Want to live in Europe? Make sure you are not guilty of these!

 

If you are a Naija and you have been dreaming of coming to Europe, you need to start imbibing cultures if you are to last here or else, you might soon find yourself back to Naija. All these are based on what I have seen here and not what I have read in a book or what I was told by a European or someone living here:

 

1. Traffic Rules: in Europe, traffic Rules are respected. Vehicles stop for you when the light is on 'green' or when you are on Zebra-crossing even when the vehicles are passed by the light. If you want a vehicle to stop for you, you need to be on the Zebra Crossing. Better still, you press a button to FasTrack your waiting for vehicles to pass. In Naija, don't try that or else the vehicle will crush you. In Europe, they have respect for pedestrians and drivers can apply a brake (even when they are on speed) to allow you to cross.  

2. Noise: If you are living in a room with another person, maybe a hostel, please use an ear phone or i-pod so that you don't disturb your neighbor. When on a call, talk gently. You don't have to shout at the top of your voice. You might disturb your neighbor by doing so. Maybe the person might be sleeping, reading or meditating or just don't want to be disturbed. If you feel that you are having a long call and it might involve talking loudly, you can take your call in the corridor or just outside. There are times, that your neighbor or the person sharing the room with you doesn't just want to be disturbed. Someone might not be talking, but might be on a call. Some people receive their calls that way. So, don't think they ain't doing anything.   

3. Loud Parties: In Nigeria, we are used to loud parties and blocking the streets. You don't do that here or else you will see the police at your door the next moment. What they usually have here is called 'house-party'. I saw one yesterday. They are about fifteen or so in the room and you can hardly know that a party was going on until they finished.

4. Taking pictures and recording: If you go to some places like supermarkets, or some places, taking pictures are not usually allowed. You need to ask before taking pictures or doing videos. There is a right to privacy even when you want to take someone's pictures or even filming yourself. The person might not want to appear in your picture or video and might be concerned about how viral that might go. So, always ask before taking pictures. I have noticed that for most white people, they don't like taking pictures with someone, except to take pictures of themselves (selfies).

5. Using the Map: In Nigeria, you ask for directions anywhere you go to even when the street is staring in front of you and you can see it boldly written. As Naija, we still want to be cocksure that it is the street or just another. That is our way. But, here in Europe, you are handed a map or you just use your Google Map. You need to have it downloaded on your phone to get to go anywhere or else you are lost. You should know how to use the Google Map very well. If you don't, you have to start learning it because nobody will assist you. The next person you might want to ask for a direction might not be speaking English or on the phone or might not just want to answer you because they don't like to talk to strangers. That is why it is good you start getting used to this.

6. Washing your own dishes: If you are sharing a common kitchen with someone or a neighbor, you don't expect someone to wash your dirty dishes for you. If it is some hotels or hotels, you will be fine before you check out. In Europe, there is no 'big man's and nobody is another man's slave. I have learnt quite a lot here that some of those bossy attitudes don't work here.

7. Keeping appointments: We Nigerians are good at giving excuses about not keeping appointments. It is either traffic or waking up late or some other excuses. Excuses are not accepted here. If you are given an appointment, you have to keep that because people here plan their time. If your appointment is at 10:30am, and you show up by 11:30, the person is in another meeting or busy with other thing. Time is really maximized here unlike the way we Nigerians do. We can give excuses and lie for not meeting up appointments. It is not so here

8. Coming to work late: Coming to work late is not allowed here. What I noticed here is that although people here have fun, they don't play with their jobs. They work when it is time to work and have fun when they need to. If you are in the habit of coming late to work, you might not be able to succeed here.

9. Laziness: If you are the lazy type, don't even think of coming here because the work culture here is different from what it is in Nigeria. In Nigeria, some workers use three hours to gossip and only five hours to work and they will still get a full salary. Some go from one department to another looking for what is not lost and if you ask what they have done at the end of the day, you will discover that they haven't worked at all. Just willing away time. Such an attitude doesn't work here or else you are fired. In fact for most work, you do your work standing except if you are working in the IT or Pharmacy. For stores, supermarkets, and delivery, there is no field day. It's all work and work!

10. Smoking in some prohibited areas: Some areas are marked non-smoking areas. And there could be smoke-detectors all around that you don't know if you smoke and you might be getting caught.

11. Cameras: Most parts of Europes are secured with cameras all around. So, if you are good at pilfering, you will soon be caught and be handed over to the police. It is not like Nigeria where you can do anything and don't get caught.

12. Speed limit: While driving, there is a speed limit for drivers. You might not see traffic police if you violate traffic rules, trust me you will get a fine in your house through your social security number or your registration data. So, if you are an impatient or mad driver and always in a hurry to get to your destination without minding the rules, you will soon be fined.

13. Respecting other road users: While driving or riding, you need to remember other road users too like bicycle riders, tricycle riders, pedestrians and skaters, etc. They have their own path too and you don't have to walk on that path. There is also a traffic light sign for these road users. If you see this sign, you need to give them the right  of passage.

14. Throwing your trash or garbage: You must remember to throw your trash at a specified day. You shouldn't leave your house and the environment smelling.

15. Respect for the elderly, the blind, women with children and others: There is a culture that I see here that we should imbibe. We used to have it in those days when we have the LSTC buses. You have to give your seats for the elderly people, the blind, people using crutches and women with children. In most instances, people here in France on the train or bus, just leave their seats vacant. While on transit one day, a day I saw a young lady standing while many seats were vacant in the bus, she told me that she's fine while standing with nobody sitting on those empty seats. It was later that I saw the inscription on the bus although I have seen this on the train before.

16. Respect other people's religion: You have to respect other people's religion here and don't have to force people to believe your professed faith. Not everyone believes what you believe in. So, you have to be patient with them.   

17. Security: If you happen to come here, you will see that almost every home has security. I mean code and locks. You use codes to open a door or use your key which is coded and nobody has access to those codes except those living there. It is usually very difficult for anybody to break in or steal. If you don't have your key, you ring the bell and someone will come and open the door for you. It is not like the type of lock or doors we use in Nigeria. This is highly secured.

18. A second language: Speaking another foreign language would give you a better edge if you are planning to come here. I mean you are good at French, German, Spanish, Italian or Dutch, you can easily get jobs and be better fixed than someone is who is just monolingual.

19. Getting the right skill: Coming to Europe is not all about have degrees, even if you have masters and doctorate, you might not find a fix. But, if you have got a blend of both soft skills and hard skills, you are really on your way to making it big here. It is good to skill up on as many vocations as possible apart from your degree because it would be useful here. Those skills could be data analytics, Cyber-Security, coding, event management, project management, driving, proposal development, fund raising, public speaking, catering, teaching, etc. Just look for skills that sell where you are going and then go for that.

20. Taking care of the pence: If you are very economical and not a spendthrift, you will soon make it here. If you are used to excessive lifestyle, you will soon become broke and be on the streets. 

21. Have a relationship with God: To succeed in another man’s land, needs extra grace. If you don’t have God and no one to turn to in time of distress or trouble, you might want to follow the mad throng which might drown you. That is why it is important that you have Christ as you savoir before you go. Even if you think you have someone there before you go, that your friend might be dealing in drugs or into one shady business. It is often said there is no friend in Europe. That is why, it is you and your God. And you need to be wary of making friends because you don’t know what they do. They can stain your records of getting your permits or papers for having your stay. You just need to look before you leap.

 

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