American = Higher Class?

Like bridgetmartha, I was interested in the way American culture and "being" or "acting" American was linked to higher class status by many in Americanah. And I was interested by the in-between role Ifemelu played in America as an observer and distanced perspective on American culture and race relations, as well as someone who seemed to understand America deeply while holding on to her own Nigerian culture. This is particularly interesting to me both because of how difficult it must be to play these multiple roles and because of how blasé she seemed to be about America compared with Obinze (in secondary school and university).

In reading these first sections, I couldn't help but think back to Eli Clare's memoir -- where does Ifemelu find home?; where does she feel exile? For example, in the scene where Ifemelu explains to Aisha that she lives in Princeton and is there on fellowship, Ifemelu felt pride in holding this kind of class/educational power over Aisha. At the same time, she'd acknowledged her discomfort in American and her concurrent plans to return to Nigeria. Additionally, how does Ifemelu balance her ex-pat life in America with the envy she feels by some in Nigerians and the assumptions they may have of higher class background based on her time in America?