stratification in Kenyan families; men are highly valued. Fresh Fruit bananas, mangos, passion fruit, and other deliciousness is colorful and plentiful. 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. The total surface area of the country stands at 1104km sq or 4265 sq meters. Each, Do equally intelligent groups of college students and non-college attenders change their religious orientation in the same direction between the ages of 18 and 22? When you consider the bills and taxes, slacking is not condoned. It was expected that if you were driving near our family home you were expected to "drop in" unannounced. Globalization vs. WebHospitality. 5 May. She could never understand this eating on the go. Cultural Differences [online] Available at: https://commisceo-global.com/resources/country-guides/afghanistan-guide [Accessed ENTER DATE]. You need to take Yoga or meditation classes if you take such stories so seriously. THANKS FOR READING OUR GUIDE TO KENYA! You are better than that & you can rise higher than that. Kenya vs United States Culture Stats Compared - NationMaster - Often (not always) Pan-European oriented - Strong influence from American culture - More openly Pagan - Cultural/Spiritual movement instead of a Political Party What else? Facts About Kenya: Culturally Vibrant, Beautifully Diverse Most in kenya not only "waste time in greetings", but we waste valuable time in daily life, man-hours, money, resources and so we cannot afford to "waste" food, because in the first place there is no food to waste. If I had a sponsor, I would prepare a two hour documentary of Kenyan men and their hats. Kenyans waste time greeting and eating. For us, eating is a leisurely affair meant to be enjoyed. Americans waste a lot of food Make no mistake, the sheer amount of food wasted in one county in the USA per day is 2. My colleague told me later that the police officer almost certainly stopped us on the highway when he saw my Caucasian face in the back seat. The continent is larger than North America and comprises over 3,000 ethnic groups, speaking over 1,500 languages, residing in 54 countries. Hofstede expensive as restaurants in Washington, D.C. Professional Studies and Executive Education. Ts called the rat race coz the winner is still a rat! Some people literally live and love in their cars. AU Nairobi | Kenyan Culture | American University, Washington, DC