Connection across borders: How 4 African immigrants connect with home

Connecting with home as an African immigrant is very important and that is one of the reasons we do what we do at Sendsprint, so we talked to a few people about how they stay in touch with home. It can be hard to stay in touch with family when you have school, work, or more than one job, so we hope their stories will help you stay in touch with your loved ones in ways you haven’t even thought of.

“I bought matching shoes for my mum and I”- Ife, Wales

There’s no one way to connect with home as an African immigrant, but I call my people regularly and talk about different things ranging from big steps/choices we’re making to random mundane things. Sometimes, when I find someone who is traveling, I ask them to send gifts home for me. I’ve only been here for a year so I’ve done that twice. I don’t think there’s a way to measure the best gift I’ve sent home. Recently, I  bought matching shoes for me and my mum and I sent hers in time for my birthday because it’s her birthday too. Too bad we can’t take a picture together.

“I just send cash”- Missy, Canada 

Well, it’s 2023 and thanks to technology the world is one so connecting with my people at home has been very easy, minus the time difference of course. Social media apps like WhatsApp come to the rescue all the time. Adjusting hasn’t been as smooth, the cultural shocks, the differences and having to deal with people of different cultures and traditions is one big challenge in Canada. It’s a step at a time, it gets better by the day. I’ve seen a number of things I’d have loved to send to Nigeria but the thought and cost of shipping items down there is a lot especially for someone like me who has only been here about a year. Instead, I just send cash or order on Instagram to deliver to my loved one’s address.

“I make sure my mum is online”- Abraham, Russia

Connecting with home as an African immigrant is very important. I make sure my mum is always online. So it’s easy to reach out to her. My mum is my only immediate family in Nigeria. It’s quite difficult to send physical stuffs home. I remember a time I wanted to send a phone to my cousin, DHL billed me more than the phone’s price. This brings me to sending money. Also, I have vendors that help with gifts in Nigeria then they deliver to my loved ones.

“I speak to my mum minimum of 6 times daily”- Ruka, Aberdeen

I miss my mum, I miss Lagos life, commuting from Ikorodu to Lagos Island for work and the style of partying.  I connect with my family via WhatsApp.I speak with my mum on video call, in a day we speak at a minimum of 6 times. My mum is my best friend and I send gifts home. Most times,it’s money.

To wrap up, staying in touch with family and friends can make all the difference in a new place. You can do this through phone calls, sending money home for a party your mom wants to attend, paying for your sister’s clothes,or sending a box of cupcakes for your friend’s birthday with your Sendsprint account. The most important thing is that you put your family and friends first, and they can feel your love through the money or funds that you send. We hope that one or more of the stories inspired you or made you want to try something new.