Personal Essay: My Journey To America

One thing was certain - I could count on was the advice of my family. Coming from a closely knit community, family support was a surety. They provided the support needed to my many cousins who embarked on this journey before me. No matter what doors being a Hamptonian was about to open, I could never forget them. Their sheer determination to see me succeed at anything I put my mind to provided me with enough motivation for the mission.

There are many significant parts of my life that have had a huge impact on my personality, but there is one that has not only affected me, but has changed me for the better. My personal life changing experience was coming to America. For me, this bridge between my old life and new life is a shaky bridge that I attempted to cross and entered a whole new realm of life which changed everything. The decision about coming to America has taught me how to respect other people, be more responsible, and be more loving towards various friends and families. It has also helped me adapt to the new life that I’m about to begin. It was so unexpected. Out of nowhere my parents broke the news: “We’re going to America!” Living in a big town of Bhopal,

Coming to AmericaThe year was 1948, and my grandmothers aunt and uncle came for a visit from Chicago to Germany to see their family. They had no children and had come to ask my grandmother if she would be interested in coming to Chicago to possibly live there w ith them. The idea of going appealed to her very much since her home city, Saarbrcken, was still partially destroyed from the WWII bombings. She always had the wanderlust in her blood coming from both sides of her family, so thinking about the towering skyscrapers, the bustling city streets, and the glamorous movies from America was quite enticing to my grandmother. With all off these wondrous thoughts swimming through her head, she enthusiastically agreed to go.Now, it was time to prepare

I've been meaning to write, but work has been mighty tiring. Sally and I are in good health thanks be to God. I was also blessed to find both lodging and gainful employment. Our living arrangements are modest. Sally and I share two rooms in an attic for which we pay $4 a month. We live in what is called tenement housing. It is rather dark and it gets hot enough during the summer that we escape to the roof for respite from the heat. There is also the spread of disease to worry about. Sally and I have been lucky enough to avoid getting sick, but with people living so close to together and houses being packed closer together than sardines I fear that our luck will run out soon. We try our best to keep our home tidy, but there is not much we can

Following the Civil War, Confederate soldiers return home to “cope with the consequences of their defeat.” (Goldfield, ed., The American Journey: A History of the United States, 451)Upon their return, they notices the downfall and destruction of their homes and towns, economic devastation, death, and poverty. Transforming their “struggle into a symbol of courage” (Goldfield, 452) they sought for redemption, Reconstruction. Having to seek shelter with their families, the ex-confederate soldiers feared the revenge of the former slaves for the many years of slavery and mistreatment. They believed that improvement of African Americans as a direct challenge to white superiority. They could learn to accept the destruction of families, farms, and fortunes, but not racial order. White southerners were determined to keep control over their governments. “The war may have ended slavery, but white southerners were determined to preserve

This novel has only increased the knowledge I have already for the immigrants that migrant to this country. All of the sacrifices humans make day in and day out to make sure their families are in a better place than their homeland. I also went through a similar experience as the Garcia sisters. Living a wonderful life in my homeland of Honduras, parents were both college graduates working in their respected professions. Oppressed by the struggles of living a life where we feared every time we stepped out of our homes. Having been kidnapped and told there would be no tomorrow unless your family pays up the ransom. Brought us to the United States of America. Living a totally different lifestyle, unlike many went from having so much to struggling to make ends meet. Fights after school with kids trying to bully me and just trying to adjust to the new surroundings. Their story definitely hits home a hard way for me.

Growing up in all of the American Southwest I believe that I’ve been able to learn how to adapt to new situations whether it's a new environment or something completely different. The place I once called home that shaped me the most would probably be Gilbert, Arizona where there’s desert for miles and scorching temperatures greater than 110 degrees. I lived in a 3 bedroom apartment with my mother and two brothers. The community was very nice the complex had a gym, swimming pool, and game room. A lot of kids my age and younger lived there as well which gave me a chance to make new friends, but I didn't. I didn't plan on moving to Arizona nor did i want to so once I moved to a new school, which was only 7 minutes away from my house down a long straightaway, I didn't really take the opportunity to make new friends I mainly kept to myself and the few friends I decided to have. This tough me to not only keep the people I care about close to me but also not to be so public with my life. When I lived in El Paso I was a popular kid and my business was everywhere which really brought on a lot of problems. In Arizona I lived in peace I literally never sealed with drama once. Now that I'm Living in El Paso again in using what I learned in

‘ I’m doing good and you are here because you are pregnant and you have cancer and you don’t want to get hurt or die right.’ said doctor

“I have more medicine for you. And please don’t be embarrassed. You had an injury that would have killed most men. It will take time for you to heal. But you’re doing better already. Your focus is sharper and you speak with clarity. You will be well again.”

She told me to give it to you when you finished the book.” The nurse said before leaving the room to give me time to read the note.

“Never let it be said that I’m ungrateful, so thank you for saving me,” she said

Before I stepped out of my house I remember Hero walking out in front of me, nagging about traveling alone. I scoff and proclaim “Benedick who?”- That is right, I do not need a man to travel by my side, attending to my every need and ‘protecting me’. I have planned out my journey from start to finish, allowing for enough time to immerse myself in Tibetan culture. With some persuasion Hero finally allowed me to depart for the airport with just enough time to make my flight. As I go through security I notice that all the people working at TSA are all men, they stare me down as if I were some criminal, how dare they. Every interaction with a ‘man’ puts me in a position in which I must show that I am as strong or stronger then them. As finish up going through security I hear a faint voice over the loudspeaker- “ Air China flight 1345 now ready for boarding”, quickly I get to my gate just in time to board. My assigned seat was 5A, an aisle seat because I wanted extra legroom since the flight was long.After what seemed like hours we finally started our descent. Over the people next to me I could make out beautiful mountain ranges that looked like they went for miles upon miles.

up the phone and rang my Tom’s father to thank him, and for me and Tom

“how am I supposed to do that, I think you should go, after all you are the more experienced fisherman”

"I'm fine! I'm fine. I think I might be coming down with a cold or something but it's okay, I've got some medicine at home."