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Essay on My New Pair of Shoes: Settling Into a New Country

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"Settling into a new country is like getting used to a new pair of shoes. At first they pinch a little; but you like the way they look, so you carry on. The longer you have them, the more comfortable they become." - Tahir Shah, In Arabian Nights

I moved from the Philippines to the U.S. in 1994 with my friends, leaving my entire family behind. It was one of the most significant decisions and events that have changed my life, my character and the way I think about things. I grew up in a conservative, close-knit, and deeply religious family. My parents were overprotective of their children. Being the youngest of seven kids, it was really hard for my parents to let me go. I was the baby in the family and had no experience …show more content…

Finally, my dream came true. At the age of 24, I was on-board the plane to the U.S. I had mixed emotions leaving my family and the country where I had lived all my life. I was so happy and excited, but sad and scared at the same time. It was my first time to ride a plane, first time to live outside our home, and to travel outside the country. I would be moving to a different part of the world with culture, language, people and climate unknown to me. I would be on my own, no family to support and guide me. But because of my goals and my desire to experience a different kind of life, I shrugged away my fears and uncertainty. The first year of my life here in U.S. was full of challenges and pains. I was missing home a lot, crying almost every night. I experienced what they call a culture shock. English is our second language in the Philippines. However, I had some difficulties comprehending what other people were saying. Americans use a lot of slang words in their speech. They use a lot of phrases or terms derived from the popular movies, TV shows, and sports. We do not play baseball in the Philippines, so expressions like "hit a home run," for example, had no meaning to me. Sometimes, I couldn't understand what they were saying because they spoke fast and with different accents. I felt embarrassed to participate in conversations with fear of being misunderstood or left out. Dealing with the cold weather

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