I was born in Nigeria. At the age of one, my family and I came to America. Like any kid, I had no worries in the world. When I hit puberty, I started wanting to be more independent and hang out with my friends. Growing up, rules that I had were a a little more diffrent than my peers.

1. Dating

Many people with immigrant parents can attest and say that they were not allowed to have a boyfriend or girlfriend. Growing up I was definitely not allowed to have a boyfriend. My boyfriend was the education I was getting and Jesus.

2. Grades

I remember hearing a conversation between a friend of mine and her mom. My friend was explaining how she was doing pretty well this semester and managed to get C's. I was in shock, I could not believe she was saying those grades to her mama! If I ever said that to my mom, I would feel a slap at the other end of the phone.

3. Hanging Out With Friends

Each time I wanted to go out, I would rehearse in my head how I was going to ask my parents. I would always try to catch them when they were in a good mood, and spring the question on them. This was incredibly nervewracking, especially if I was asking to go to a sleepover. When they would say "No," I would obviously have to tell my friends I could not go. They would suggest for me to "sneak out." I would give them a blank stare, as that term is not in my vocabulary.

4. Punishments

I wish that I got my phone taken away for a week. That would go much easier than the 45 minute to an hour screaming lecture if I did something wrong or worse the silent treatment.

5. Going to College

When I started school, I was like "yes, I can taste the freedom!" Boy was I wrong. There was a time that I forget to call my parents for a day. They started blowing up my phone, asking my other sister (who was also in college at the time) if she knew where I was. When I was perfectly fine, sound asleep in my dorm room.

6. Majors In College

When I told my dad that I wanted to be a sociology major. He didn't really say anything except stare into my soul, and then questioned me on why I don't want to be a doctor or a lawyer because I "can make a lot of money that way."

7. Speech Problems

When my parents first got here, their English skills were not so great. So words that I was taught were pronounced a little different. Also for some words they wouldn't be the common English word. Up until 11th grade I would say "cream" instead of "lotion."

8. Names

This may pertain to all people with foreign parents, but I think it's safe to say that we have some pretty awesome names. Very unique, sometimes, one of the kind names. Which can be hard for people to say. My name for example is Mubinatu (pronounced moo-b-nah-to), it means victorious. All my life, I have been subject to the mispronunciation and misspellings of my name. Or being told by the computer that my name is spelled wrong. Which is why most foreign parents will give you a nickname, making easier for the public to say your name. "My name is Mubinatu, but my home girls call me Bea."

9. Culture

Coming from a different country, and living in America. I never lost my culture, and always enriched in the African culture. If there was ever an International day at school, I would always have something to contribute.

10. Food

The delicious food that you would always come home too. A lot of the time my mom would cook Nigerian food, and of course while watching her cook, that's where I developed my cooking skills from. Plastic containers would fill our refrigerators, I could never tell what is what, because they were never any labels on them.

11. One-ups

Anytime I would complain about something that was going on in my life, my dad especially, would go into one of "when I was your age" speeches. Example: When I was your age, I had to walk thirty miles each day to get to school.

12. Speaking to Other Family Members

Anytime I would hear my parents bring out the calling card and type in digits into the phone I would pray that they would not hand the phone to me. It would just end in me having a long awkward conversation with a family member that I don't really know.

13.Cookies

The satisfaction of seeing these cookies instead of sewing needles and threads.

All and all, I wouldn't really trade my upbringing for anything. My parents are just worried little people, who at the end of the day want the best for me.

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