When My Parents Came To America

When moving to a new place, the first thoughts that comes to mind, "Moving to a different school? Meeting new people?" The terrifying thoughts coursed through my mind causing me to freeze in cold sweat thinking of all the horrible things to come with this new chapter of my life. Regardless, I am a fearless adventurer ready to take one a whole new exciting journey to exotic places, experiencing new cultures, meeting different people.

In 2011, my parents and I came to America. The choice that my parents made had benefited my academic career. I have a better education here and schools in America helped me become a better 2learner. Education is an important part of one’s life. Without a good education, not everyone can achieve their lifelong goals that want to achieve someday. When I was living in India it was much more different studying there. The teachers in India, would not be as tough as the teachers here. Some teachers do not give any effort in wanting to help their students succeed. Eventually, my parents decided to come to America, to get a good career and help me succeed . When I came to America, it was an escape from the education that I was having before.

It can be very challenging to move away from the country you grew up in. Recalling all those moments of laughter, excitement, and adventure can only make one more and more depressed. I was born in Port-Au -Prince, which is the capital of Haiti and raised in Gonaives. I spend most of my early childhood in Haiti. I only knew my native language, food, music, and history. I was only familiar with my native holidays and celebration. Therefore, the day my mother came to me and told me I had been awarded my resident card, and we had to move to America. My life changed forever.

Before I come to Canada I lived in Turkey for full five years. I had some good, but mostly bad memories of life in Turkey. The people who live in Turkey can sometimes be so mean and raciest. Once I was at the park with my friend Sara who was a quiet and a calm girl that was from my country. Sara was a friend who I would call my sister. I was on a swing with Sara that a Turkish girl wanted to use. She looked around seven years old and had dark hair and I was nine years old at that time. It wasn’t too long before I saw an angry woman walking toward me; I got scared and told Sara " I wonder why she is so angry." The first word that came out of that angry woman's mouth was " All of you come from other countries and use the swings that our children are supposed to use." I got really upset, I felt a sword just went through my heart. I wanted to tell her that for us to live in her country we pay her government monthly. But, I didn’t say anything and ran to my mom immediately. I went to my mom and started talking like a radio that wouldn’t stop. My mom shook her head and told me "It's okay." And offered me a ice

I never truly thought about how my family had come to the United States. I assumed someone in my family, long ago, had decided that they wanted better for themselves and their family and had decided to come to the United States. It did not become a big deal for me until I found out that those people, who wanted better for themselves and their family, were my grandmother and grandfather. Up until then, I always took my citizenship for granted. I believed that being born in America was one of my natural rights that no one could take away when in reality it was a blessing and a privilege given to me by my grandmother and grandfather. I was born into a peaceful community, full of love and passion. Whereas my grandparents were born in a town

During a parent teacher conference, the teacher asked my mom why bananas were the only thing I ate. “She doesn’t know how to say anything else”, my mom replied in broken English. From that day on the teachers fed me everything. I liked preschool. Despite the language barrier, the other children welcomed me. They showed me where the markers and books were and what we would do after lunch...when the teacher said, “shhh”, I’d have to be quiet. And when nap time was over, they showed me all the games we could play. When do the opinions of these kids change? When their parents tell them it's not ok to talk to those who cannot speak the same language as you or when the president calls people like me ‘a problem’? I didn’t care to answer these questions because soon enough, I was just like the other kids. I remember when teachers would ask students to raise their hands if they weren’t born here. It felt to me like the number of hands became less and less as I grew older. People wouldn’t believe me when I raised my hand, because my English was “too good” or because I “didn’t look foreign”. I became ashamed to raise my hand..to show people I was different...and all I could think about were these unanswered

Nowadays, education is one of the most important elements that help people to achieve the success. I have studied in Viet Nam, and I have failed in my studying. In Viet Nam, I used to think education was not essential to my life, and I did not plan anything about my academic plans. I failed in my university, and I worked in the local company in the downtown. Everything was fine, but I could not be promoted without a degree. I went to the United States of America to restart my studying. Therefore, I have planned my educational plans for next three years seriously, such as perfect my English skills, find a scholarship, and transfer to my dream university.

The most remarkable thing that happened in my life is when I first came to America.

When I came to America from China at age 16, everyone around me appeared to be different. However, I didn’t just talk to my Chinese friends. I pushed myself outside of my bubble; I tried my best to make friends with American students, while I still maintained good relationships with my Chinese friends. America is very different from what I expected, everyone speaks so fast and unclear; it almost made English a completely different language from what I had already learned. As I was trying to make friends, I realized that Chinese culture had made me different from Americans; things that I was curious about as a Chinese person were very private to American students. For example, in America, people won’t mention what their parents’ jobs are when they meet someone for the first time.

Most of my family comes from Mexico and only recently, about 25 years ago, have they decided to come to America. The migration to a different country has changed the religious views of many of my family members in various ways. My family members never expected that this move would change their religious views.

My grandfather came to America from Portugal when he was 30 years old. Beside him stood my grandmother and their three year old son. Moving to a new country across the world and learning their language is, in my opinion, the most difficult thing a family could possibly do. English is the undeclared national language of America, and unfortunately my grandfather never learned to speak it fluently.

When I arrive in the U.S, I didn’t know what it was going to pay.

Being a student under the Hawaiian language Immersion program for my entire life not only allowed me to become fluent in the language of my people, it also allowed me to witness the injustice that dictates every aspect of their lives. From learning extensively about my heritage and the struggles of my ancestors, I recognized from a young age that this injustice emanates from institutions that intend to subjugate my people. The suffering of my people is embedded within my identity, and I will dedicate my life to ensuring that our subsequent generations thrive as our ancestors once did.

I was born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, one of the vast growing countries in Africa. Growing up in Africa is tough and even tougher for a child like me. My mother came to the US in 2008, leaving me and my younger sister behind with our father. I was seven at the time and my sister was a two month old infant. My father gave up his job to take care of us. In the Ethiopian culture, it was unusual for a man to stay in the house and do what women were expected to do, which was to take care of the kids, but my father ignored the gender role and went on with his life. I haven’t forgotten about my mother. My mother was a high school graduate who was only one step away from becoming a teacher, but she got an urgent call from the American Embassy

When many Ethiopian Americans meet me, the admire that fact that I speak Amharic fluently despite being born and raised in the United States. I take great pride in my language skills but at the same time, I desired to improve my literacy skills with the Amharic alphabet. So, with my father’s assistance, I formed an Amharic club at my church in the 9th grade. I created lesson plans and interactive classroom games to develop a curriculum that would best benefit the students. This club has been a learning experience for me, as I have not only been the teacher but the student. Although my fluency reading and writing fluency may not have reached perfection, I am grateful that I took advantage of the opportunity which motivated me to expand my knowledge