Assorted Immigrant Stories

In this season finale mini-series episode, we talk about tuition, fees, and the opportunities many international students leave on the table, often without realizing it.

Using a real classroom moment from the first day of the semester, this episode breaks down why the fine print in your syllabus matters and how student fees actually pay for critical support services like counseling, accessibility accommodations, writing centers, wellness programs, and health resources. I share a personal story about struggling with writing-intensive coursework, watching grades drop, and realizing far too late that the help I needed had been available all along.

We also explore another powerful way to reduce the cost of education: leveraging your abilities. From athletic talent to specialized skills, this episode explains how full-ride scholarships don’t always mean becoming a professional athlete and why visibility, asking questions, and going directly to the right offices can change your educational journey.

The conversation highlights wellness initiatives like the She Care Wellness Pods and Boris L. Henson Foundation Self-Care Wellness Pods, the importance of mental health support, and why reading your emails and syllabus can literally save you money.

As we honor Black History Month, celebrate Africa Podcasting Day (February 12), and close out this mini-series, this episode leaves listeners with one clear message:

don’t leave money or opportunity on the table.

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In this episode, I reflect on identity, education, and belonging through the lens of Africa, immigration, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Inspired by viral moments of IShowSpeed traveling across Africa and the reactions they sparked, I take listeners back to my own journey — growing up in Zambia, coming to the United States in 2003, and navigating classrooms where accents, culture, and identity shaped my early experiences.

I share how my understanding of African American culture evolved, how divisions between Africans and Black Americans became visible during my early college years, and why learning the history of HBCUs changed my perspective on higher education in America. This episode breaks down what HBCUs are, why they were created, and why they continue to matter today — producing leaders, professionals, and change makers despite making up a small percentage of U.S. colleges.

I also explain why, despite earning my BSN at the University of Maryland, I intentionally chose to pursue graduate school at an HBCU, Coppin State University — a 103-year-old institution that is expanding access by recruiting students from states without HBCUs and offering in-state tuition opportunities. I discuss legacy, finding self, connection, affordability, and why HBCUs deserve serious consideration, especially for immigrants, mature students, and first-generation learners.

The episode closes with reflections on representation, belonging, and choosing education with intention. In the next episode, I’ll break down how students can fully take advantage of what they already pay for through tuition and fees — including writing centers, academic resources, and student support services that are often overlooked.

In this episode of Assorted Immigrant Stories, we break down what the expanded U.S. travel bans mean for people trying to come to America for school, work, sports, or family reasons. Using real-life examples, we explain how different U.S. visa types are affected — and why people from the same country can experience very different outcomes.

Building on earlier Season 1 episodes that explained F-1 student visas, M-1 vocational visas, and the Diversity Visa (DV Lottery), this episode zooms out to explore how travel restrictions interact with visa categories such as B-1/B-2 visitor visas, F and M student visas, J exchange visas, and employment-based visas like EB-3 for nurses.

We use global sports as a practical example, explaining why World Cup players from countries like Senegal can travel on special athlete visas, while fans may be unable to attend due to visitor visa suspensions. We also discuss why professional athletes such as Barbara Banda and Racheal Kundananji are able to travel back and forth internationally — highlighting how P-1 and O-1 visas work differently from tourist or student visas.

The episode also looks closely at Zambia’s partial travel restrictions, what they mean in practice, and which groups are exempt, including green card holders, diplomats, athletes, and individuals granted national-interest waivers. We address common questions from students, nurses, and families navigating the U.S. immigration system, including how EB-3 immigrant visas for nurses are affected during visa suspensions.

Anchored by the Book of the Month, The Tiny Things Are Heavier by Esther Ifesinachi Okonkwo, this episode connects immigration policy to lived experience — showing how small details like visa categories, processing delays, and eligibility rules can have life-changing consequences.

Whether you are:

• Planning to study in the U.S.
• Exploring work visas or green card options
• Following World Cup travel and visa rules
• Or trying to understand how U.S. travel bans affect your country

this episode offers clarity, context, and practical guidance — without legal jargon or panic.

A deep dive into the 2026 World Cup moment — and what it really means for African fans.

In this episode, we break down:

What the FIFA PASS actually is (and isn’t)

The emotion and pride surrounding AFCON, Zambia 2012, Ghana 2010, and Africa’s 10-team milestone

The reality of U.S. travel bans affecting fans from qualifying nations

And the quiet pause of the Diversity Visa Lottery following recent U.S. events

It’s about sport, yes — but also about access, memory, migration, and the bittersweet experience of cheering from afar.

🎧 Tune in for truth, heart, and perspective — from the stadium to the screen, and everywhere in between.

When I first came to the U.S., the only library I knew was in Towson. I took buses just to check my email—sometimes months apart—because I didn’t yet understand how accessible public and student libraries really were.

In this episode, I reflect on how libraries quietly supported my journey as an international student: free internet, quiet study spaces, and access to university libraries simply by having a student ID.

I also share what reignited this conversation for me—an appreciation talk with my former primary school headmistress, memories of borrowed books and office libraries, conversations with fellow podcasters building libraries across Africa, and recent reminders that libraries are still deeply relevant in a world of TikTok and short-form content.

