“How would you guys feel about moving?” Those words both excited and frightened me. They were not surprising to hear, as there had been hints that it might happen for a long time, but I was still shocked. Leaving my home of twelve years, where I had gone through school, made friends, and grown up, was not going to be easy. At the same time, however, it represented new opportunities that I didn’t have in the suburbs of Dallas. I imagine that this was what Deo and the Lost Boys of Sudan felt as they journeyed to their new lives in America, but on a much lesser scale. As difficult as it was to move to rural Northwest Iowa, I cannot imagine the difficulty of immigrating to the United States from the war-torn parts of Africa. At the same time, through reading and watching their stories, I was able to relate somewhat because of my own experiences. I have realized as a result that I should…
Imagine being pushed into a solution that results you in leaving your home country? You are to suffer through the challenging transitions of immigrating. This is a very hard process to go through and requires finding a new place to settle. The character Ha in Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai, faced all of these while having to flee her home in Vietnam because of war. In another text called World of Difference Benefit Luncheon, a boy explains his struggles of fleeing his country and finding a new one.…
In conclusion, being born in a third world country is burden for most but I use it to my advantage. It has given me a better understanding of the world. When I moved away from Ethiopia, I constantly thought about my family. I felt like I had lost something that was a part of me. As time went by, I became somber thinking about all the things I took for granted. I constantly thought about all pleasant things that I had the pleasure of enjoying in Ethiopia that I no longer get to. But over time, I learned how to use that wistful energy to become a driving force for my success. I have so loads of dreams and I aspire to do great things. No matter what, I will never forget my birthplace. I can tell you my quest wasn’t effortless, but I have to keep…
Coming to America as a four year old was very intriguing, but it is a blurr remembering the past of being in Nigeria. The only conclusion that was remembered is being in a different environment; an environment that was more civilized with cities and highways, which had a diverse amount of people who talked and acted differently from me and my family. I grew up living in a three bedroom, one story, house apartment, with eight people, which would be seen as very difficult and unusual, which it was, but the type of companionship and…
Growing up as the daughter of immigrants, I have gone through many hardships through the course of my life. My parents being immigrants has limited my exposure to the world, but has also allowed me to experience a unique type of lifestyle that has shaped me into who I am today. The sociological, monetary, and moral environment I was raised in gave me the opportunity to become the passionate, intellectual, and versatile young lady who is now standing.…
In the weeks prior to attending to the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, I was very hesitant to go. I had attended a few AA meetings many years ago with my Aunt. However, I was too young to understand the purpose and significance of the meetings. After being exposed to AA at such young age, I have since been very resentful to its mission and how it transformed my Aunt’s identity, for better or for worse. The strong emotions that I feel towards AA have made me bias to anything of a positive nature that would come out of the program. On the other hand, in order to help and understand those who suffer from alcoholism, I need to first address my values and beliefs by giving an open AA meeting a chance. Therefore, as I walked through the doors of my local church at the 8 o’clock meeting on Monday, anxiety and fear rushed throughout my body. I began to wonder, “would I be expected to admit I had an alcohol problem to even step foot through the doorway?” "Was I going to be criticized because I am the outsider that does not see myself as some with alcoholism?” and “Would this experiences bring unwanted feelings from my own family’s battle with alcoholism?” But, I needed to do this!…
I was born in Harare, Zimbabwe and lived there until moving to London, England at the age of nine. My background is so meaningful to me because it explains why I am drawn to certain things. The point I will begin my explanation from is when my father was assassinated following his appointment as our ambassador to Cuba. He died in a car crash that also killed my two sisters, whilst injuring my sister and mother, who was two months pregnant with me at the time. After I turned five, she went to work in the UK as the situation of our country would make putting my sister through university extremely hard, especially for a single parent. This necessitated leaving me behind to be looked after by her brother’s family. Joining her later on the illustrious continent…
“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” Thisquote by Oprah Winfrey, could not portray my journey to the United States moreperfectly. As a young man coming from a third world country, I always dreamed ofgoing to college in America and helping those who currently live in third worldcountries. However, living your dream life is not easy. I had to leave all my friendsand family to come to a place where a different language is spoken and schoolcould not be more different. As a result, I was able to experience a truly lifechanging, soul inspiring adventure which is the quest for my goals here in theUSA.In order for me to give my dream a “push start”, I had to move before myfreshman year of high school in order for…
