first day in america Essay example

Until now my experiences in this country had been very special to me. For the first time, I had to be away from my family. I was forced to make every decision without being reliant on the wisdom of elders. For the first time, I saw and spoke to

Transitions are never an easy thing to conquer. It is often hard and stressful to cope with changes to one’s surrounding, but in the cases in which one manages to conquer this obstacle, elevation of knowledge and experience are great results gained from this achievement. I originally came from Africa and recently moved to the United States to join my mother and my step father. This great change in the things I had become accustomed to in my daily life was not easy, furthermore taking into account the fact that I had never experienced a transition so little as shifting from one residence to another.

There are events in life, which can change yourself or your way of thinking. As for me, I think the major change in my life occurred when I moved from France to America. This change has entirely affected my personality. Why? I arrived in the United States during the summer of 2002. It was really hard for me since my parents had only told me about the move in April of that year. Therefore, I did not have the time to prepare myself psychologically. My parents had talked about coming here for a very long time, even before I was born. Everything started in 1973. Indeed, my parents came from Iran to Europe in order to finish their studies and then to return back home. However, even at that time, they had not set their mind as to where they

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,

We got on the plane knowing we would be there for a while. My sister and I were looking out the window in amazement. The sky was so blue it felt like i was looking at a painting. It was so beautiful we had never seen something like this. We stopped at many places. Italy was the highlight for us. Our first view of america was washington DC. I saw my mom's family for the first time in a long time. After a few hours We got back on the

When the plane finally landed in New York, I remember everyone cheering and clapping. We had made it to America. I looked through the window and saw a place completely different than what I had ever known. I immediately started to feel the chilly weather of New York. I had never experienced cold temperature, but I came prepared with a light jacket and sweater for my daughter and me.

On September 11, 2001, America as we know it changed forever. We were attacked on our own soil for the first time since the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. Our country thought we were safe from terrorist attacks due to the oceans that separated us. We discovered on that horror-filled day that we were extremely incorrect. Our own resources were used against us in those atrocious acts of terrorism. America was transformed from the numerous consequences that came from 9/11. Despite the attacks, the leaders and our nation came together for support and comfort.

I put on a pair of jeans and walk downstairs into the dining room, there was a plate with frijoles, chorizo and tortillas waiting for me. My grandmother brings me my favorite drink, homemade chocolate milk. I sit down and across from me is my cousin Lesly. She was bored, she always was.

The British government had enormous problems after the enduring victory over France in the Seven Years War. The Seven Years War had virtually doubled the national public debt, and the attainment of half the territory in North America had vastly compounded the problems of controlling the empire. These circumstances required new revenues for the empire, and the ruling circles in Great Britain believed that the colonists were best able to provide the necessary funds to re-pay the national public debt (American History [Vol. 1] p.123). Accordingly, measures to secure enforcement of the Navigation Acts, which excluded all non-British ships from the colonial carrying trade, were adopted by the

Coming to the United States for me was like a rebirth. It was a totally different life that I had to adapt to; a new language to learn and new people to meet. Frank A. Clark once said, "If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere." This quote says everything I believe about hardship in life because adapting to a new environment for me was not easy. It was a path full of struggles, hardships, and disappointments. But without them I would not be who I am today.

In the year 1910 a development took place known as the “Americanization” movement. The name “Americanization” stemmed from “Americanization Day” observances in multiple cities for July 4th. This was a national coordinated attempt to bring millions of recent immigrants into the American system. Interest in the process of assimilation had been increasing for many years. Eventually more than 30 states had laws on their books requiring Americanization programs. The process was believed to “unite foreign-born and native alike in enthusiastic loyalty to our national ideals of liberty and justice (McClymer, John F., 1980).

Wang Si Yu is my foreign exchange student who has lived with me for the past year. Her name, Si Yu, means rain and was chosen for her because her parents thought it sounded beautiful. However, I know her as Ella. When she came to America to complete her junior and senior years of high school she chose an english name. We went through a complex naming process but she finally decided on Ella because that was the easiest for her to pronounce. Ella is from North East China, a province called Harbin. Harbin's seasons are a lot like ours in the Quad Cities except that the winter months are significantly colder. Harbin is often called ice city because in winter they have entire buildings made of ice. So naturally, Ella loves snow. In China, Ella is

“Oh yuck,”she shrieked and pointed to a man’s butt crack that peeked from his camo pants.

My mother took me to school on my first day. Mother had been telling me for weeks prior to the big day how wonderful school was going to be, so I was dutifully excited. She failed to mention that she was going to leave me with seventeen little strangers and one large lady. The large lady seemed to think that she was in control. I later learned that she was the teacher. She was trying to explain to Mother that I was not eligible to attend first grade because I would not be six until November of the following year. My mother was having none of that. She wanted me out of the house and into school and she did not care what the rules were.

On my first day of field work at Ps.198 I remember feeling so nervous. As soon as I step in the school building my heart was pumping with anxiety. All I could think of is what if the students don’t enjoy my company in their classroom, and what If the teacher doesn’t get along with me and how will I survive through the whole experience. Once I got signed to a class I remember stepping in the classroom while the teacher was teaching the students. At first, I felt awkward because all the students were looking at me. I recall being so shy and at first, I would just sit and observed most of the time. As soon as the teacher finished her lesson she finally presented me to the class and that’s when I felt welcomed.