Most importantly, I talk about discovering library programs for children—reading, music, play areas, computers—when my son needed them most, and realizing we could have been using these resources years earlier.

Libraries are not just for studying. They are community spaces, creative spaces, and places of access. Whether you’re new to America or thinking about libraries back home, don’t sleep on them.

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and I’m still smiling from yesterday — the food, the laughter, the football, and the simple joy of making memories. In this episode, I reflect on what it means to immerse yourself in the things Americans love, even when those traditions weren’t part of the world you came from.

I share my own journey: from working holidays for time-and-a-half, to slowly learning that building community, enjoying a good game of football, baking with my son, and creating new traditions can be just as meaningful as the ones we grew up with. You’ll hear how working only with fellow immigrants shaped the advice I received early on — things like “don’t invest,” “don’t stay,” “don’t buy a house” — and how stepping into more diverse spaces opened my eyes to opportunities I wish I had known sooner.

Football was never part of my life growing up in Zambia, yet here I am, a proud Baltimore Ravens fan. And yes — I finally understand the love for Lamar Jackson! I also share why Thanksgiving holds a special place in my heart, especially the baking, which connects me deeply to memories of my mother.

I touch on the money conversations people keep asking me for (that needs its own series!), the joy of building a village, and why I’m now committed to sharing books by Black American authors so we better understand the shoulders we stand on.

Yes, Thanksgiving is complicated. And football isn’t the only way to immerse yourself in American culture. But for me, these two have become beautiful entry points into belonging, connection, and gratitude.

I also share key information from Zambia’s 61st Independence celebration, including the processes for dual citizenship based on when you obtained U.S. citizenship:

This episode is not just for Zambians.

I also tell a personal story about traveling home with my son on his American passport — and how learning about Section 3 saved us from a potential border headache. This is a must-listen for any parent in the diaspora.

If you’re Zambian and need more information, you can contact the Embassy of the Republic of Zambia in Washington, D.C.:

📍 Address:

📞 Phone:

📧 Consular Email:

🌍 Website:

If your country has a different process, feel free to share your experience with me — this is a global community, and we learn from each other.

Tune in, stay informed, and stay connected.

#ImmigrantJourney #DiasporaLife #ZambiaKuChalo #ComingToAmerica #LandingInAmerica 

In Season 1, Episode 9, Kola shared something many immigrants quietly relate to — the opportunities we don’t recognize until it’s too late. He talked about not taking an internship that could have opened doors, choosing not to repeat his final high school year here in America (a move that might have helped him secure scholarships), and how he only started applying for jobs at a time when the housing market had crashed. His story reflects a common immigrant experience: sometimes we miss chances simply because we don’t know the system or we don’t understand the value of what’s in front of us.

Last year, I learned my own version of that lesson.

After almost eleven years of ignoring conference emails at work — deleting, skipping, scrolling past — I finally attended two major conferences, including the Magnet Conference in New Orleans. Everything was fully paid for: airfare, accommodation, meals… even my own private hotel room. And I later learned that people attend with their families — it’s allowed — which is why everyone gets their own room. Meanwhile, I was shocked thinking it was an upgrade.

That trip opened my eyes.

At Magnet, Kodi Lee performed at the opening ceremony — yes, Kodi Lee! I met three authors, including Robin Arzón(the killer Peloton instructor and author of Just Run), Shola (author of Ubuntu), and Damon West, author of The Change Agent and the children’s book The Coffee Bean. The exhibit hall was full of the latest medical equipment, new clinical practices, incredible presentations, and even therapy puppies. Charity won a pair of Hoka shoes and an iPad. It was a whole experience.

And that’s when it hit me:

This episode brings Kola’s lesson and mine together:

When you don’t know the value, you miss the opportunity.

Sometimes the blessing is already sitting in your inbox.

https://www.instagram.com/assortedimmigrantstoriespod?igsh=djdoZXprY2VnMDQx&utm_source=qr

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#ComingToAmerica #ImmigrantStories #ImmigrantJourneys #ZambianInAmerics #ZambiaKuChalo #DiasporaLiving 

In this mini-episode of Assorted Immigrant Stories – Lweendo, Zenith reflects on the invisible systems that raise children—and how those systems shift when you leave home.

She begins with memories of working in nursing homes full of fellow Africans, long before she understood the sacrifices families make to survive childcare realities in America. Fast forward to motherhood, and she now finds herself navigating Pre-K schedules, impossible lunch breaks, and the high cost of childcare.

But the heart of this episode lies in what she discovered: the quiet network of community members who help with school pick-ups and drop-offs for a small fee, and the unexpected blessing of finding a Ghanaian “Granny”—a true grandmother figure who stepped into their lives simply because Zenith stayed connected, asked questions, and allowed herself to be part of community.

This is a story about how villages are lost and rebuilt, how support shows up in unexpected places, and how speaking up can introduce you to the people who stand in the gap.

Listen for reflections on:

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n this special mini-series episode, I’m sharing all the books I’ve recommended on the podcast so far — especially for listeners who may not be on Instagram. I use books because they help us express the things we can’t always say out loud. They open doors into experiences, emotions, and immigrant journeys that many of us carry quietly.

This episode brings all those titles together in one place, and I also share what’s coming next — November’s book pick, Bitter Honey by Lọlá Ákínmádé