My Experience As An Immigrant To The US
I am a migrant from Myanmar and I resettled to the United States in 2014 because of political reason in my country. Before I came to the U.S, I faced immense difficulties in Malaysia was a country where I took refuge. After two years of living in Malaysia, I had a chance to resettle in America. I have been in the U.S for about two years now and I find it difficult in managing all by myself. There are a lot of challenges placed in front of me, but I am trying to overcome all the obstacles with perseverance, motivation, determination and hopeful spirits. I went to college in my country for one year, however, I couldn’t finish my education as I was forced to join the Burmese Military, that is one of the cruelest military regime in the world.
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I was detained in the camp for one week with very little food and water. They tortured me like throwing water on my face and Luckily I could manage to escape from their hands when they were celebrating a party and everyone was being intoxicated. I rushed to my house and told my parents what had happened. They asked me to run away from here as soon as possible. I hitchhiked for free ride on some trucks that went all the way to Rangoon, the former capital city of Burma. I stayed in the monastery for two nights and I got contact with the broker who was living on the Thailand-Burma border. I went to the border town and crossed the border with the help of broker at night. From Thailand to Malaysia border, we had to lay on top of each other in a cramped truck. The broker can take only a certain amount of people, but there were many more who wanted to go. We were supposed to pay the money back to the broker when we got to Malaysia safely. The one who had no sponsor to pay back the broker would be sold to work on a fishing boat in Thailand and his life would end up in the sea. It took one week to get to Malaysia border. The situation was pitch black when we crossed the Malaysia border illegally so that we couldn’t be seen by the Thai authorities patrolling on the border. Finally, I made it on my way to Malaysia safely. As soon as I arrived in Malaysia, I applied for a refugee status at UNHCR and I was recognized after two years. I came to the United States in September of 2014. As soon as I stepped feet on America the so called ‘Land of Opportunity’, my aspiration was to go to college to gain an education, but later I found out it is easier said than done to implement my dream. My resettlement agency helped me apply for all necessary documents for me. I was given the assistance, such as food stamps and welcome money from the government for four months. After four months, they cut off all the assistances given to me because I got a job at the hotel. It is when I start to stand on my own two feet independently. I had never a thought of living in the U.S. I thought the streets in the U.S were paved with gold but it was not what I expected. Living in the U.S is a rat race; utilities and salaries. As I am an education-oriented, I have decided to continue my education in the U.S that I couldn’t finish in my country. Education is a key. I need education to improve my life. The people from my country discourage me not to go to college. They told me that going to college to get a degree is a wishful thinking that can never be done. I talk to myself not to pay attention to the naysayers and I will prove that they are wrong in one day. I read about a story about a refugee who lived in “Ma La” refugee camp, now studying in a foreign country. She didn’t have a chance to go to school when she was in Thailand. Instead, she spent her mornings selling snacks to the school children. Finally, she got a chance to study in an orphanage dorm. Because of her dedication to education, she became one of the best students in her class. Studying hard paid off. She said, “if you really try hard, nothing is impossible, you just need to put you mind and heart to it. She is a role model for my life because her report makes me inspired to go further in my education. Because of her hard work and dedication, she was awarded a scholarship to finish a three-year bachelor degree in a university of a foreign country. Her strong will took her far beyond she ever could have imagined as a child. She is a role model for my life. During five years of time living in Malaysia, I didn’t a certain goal for my future. When I got to the U.S, I feel like my future is like an open record. There is no turning back from a good future in the U.S. I am now taking full time classes at the Community College of Aurora. To be a successful student, I need to come to my class every day. I need to turn in my homework assignment in time. This is my second semester as I took summer classes that were CCR 092 and AAA. I got lots of strategies from those classes that is beneficial to the fall semester on how to handle stress and difficulties I might face. In other words, I start feeling like an educated person. I can face and solve many problems. My life is changing little by little and step by step. As English is not my native language, I am trying to master it because being able to speak English can give me self-esteem and self-satisfaction in the U.S. It also shows politeness and respect to the local people by showing that I have made an effort. Nothing is impossible, it depends on how much you try. In conclusion, I am trying to adapt to the new environment with unfamiliar language, unfamiliar culture and unfamiliar weather.
