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Stories provide opportunities for imagining scenarios of alternative realities and how humans will behave and function within them. They help us consider and judge different possibilities in the different scenarios. Through this, they expand and improve our perceptions and thoughts about the reality we are living in.

By framing skills or capabilities, I believe the author refers to our abilities to perceive and communicate about the reality we are living in. The more developed these skills are, the better our reflections and choices will be.

The novel "Americanah" has definelty broadened and deepened my knowledge of modern attitudes towards race and racism which again will improve my judgement in real life situations that may occur. It has also especially also improved my knowledge and understanding of Nigeria as a country.

In educational settings nowadays, I find that stories to a great extent are used to show different perspectives and broaden the student’s perceptions. The stories are used in various areas including culture, society, history and often involve human relations. Storytelling gives an impactful way of understanding concepts and can inspire purposeful talking and lay a foundation for good reflections. Overall it improves critical thinking and comprehension skills. Thinking in counterfactuals has become a cornerstone in professional education, exemplified by the case method.

Casual determinism is defined as “the concept that events within a given paradigm are bound by causality in such a way that any state is completely determined by prior states” which simplified means that there is only one set path to follow.

Stories are a way of counterbalancing “casual determinism” because they remind us of the fact that we always have choices in life, even beyond our imagination, and that things might not be as we initially thought. This does not only keep us more open minded, but the “power of choice” gives our lives purpose.

JFK used stories to improve his strategy related to the Cuban missile crisis by introducing counterfactual thinking and thus preventing casual determinism. He encouraged his advisors to come up with a variety of different perspectives on the situation which gave them numerous different options where cause and effect could be considered. With this approach they were able to determine the best solution and avoided jumping to a conclusion too quickly.

According to cognitive scientists, Ruth Byrne at Trinity College Dublin, stories are so helpful because they “remind us of options, broadening rather than deepening our focus”. Having different options will also provide opportunities for evaluating cause and effect, and thus making the best choices possible.

5 benefits of stories:

They act as e counterbalance to “casual determinism” which means that they remind us that there are different options and broadens our perspectives.

They make us better casual thinkers through improving casual reasoning.

They provide a way of visualizing and interacting with them which improves understanding that will be is experienced as very relevant in our lives.

They illustrate and enhances implicit knowledge which may not be done in any other way.

They give a sense of choice and therefore a sense of purpose in life.

Our ability, as humans, to tell and understand stories gives us an advantage over technology because we are to a much greater extent able to evaluate options and act accordingly.

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Personal
Chimamanda Ngozi Adicie was born in 1977 in Enuga, Nigeria. Beeing the daughter of two university proffesors, she developed an early interest for literature. Adichie wrote "Americanah" while studying at Harvard University in 2011-2012, the novel was published in 2013.
"Americanah" draws inspiration from Adichie's life in Nigeria, and her experiences in the United States throughout college and life.

Historical
Nigeria is a country that has struggled a lot in the wake of colonialism. The british withdrawal, left Nigeria withtroubled economics, politics, ethnic conflicts and violence. A series of military coups has resulted in instability creating catastrophic effects for the infrastructure of the nation.
Poor working conditions resulted in may middle-class immigrants searching for better opportuneties abroad.

Social and political
In Nigeria, social and political tensions are connected to differences in ethnicity and religion. Etnichity and skin tone also plays a big role in the culture's beauty standards.

The deep racial divide and racism in the United States is a problem which many does not posess the understanding or even will required to resolve.

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the US implemented several security measures. One of them was the establishing of  a new Department of Homeland Security, which took over the scrutiny of visa applications and lead to more rejections.

Literary
Chinua Achebe’s "Things Fall Apart" is one of the undisputed classics of Nigerian literature and thus important for the literary context of "Americanah". Achebe was in fact also the writer that inspired Adichie to focus more on her writing.

Knowledge of  the context
I believe this novel gives valuable insight in the culture in Nigeria and adds to the "single stories" of Africa, broadening the readers perspective. What I also find great is that a lot of the context of the novel is offered throughout the plot.

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"She rested her head against his and felt, for the first time, what she would often feel with him: a self-affection. He made her like herself. With him, she was at ease; her skin felt as though it was her right size." (Chpt 4)
Ifemelu's feeling of contentment together with Obinze creates a contrast  to her dissatisfactory American life.

"I have to take my braids out for my interviews and relax my hair. Kemi told me that I shouldn’t wear braids to the interview. If you have braids, they will think you are unprofessional." (Chpt 15)
One in many instances of discrimination black and African women face in the US because of their choices, specifically in terms of looks.

"You are in a country that is not your own. You do what you have to do if you want to succeed." (Chpt 15)
Compromising ones identity.

" She had won, indeed, but her triumph was full of air. Her fleeting victory had left in its wake a vast, echoing space, because she had taken on, for too long, a pitch of voice and a way of being that was not hers." (Chpt 17)
The moment Ifemelu decides to stop faking an American accent and begins the journey to reclaim her identity as Nigerian.

"They would not understand why people like him, who were raised well fed and watered but mired in dissatisfaction, conditioned from birth to look towards somewhere else, eternally convinced that real lives happened in that somewhere else, were now resolved to do dangerous things . . . none of them starving . . . but merely hungry for choice and certainty."(Chpt 29).
Americans have a narrow view of immigration and must realize that they are not merely a country of heroic saviors, they also represent a nation of hope.

