Personal Narrative: My Trip To America

“Times of transition are strenuous, but I love them. They are an opportunity to purge, rethink priorities, and be intentional about new habits. We can make our new normal any way we want”. -Kristin Armstrong. When I heard this quote it reminds me of a specific time in my life when I moved to another country. There are a couple of events that helped me become who I am now.

When the ship finally arrived at America. I was feeling excited yet apprehensive. I felt excited to see this new world that had been all the talk on the ship. However, worry was practically eating my insides; where would we go? What would we do? Would wild animals attack us? How would we earn our living? Would there be savages waiting for us? Where were we landing? Would we be sent back? What would the people be like? Would I still be able to go to school? Would we have to live off the land? (If so, I could take Carlotta and Sancho with me)! I could not bear the thought of another few weeks cooped up in that ship. Of course, I was nervous, and there were butterflies in my stomach, too!

Studying in a foreign country is an interesting experience of an individual lifetime. One tends to learn a number of things relating to ways of life in a foreign land. Social, political and economic values and aspects are usually different from one region to another. Therefore, through studying abroad one is able to learn different issues about another society such as gender and sexuality issues, social class and race/ethnicity issues. Having come from a developing country studying in the U.S.A has been a great experience personally. This paper will attempt to provide a reflection of my personal experience on studying in the U.S by comparing the history of Angola and the U.S.

Coming to America about six years ago and adapting to the new world proved to be a real challenge for me. Aside from the cultural shock, I had to adapt to the usage of a foreign language in almost everything, which in turn forced me to work harder in my studies than in the previous years. My parents sacrificed a lot for their family. They left their country, their own business, and their family behind so that my sisters and I could have a better future. I came to America when I was in the eighth grade. I did not speak English fluently or understood it very well. When I got the admission in middle school my counselor gave the course selection sheet. I did not even know what courses to pick because the courses were almost alien in nature, or

Growing up in Ghana, I had heard a lot of things about the U.S. This was a country I had always wanted to visit; my prayer was answered when I got the opportunity to travel there. Arriving in a new environment came with many experiences. Adjusting with food, language and the weather was not easy. With the passage of time, however I have been able to0 adjust and fit it. This write-up therefore is to elaborate on my experiences since coming to U.S.

Stepping out of my first plane ride, I experience an epiphany of new culture, which seems to me as a whole new world. Buzzing around my ears are conversations in an unfamiliar language that intrigues me. It then struck me that after twenty hours of a seemingly perpetual plane ride that I finally arrived in The United States of America, a country full of new opportunities. It was this moment that I realized how diverse and big this world is. This is the story of my new life in America.

We were almost to the end of the journey to America! I was so close; I can’t even tell you how excited I was to be this close! Then I heard people saying a bunch of different names, I could understand what they were saying. It was very strange. Then after a few minutes I realized that people with unusual names that the Americans could not understand had to change their names to something more common and less foreign. That was the last part. All I had to do was walk

The year of 2014 late summer I came to America with dreams and hopes, expecting the better for me and my family. I have family that had came before me; however they weren't that respectful for someone that had been living in Mexico their whole life. I used to get put down by the way I looked, talked or how I acted. I recall that they would talk in english about me , and make fun of me , so I wouldn’t understand what they were saying. I have cousins that don't even appreciate all the sacrifices that one as a parent has to make , so they are able to give a better life for their kids. On the good side of the story I would always keep in mind how I came here? thanks to who?and why?. So I realize that I fitted in the Hispanic community by attending to Hispanic events, playing soccer, and cooking hispanic food.

I looked down to the beautiful ocean. One morning I ate breakfast and took a nap then woke up to the crashing thunder. Everyone was screaming. No one in Germany has seen water for the past few years. I really wanted to dance in the rain but I know it was different. I was a big storm! I ran to my room and started to pack I know we had a few days until we saw the lady of liberty. I woke up to the sound of the horn from the time I got on the boat. I quickly checked to see if I forgot anything and ran out on the crowded deck. When the fog lifted all of the immigrants saw the lady of liberty. Everyone was surprised to see the copper lady of liberty. The first class finally got off of the boat and hurried off on to land. I was walking courasly to the large building. I was following the crowd. I got a number on my brown coat and sat down. It was a hard day. Yes! Finally! I finally touched the ground of the New York Harbor. I waited all my life to go into America. At first I didn’t know what to do so I walked around saying Sperancy douche (Do you speak German?) Finally someone tall looked at

     It started like any other day up on the hills of Rhein, but that day had the scent of freedom floating in the air. The journey ahead of me had been teasing me for weeks, I was just so anxious to get away and start all over again. I had made certain arrangements before I left, our family dog was not allowed on the ship that we were going to be arriving in America, so I had my parents take care of the dog for us. It was a hard thing to do seeing that the dog had become more than just a pet to the children and I, for we almost would recognize him as a family member. Most of our possessions we were able to keep with us, but we had to keep the load light since it was going to be a tight stay in the steerage. I

I never had a favorite childhood memory,I never had a very imaginative mindset, all I remember is all the terrible things that has ever happened, may I ask this of you reader have you ever felt alone in a world that simply doesn't understand or why look or do things a certain way? I know I have, we live in a judgmental world we all judge people on how they look and act. Let me ask another question have you ever been put up on a pedestal and when you make mistakes people starts questioning why you didn't succeed or if you did why didn't you do things a certain way? Well enough of the questions, My family has always been the ostentatious gregarious type, they are like a diamond in a coal mine. My story begins around 2007 the year I came to America.

When I came to America for the first time, I was very rebellious, and I did not uphold the wisdom of making myself a better person. There I was, looking into the world having no idea what would be in store for me. But I always had a spirit for knowledge and curiosity.

We made it to America finally although the trip he was hard I am honored to finally be in an important country.

My family and I migrated to the United States about eight years ago searching for our American Dream. As an eight-year-old I could not accept that this strange new world where people spoke a different language I didn't understand, where I didn't have to wear a school uniform, where I didn't attend an all girl school, and where not everybody was catholic was what I was supposed to call home. It was a gargantuan change that took a while to accept, but now that I am older I am so grateful and I know that I would go through everything again just to be where I am today, especially because I know an innumerable amount of undocumented students would give anything to be in my position.

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