Kids at age of six years of age needed to begin working to get enough "Pesos" for bread, some needed to drop out of school as early as primary school to help the family out. Water was very hard to get so walking for miles at once, as young as six years of age, to get water drained from a river for the family to use must be done on the grounds that your folks were extremely busy working in the fields. At this moment of my mother stories I learned to appreciate life and finally understood life would have been hard in México. Since then I know not to give up and find a way for everything. Making me different and the difference is amongst me and other students I will do the most and take risks just to get step closer to my goal. I have an espiration to never surrender and seek answers. Despite everything I have the interest and the drive to search for answers that I have to find myself. My out of the box thoughts will change the world someday. My mentor is my mother , she helps me understand that everything is possible and showed me that I could do anything. Nothing can bring me down and my drive to do my best will always be there. As it were, I have changed a great deal, yet on the other hand my ten year old outlooks of interest and ongoing investigation into this world has permitted me to do my best in…
My name is Akikkii Chi and at the time I was 16 years old. I was born (and lived) in Nigeria and spoke Afro-asiatic and knew no English. I lived in a village with my mother, father and younger brother who were at the time 14 years old. My village was quite small, it was a place where everybody knew each other’s names and everybody enjoyed each other company. As far as I was concerned we were all very happy and lived nice lives. I was always so open-minded and outgoing and I was never ever scared of anything or anybody, although my brother was very opposite of me. For he was very shy and always very timid. He never had many friends (mainly because he we was too shy to talk to anybody). Life was nice in Africa I had lots of close friends. I helped my mother make jewelry and pick the cropped and prepare food, while my father taught my brother how to hunt and gather to provide for the family. Life in Africa was everything anybody would expect it to h=be like in the 1800s. There were no schools; women didn’t have the same right as men, things like that. This was normal for the 1800s we lived fulfilling lives. I never wanted to leave Africa. That was my home and I had intended that it stayed my home until the day I died. Things don’t always go as planned. Unfortunately my plans were scattered when something traumatic happened.…
The opportunity to study abroad in Ghana was very unexpected. Studying abroad, especially in a place as meaningful as Africa, was something that I have always dreamed about but knew would never happen. Living in poverty meant study abroad opportunities were beyond my reach; I find financing my local college education challenging in itself. However, since I have been in college, I have realized I can do anything I set my mind to, and this is why I am applying to study abroad in Ghana through The College at Brockport.…
Every new experience in life brings some kind of excitement. However, the feeling that comes along may affect positively or negatively. May 2011 was a turning point, when I decided to move to the United States of America from Congo in Africa. Everything seemed to be well planned in my mind, but nothing was simple to accomplish and the reality was different. Moving to a new country is an awkward experience which has many effects on people such as communication barrier, loneliness and homesickness.…
The thought of leaving Cameroon is an idea that has ran across the minds of countless individuals who are in search for a better if not a different life. I say this because my parents came to America from Cameroon about thirty years ago in search for a better life. Although, Cameroon will always be our homeland it is in a state where one cannot prosper economically like one can in America. The reality of the situation is that I believe Cameroonian individuals who have a strong mindset towards achieving their goals and dreams in life you can do so by coming to America.…
The paragraph reflects his recurring internal conflict over whether to stay in Lagos or not. The decision is often echoed by his interactions with other characters. One such instance is when he is speaking with his childhood friend Rotimi. Rotimi reminds the protagonist just how fortunate he is to be able to live and study in America as that is everyone’s dream. However, this isn’t so much because Nigerians want to get away from Nigeria. Instead, it becomes more about not being able to succeed in Nigeria. Rotimi even makes the case that it doesn’t matter where one goes, as long as they get out. Another facet of the decision on whether to return to Lagos or not is how privilege ties into the argument. With the protagonist in this novel, he isn’t extremely successful. He’s still studying to become a psychiatrist. So, assuming there is a correlation between becoming successful and privileged while abroad and a higher likelihood of returning home, this protagonist is less likely to return to Lagos and stay. This could be because the narrator feels as he needs to be more accomplished and able to afford life in Lagos, with corruption payments and all. Although, the discussion on privilege isn’t as prevalent in this novel as it is in the other…
I have always been inspired by the country I was born in. Ghana is still a…