How the countries I have lived in have influenced who I am today

One thing that has become very evident to me recently is that I am who I am today due to the experiences that have come from living and being an immigrant in multiple countries. This year makes 22 years since I moved away from Nigeria to Germany and eight years since my life in the US began.
 
In this blog post, I will share five ways that living in Nigeria, Germany, and the US has changed my life. Check out my other Her Relocation blog posts about my experiences and learning.
 
My love for people
The value of having a community was influenced by growing up in Nigeria. I was fortunate to grow up around my mother's family and a close-knit community. It definitely took a proverbial village to raise me. And today, the people in my family are the most important people in my life. Additionally, over the years of living in multiple countries, I have made friends who are now like my family.

My sense of responsibility 
Keeping my commitment is something that is very important to me. I was very heavily influenced by living in Germany and seeing how much worth people placed on knowing you will keep your word. Especially in my professional life, this trait has helped me a lot. As a program manager, I'm responsible for the commitments we make as a team, and I take that very seriously.
 
Dreaming big and making a move
Observing people in the US share their dreams and do things they have never done before was shocking at first. I moved here from Germany, where society expected you to have qualifications before you did a job and where people made very safe career choices. Living in the US over the past eight years, I have made very bold moves and reached heights in my career that I could never have imagined.
 
My love for great food
When I think about the food I enjoy, it has been influenced by all the countries that I have lived in. The food that I enjoy cooking at home is Nigerian. I feel connected to my culture and comforted when I eat food that I ate in my childhood. German sausage, bread, and desserts will always have a special place in my heart. And finally, living in California has given me access to fruits that taste great and foods from other countries.
 
Living my best life
Investing in myself and being ok with spending money was something that I learned after I moved to the US. Germany surely taught me to be financially responsible, which helped me build a solid financial foundation. I can now afford to live my best life, and I am very fortunate to live in a place where I can enjoy good things.
 
Final Thoughts 
As I continue to live in different countries, I look forward to learning new things that will improve my life. I am grateful to have lived and experienced many great things over the last 22 years.
 
Time to Reflect
What life experiences have influenced you?