Karibu Marekani

Land of the free and the home of the brave

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Karibu Marekani

Whether you are new to the US or planning to migrate to the US in the near future, you will need resources to help you navigate the maze of starting fresh in a new country. The purpose of this packet is to provide valuable information about settling in the US. This packet contains an assortment of information and resources that are crucial to a person’s successful settlement in the US as a new immigrant. The packet was created as a collective effort by members of KWITU Inc., to help future immigrants avoid struggles and afflictions experienced by most Kenyans immigrants in the US due to lack of proper guidance.

All Immigrants

The first thing you MUST do before leaving your current home to fly to the US is ensure that your accommodation is confirmed. Confirm and reconfirm that the person/people hosting you are reliable.

Students On Visas

If you have college education from Kenya or any other country, consider getting your education evaluated by W.E.S. (World Education Services) to match it to the US system. This will also help transfer credits so that you do not have to take unnecessary classes or start from the scratch. There is a fee associated with the evaluation of credits.

Families

Ensure that you get transcripts/report cards from your child’s school with each class/grade listed and subjects taken in each class. This will help you ensure that your children are placed in the right grade in the US and also that they don’t repeat classes.

About Us

Karibu Marekani is an initiative of KWITU Inc.

KWITU, Inc. is a non-governmental organization established in 2015 to connect, empower and support the Kenyan Women Living in the USA and Canada.

KWITU, Inc. provides opportunities for Kenyan women in the USA to connect via social media platforms, workshops, networking meetups, cultural events, community enrichment programs and annual grand reunions. We have created a safe environment for women to discuss issues that affect the Kenyan women in the USA, and Kenya.

Disclaimer On Limitation of Liability

All the information provided in this packet is transcribed directly from sources that frequently change. Under no circumstances shall KWITU Inc., its members or affiliates be liable for the misinterpretation of the information and resources provided in this packet. KWITU Inc. does not make any warranties regarding the reliability and accuracy of this information. KWITU Inc. will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of the resources provided. KWITU Inc., reserves the right to make any changes to the information provided in this document at any time with or without notice.

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Fun Facts

This section includes facts on food, language, etiquette and other cultural things you need to know about the U.S.

Remember that this is a guideline and does not include everything you will encounter.

Fun Facts About Food

Notice the difference? If placing an order at the restaurant, you might want to recondition your mind to accept the new way of describing certain foods that you are used to

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Vocabulary

British and American English often spell the same word differently. In order for people to understand you, you might want to start learning and practicing some American Vocabulary.

There are also many cases in which the two varieties of English use different terms to describe the same thing. Here’s a list of various British words and expressions together with their American equivalents.

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Clothes & Accessories

Learn some basic vocabulary for clothes and some common accessories. For instance instead of ‘spectacles’ the American word will be ‘glasses’.

It’s the case of going to Rome and doing what the Romans do.

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Important Resources

Please Note: All websites with a .org at the end are non-profit organizations and all websites with a .gov at the end are government websites.

The website offers free information about US currency.  Review online at https://www.uscurrency.gov/ or https://www.usa.gov/currency

The U.S. has four seasons in most states. Learn more at https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/aboutseasons.html or http://www.weather.gov/

This link will have information on the types of food you can bring to the US. Review online at https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1272/~/food—general-food

Please educate yourself on when you can call 911. Misuse of 911 can lead to trouble with the law. Review online at https://www.911.gov/using911appropriately.html

You will need to apply for a social security number at the local social security administration. Review requirements online at https://www.ssa.gov/

Do a google search for your state using key words Department of Motor Vehicles or Department of Driver Services. Please note ALL department of driver services websites end with .GOV

https://www.aceable.com/

Educate yourself by reviewing important information about credit in the US provided by the Federal Trade Commission online. In addition to the Federal Trade Commission, the following links have important information various topics tied to finances. From Retirement planning, Life Insurance, Home Ownership etc. Educate yourself and make sound judgement.

  • http://www.creditinfo.co.ke/
  • http://www.crbafrica.com/
  • http://www.metropolcorporation.com/

World Evaluation Systems (WES)- provides credential evaluations for international students and immigrants planning to study or work in the U.S. and Canada

For business ideas and resources on entrepreneurship, access information online at https://www.uschamber.com/about-us/about-the-us-chamber

Reach out to community outreach programs like Catholic Charities for assistance. You can search for one close to your area by entering the zip code you live in.

Find information about services provided by the government for free or low cost online at https://www.hhs.gov/programs/index.html

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