CB,
Since you are comparing the price of a cup of coffee in the states and in Nordic countries ... can we also compare the price of a cup of tea in Kenya and in Sweden?
Is it okie to say since tea costs 2.0 cents in kenya and in Sweden it costs 200 Ksh ati watu warudi nyumbani ama wahame?
One thing you should remember is that the wages or earnings here support that standard of lifestyle and the upkeep. (Visit my closet for a full illustration) (or visit a club on sato and you will find that a good share of the clients are Kenyans.. wanatoa wapi pesa za kula and still have enough left over to club?) If you work you are able to eat and live tosha.
If you don't work then you need a miracle.
I get your argument (coffee cup being expensive etc) but personally I don't complain about the prices or taxes and the majority of Finns I know are comfortable/happy with the arrangement. I don't know how to explain this in simple terms but WE are comfortable paying between 1.00 - 2 .00 euro for a cup of coffee... The point here is that we have adjusted to living here courtesy of the wages.
I would rather pay those high taxes on everyday items, which my income can take care of than pay tuition over 20,000 Euros from my pocket in a year like other countries. Fine we pay higher taxes than other countries, but our standards of living are higher and better than other countries so at the end of the day I am more than happy to pay the taxes because live from them. If you have an income which can take care of your rent, food, shopping... thats enough, you study and after graduation you can head elsewhere. Well being a student myself, I'd say this country to me is the best option for now. Next year I will look for a new home country depending on other factors such as competitiveness in careers and salaries, security in a country.
Speaking of comparisons... Have you ever seen the state of housing for some students/non students in London? Utalia machozi. For some heating in winter is a luxury, The one thing I love about Nordic countries is the excellent housing, haijalishi your income, there is a standard and nothing below it is acceptable. Esp as a student you are shielded from so many horrible things...(this came from an Americans mouth). Tell me where do you go to school for "free" books are free , pay a flat rent for 200 euros, including furniture, electricity and free internet? In my Uni, students are given PC's for free if you don't have one. In my friends Practical nursing school, tuition food and rent is free. Apartments are built 5-10 minutes walk from each Uni (In my city) so no fuel or bus expenses
With all that in mind
Why should I give a damn if a cup of coffee is more expensive here than in America? BTW if you think food and drinks in sweden is expensive.. visit Norway
As a Kenyan I have to learn to squeeze the benefits and "go around the hard things" na umalize masomo, then you can afford your self the opportunity to seek greener pastures.
By the way I think that Kenyans should not forget to
adjust their minds as well as their physical selves when they move to foreign countries. Unapata mtu anaenda supermarket ama duka la nguo ashaanza ku convert between Ksh and Euros.. yet they have been living here for 2 + years and stopped recieving money from parents.