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Cultural and historical context is very important to the production and reception of a text because the experiences and attitudes the individuals in a society posess is what determines their understanding of the theme and message. The time and place in which an individual lives in decides how they view the world around them.

We approach texts from different times and cultures to our own with a viewpoint and interpretations strongly influenced by our own context. We may be affected by perceptions and we have established about the foreign culture, regardless it is important to seek more knowledge in order to obtain the best possible understanding.

Texts can to a great extent offer insight into another culture because they can give an internal perspective with an insight that cannot be conveyed through anything else but feelings.

The meaning and impact of a text will change over time along with the changes in the society and thus the interpretations of the people living in it.

Texts reflect, represent or form a part of cultural practices by telling stories of the people living in a culture.

Language represents social distinctions and identities because they can tell about an individuals background, at the sam time they can also tell a story about who you want to be and how you want to portray youself.

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"A theme is an abstract idea or underlying meaning which is explored in a novel. A theme puts forward a message and answers or raises questions around abstract ideas in the world."

We can find the theme of a novel by asking questions like: What did the characters learn, how did they grow and change, why did they act the way they acted, what is different at the end of the story & what stays with you after the story?

Themes of Americanah:

Culture - The novel explores the theme of culture through the contrasts and differences between Nigeria, England and America experienced by Obinze and Ifemelu. We learn the corrupt society, relations and hierarchy between different etnicities i Nigeria and the aspiration for a better life abroad.
Race and racism - In Nigeria, a racial hierarchy exists, but both Ifemelu and Obinze finds out that race is a much pervasive part of life abroad. In America, Ifemelu considers herself black for the first time and observes a "tribalism" based on the ladder of racial hierarchy which she intelligently describes and reflects upon in her blogposts. In England, Obinze experiences structural and racial barriers, as well as racist incidents in his everyday life.
Romantic love - The theme of romantic love is explored through the relationship between Ifemelu and Obinze, initially an adolescent love which diminishes in line with their separation. In their separate lives, both of them explores romances, although never forgetting their first love. Obinze expresses despair over his relationship with Kosi, longing for her to challenge him and the world around them more. Furthermore, the relationship between Uju and The General illustrates power balance and a willingness to subjugate oneself for the promise of comfort. Curt leads Ifemelu into the closed walls of white Americanism, in many ways, their relationship can symbolise relations where the foundation lacks vital aspects of cultural understanding.
Identity - Many forces affect a person’s identity; more external factors like culture, race, economy, but also internal factors like an individual’s personal will.
Ifemelu and Obinze both struggles with their identity when moving to a foreign country where they face serious predjudice based on their background. Beeing outsiders, they grapple with their sense of belonging and experience having to change to function in the society. Neither of them encounters the reality they had anticipated.

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Ifemelu - Main protagonist, Nigerian Woman moving to America for university.
Obinze - Protagonist, moves to England after graduating university. Values true honesty.
Aunty Uju - Ifemelu's aunt, the mistress of "The General" eventually forced to flee to America.
Dike - The child of Aunty Uju and The General.
Ginika - Ifemelu's friend, moves to America.
Kosi - Obinze's wife.
Emenike - Obinze's friend.
Curt - Ifemelu's boyfriend.
Blaine - Ifemelu's boyfriend.

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The novel "Americanah" is written from an omniscient third person perspective depicting the everyday life and thoughts of the two main characters Ifemelu and Obinze.
Through this perspective, the reader is allowed insight in the individuals delving deeper into their emotions and relationships. Additionally it expands the scope and gives a greater understanding of the plot as a whole.
Some of the chapters include Ifemelu’s blog posts, which she writes in first person, and are subjective, based on her own observations of and opinions on race in America.
Through Ifemelu's thoughts and reflections regarding her sorroundings, expressed in an observing language, the setting of Trenton in Philadelphia is established. This is a setting which may challenge the readers preceptions and prejudices of the American city. Ifemelu has begun to question her own judgment and the validity of her work with her blog.
Her perspective creates an atmosphere embossed by a sense of dissatisfaction with her living situation in America. We are eventually also introduced to the character Obinze, living in Nigeria with his wife and children. His thoughts, like Ifemelu's, are about falsehoods leading to dissatisfaction in his life,  especially in regards to his wife.
Both Ifemelu and Obinze seems like honest characters with a satirical approach to life, trapped in a life which does not let them express their true identity.

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Hair & identity
Food & culture
The peacock & relationships
Barack Obama & hope
Language & identity
Nigerian sights and sounds & cultural perception

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The first part of Ifemelu’s story is told in flashback while she has her hair braided at a salon before she returns to Nigeria which allows it to move in chronological order and at the same time mix together memories of emotional or thematic importance.

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Both Ifemelu and Obinze learns that about how the concept of race is embedded in the UK and US.

They grow and change through the challenges they face, and learn to appericiate what really matters in life.

They acted the way they acted in relation to the expectations from the people and environment around them.

After the story is over, the most memorable impressions are the emotions that erupt in interactions with unfamiliar cultures. How you view a culture is dependant on what "glasses" you are looking through.