African students share how their backgrounds shape their experiences in Michigan

By Ruvarashe Mutambara

Ruvarashe Mutambara

Life at Rochester Christian University has been a mix of culture shocks, new routines

and small surprises for African students navigating their new home.

From unfamiliar cafeteria food to winter weather that bites, these students are discovering how to bring their heritage into a new environment — sometimes gracefully, and sometimes with a bit of laughter along the way.

As an African student from Zimbabwe who’s only been at RCU since August, I was eager to hear from other Africans who’ve been here longer — to glean their insights, compare notes and get a sense of what life is really like through the eyes of my peers.

NAMES CARRY MEANING 

In many African cultures, names aren’t random. They’re declarations: small prophecies spoken at birth. A name might carry a family’s hope, a prayer or a reminder of who you are meant to become. You don’t just have a name; you grow into it.

For example, my name is Ruvarashe, Shona for “God’s Flower.” My name reminds me of how God remains intentional with me. Flowers are to be treated with care if they are to last, and I am His flower.

So when I met with the four African students featured in this story, I didn’t start by asking what they studied or what they thought of Rochester winters — though they had plenty to say. I asked what their names meant. Because before you know someone’s story, you have to know what they’ve been called into being.

Deodatta Kanjoma

“My mother named me Deodatta, which means ‘a gift from God,’ because she had a high-risk pregnancy,” said Deodatta Kanjoma, a sophomore neuroscience major from Malawi. “I am a quiet person, but I love to help out where I can,” she said, embodying the generosity that her name speaks over her.

Nilla  Kanjoma

Sisters Nilla and Rianna Kanjoma from Malawi also have names that stand out. Nilla, a senior interdisciplinary studies major, said, “My name means ‘princess’ — it was the name of a very highly respected person in my family line.” She said her name describes her quiet confidence that surfaces when it matters most.  Rianna, a sophomore pre-nursing major, said her name isn’t traditionally African. “My mother watched ‘Rihanna’ on TV when she was pregnant with me. She liked her song so much that she named me Rianna.” The song was the classic “Umbrella.”

Shadrack Onyango, a sophomore information systems and cybersecurity major from Kenya, carries a name with its own story — and a few extra names to match. “I have like five names,” he laughed. In many African cultures, having multiple names is common, with each often carrying a specific meaning or family history.

Of all his names, he only knows the meaning of Shadrack, which is intertwined with the Bible story. “Basically, I’d say it has to do with faith, courage and bravery,” he said. Like his biblical namesake, Shadrack is determined and courageous.

CULTURE SHOCKS & ADJUSTMENTS 

The African students at RCU share traits of courage and openness that have helped them navigate the surprises and adjustments of life in Rochester. The biggest adjustments for the students were cultural and sensory, as culture shock comes in many forms

AMERICAN FOOD 

Food quickly became a lens through which to compare home and campus life. For Nilla, it started with the cafeteria food: “Back home, everything has stew or spice. Here… everything is… well, bland but crispy?” She dreams of cooking her own meals, wishing she could bring the rich, spiced flavors of Malawi into her dorm.

Deodatta shared a similar struggle with American food, wondering why “most food around here is fried.” Being lactose intolerant hasn’t helped. “I’m allergic to cheese,” she said, but this allergy doesn’t stop her from the occasional deep-fried cheese sticks treat from the Atrium Café

Shadrack leans toward sweeter American food, preferring pastries and praising the wide variety of flavors — chocolate, vanilla, lime, lemon — you name it. “With sweet foods, these guys can make the most absolutely delicious things,” he said.

COMMUNICATION STYLES 

Shadrack Onyango

For Shadrack, the cultural adjustment went beyond flavor and convenience — what stood out most was communication. “In instances where circumstances negatively impact them, they’ll voice that,” he observed of Americans’ directness.

However, that openness hasn’t always been mutual. “Some of them make fun of your accent,” he said, noting how difficult it can be to connect socially when people don’t take the time to understand.

Deodatta also recalls moments of subtle prejudice, but said she appreciates “how systems work efficiently, and the richness in opportunity.”

One aspect Rianna found difficult was the social atmosphere on campus. “People don’t generally want to interact except within their friend groups,” she said. While she values the attention students receive from professors in a small school, she laughed at its flip side: “Everyone can be in everyone’s business.”

CLIMATE

 Rianna Kanjoma

Rianna experienced a different kind of shock: the cold weather. Long drives between destinations didn’t help either. I was equally as shocked by both the long distances and the weather. Michigan weather is unlike anything that I have experienced. It is already snowing in the fall: very telling of the cold days ahead. I dread the winter times, and everyone always advises me to buy a coat. Perhaps I will report back after I've survived my first Michigan winter, but for now, keep me in your prayers.

TIME

“When I first moved here, I was surprised that people were actually on time for things,” Nilla said. “People are actually on time here,” she said, comparing it to “African time,” where an 8 a.m. start could easily mean 11 a.m.

I have also noticed how Americans are quite punctual. On my very first day at RCU, I made sure to be at least 15 minutes early for class. When I arrived, it was already half full with eager students. I was shocked to say the least.

Another surprising aspect about time around here is how it feels manufactured. I recently experienced the impact of daylight savings for the first time. I still don’t understand how it works. Though, as an international student who traveled approximately 50 hours to get to

Rochester, an hour’s time change isn’t all that bad.

DISCOVERY

Even small tasks — navigating campus, learning slang, or calling home across time zones — have layered their experience with moments of frustration and discovery. Still, through every adjustment, these students have found ways to make this new environment their own, carrying small pieces of home with them wherever they go.

FAVORITES FROM HOME

Music and sports are cultural lifelines for international students. They connect these students to home no matter how far away they are. Shadrack has a wide range of home-bound interests: he enjoys Kenyan artists, such as Sauti Sol, as well as genres

house and hip-hop. “I listen to everything from Burna Boy to Kanye, depending on

my mood,” he said. 

Sisters Nilla and Rianna enjoy Amapiano and Afrobeats, while Deodatta dives into all African genres, keeping an ear out for upcoming artists like Crispi. 

Sports fans, too, carry their passions across continents: Deodatta follows footballer Temwa Chawinga closely, and Rianna says she’d play netball if it were available here.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Life in Rochester is a blend of the new and the familiar. “It’s different from what I expected, but I’m enjoying it,” Nilla said. Deodatta, Shadrack and Rianna share the same mix of challenges and discoveries, showing that home isn’t just a place — it’s the heritage, habits and connections you carry with you.

Whether it’s food, music, slang or snow, their experiences remind us that adapting doesn’t mean leaving yourself behind — it’s bringing your roots into your new life and letting them grow.