Amaka Lily

Shifting Allegiances: a Nigerian's Story of Nigeria, America and Culture Shock Amaka Lily

Publisher Marketing: If you had told Deka in 2005, as she sat on a plane bound for America, that she would one day wish to be in Nigeria, she would have spat in your face. Nigeria had been hell for her. She lived in a one room boys-quarter with 7 family members. She could not go to college or get a job. Poverty and Corruption were rampant. Nigerians who had the means had since fled the country. She would have left sooner, but had lacked the funds to do. She was never coming back. She was sure of it. America was going to be great. She was sure of it. But seven years later, Deka was doing just that, trying to return to Nigeria. America had turned out to be a nightmare, and she wanted to return home. It hadn't started out that way. When Deka first arrived, America had proven to be everything she had expected. But as America continued to unfold, she saw a side that no one had told her about. A side that she could not live with. On her first visit back, Deka realizes that not only has Nigeria moved on without her, but that she has changed. Irrevocably. She can no longer live in Nigeria the way she had previously done. Since she does not want to live in America, she arrives at a cross road. Does she continue with her plans to return to Nigeria or does she learn to work with America?