Sammy Maina says the ten years he spent in the US would have been more profitable at home in Africa.Pic by Gaia Goffe, courtesy of the BBC World News
By Leslie Goffe, Focus on Africa Magazine, BBC World News, posted April 5, 2011
The American dream is not all it is cut out to be and some Africans are turning their backs on life in the US.
Frustrated by tough economic times in the United States, Sammy Maina is packed, ready and waiting to return to Kenya. "I'm fed up and finished with the US," declares Mr Maina, 33, owner of a prepaid calling card firm, Myaatel, and a money transfer company, Doubles Xpress, that caters for African immigrants.
According to an article apprearing on the BBC World News yesterday, April 5, 2011, Maina, who lives in Massachusetts, is one of the many African migrants in the USA aiming to return home to in search of- ironically, greener pastures.
But with money scarce because of the recession, fewer and fewer immigrants can afford to purchase his international phone cards or pay to use his money transfer services.
"People here don't have money any more," complains Mr Maina, who says the "American Dream" of a big house, flashy car and piles of money was unrealistic.
Instead he found long hours, little pay and limited joy.
Life in America is so demanding, says Mr Maina, that it has cost several of his African friends their marriages and even led some to commit suicide.
"It is very difficult right now and so many people are packing and going back to Kenya in big, big numbers."