Han Thar
Professor Clark
ENG 121133
24 November 24, 2016
The Revision of Personal Essay
Life is always struggling for existence and everyone will inevitably face immense difficulties in their lifespans. To me, the difficulties are the ladder of success. We need to step on each step cautiously, not to fall. In other words, we can’t climb the trees with your hands in your pockets. My parents told me that “if I want to be strong, learn how to fight alone”. I am a migrant from Myanmar and I resettled to the United States in 2014 because of political reason in my country. Before I came to the U.S, I faced immense difficulties in Malaysia, a country where I sought asylum. “An asylum seeker is someone who request for sanctuary has yet to be processed. National asylum systems are in place to determine who qualifies for international protection” (Asylum-Seekers). After five years of living in Malaysia, I had a chance to resettle in America. I have been in the U.S for two years now and I find it difficult in managing all by myself. There are a lot of challenges placed in front of me, but I am trying to overcome all the obstacles with perseverance, motivation, determination and hopeful spirits. When I was a child back in Myanmar, I knew that I should eat two meals per day. I didn’t even know what is the cost of living was because my parents were always there to get what I desired. My parents raised me up to become the one that I am standing now. My father is a retired English teacher and my mother is a good housewife and I am the youngest of my siblings. My parents told me to study hard because they said that they didn’t want to see my life as a general worker and they also warned that “how hard an educated person’s life is”. “Uneducated people who have not completed their minimal educational qualifications do not have much chance of having a good well-paid jobs unless they are very lucky” (Educated vs Uneducated). With hard working and dedication, I had passed my high school with good grades, and my goal was to go to college to continue my education. I did go to college in my country for one year, however, I couldn’t finish my education as I was forced to join the Burmese Military, is one of the cruelest military regime in the world. I was walking home from my friend’s house in the middle of the night and out of the blue the Burmese soldiers showed up and arrested me, accused me of having an ulterior motive. Because of that reason, I was taken away forcefully to their military base camp and detained in a very small room with very little food and water. “For a half century, the impoverished people of Burma (also known as Myanmar) have lied under a brutal military dictatorship” (Bandow). In those days, Burma was ruled by a dictator, and the country has become one of the world’s poorest countries in the world. They tortured me like throwing water on my face and putting me in a wooden stock. “This 16-year old boy was forcibly recruited by Myanmar’s national army, the Tamadaw Kyi, before being sent to the front line of an internal conflict in the northeast of the country” (Myanmar-Child Soldiers International). The reason why they tortured me was to force me to join the Burma Army. I couldn’t bear being tortured, so I agreed to join them. I was released as soon as I agreed and I was asked to do cleaning the kitchens and to take care of chicken coop. I was always about fleeing as I wasn’t happy there.
Luckily I could manage to escape from their hands when they were celebrating a party and everyone was being intoxicated. I rushed to my house and told my parents what had happened. They asked me to run away to the border to avoid from being arrested again. I hitchhiked for freeride on some trucks that went all the way to Yangon, the former capital of Burma. By the time I arrived in Yangon, I stayed in a Rakhine monastery for two nights . I got contact with the broker who was living in the border town of the Thailand-Burma border. I went to Kawthaung on the bus, it took for four days to get there and the authorities asked for lots of bribes as it is very difficult for the people from other states to travel on that road. “Kawthaung is in southernmost part of Myanmar, located in Tanintharyi Region” (Kawthaung). I crossed the Thailand-Burma border with the help of the broker who took us secretly through the jungles. There was a run-down house in the jungle and we were all detained in a cramped house because they were afraid of the people run away and not pay back the broker. From Thailand to Malaysia, we all had to lay on top of each other in a truck and they covered us with some kind of mat so that we couldn’t be seen by the Thai authorities.
The driver dropped us off somewhere in the jungle and after a few minutes the villagers who had contact with the broker finally came and took all of us to his house. He cooked for all of us because we hadn’t eaten anything for two days and everyone was starving. We were supposed to pay half of the service fee to the broker before we got to Malaysia. The consequence will follow for those who have nothing to pay the broker will be sold to work on a fishing boat without getting paid like a slave. “Slaves are still on the boats; nationals of neighboring states are still trafficked to provide or cheap labour” (Slavery and Trafficking continue in Thai fishing industry, claim activists). They can never come back to the land again and their lives will end up in the sea.
Luckily, I made it my way to Malaysia safely, where I took refuge.
As soon as I arrived in Malaysia, I applied for a refugee status at UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and I was recognized as a refugee after two years. Before I was recognized, I had to stay as an undocumented migrant. As the condition was not stable, I was always worried about the arbitrary arrest and repatriation process conducted by the Malaysia Immigration Department. I came to the United States in September of 2014. America is called “Land of Opportunity” where someone can achieve anything, no matter who they are. They just need to put their minds and hearts to it. My resettlement agency helped me apply for the necessary documents to live and work in the United States legally. I was given the assistances from the federal government, such as food assistance, welcome money to pay rent. They cut off all the assistances as soon as I got a job at the hotel. Since then, I have to stand on my own two feet independently. As I am an education oriented, I have always wanted to continue my education since I had to drop out of college in my country before I finished because of forced recruitment of the Burmese military. Education is a key; I need education to improve my life. The people from my country discourage me not to go to college and they told me that going to college to get a degree is a wishful thinking that can never be done. I always warn myself not to pay attention to naysayers and I am determined to prove that they are wrong one
day.
I heard the story of a Karen refugee girl who lived in “Mae La” refugee camp, now studying in a university of a foreign country. She didn’t have a chance to go to school when she was in Thailand. Instead, she spent her mornings selling snacks to the school children. “Mae la is the largest refugee camp for Burmese in Thailand. Over 90% are ethnic Karen” (Mae La refugee camp). Eventually, she had a chance to study in an orphanage dormitory and she studied fundamental English there. Because of her dedication to education and hardworking, she became one of the best students in her class. Studying hard paid off. She said, “if you really try hard, nothing is impossible, you just need to put your mind and heart to it. If you think you are doing right, and then don’t be afraid to fail, just go ahead”. Her perseverance, motivation and hopeful spirit took her to reach her goal. She is a role model for my life and her story makes me inspired to study hard for the future. Frankly speaking, living in the US is a rat race; utilities and salaries, but I am determined not to turn away from a good future in the U.S. I am now taking full time classes at the Community College of Aurora. To be a successful student, I need to turn in my homework assignments in time and pay attention what the instructor is explaining.
My parents always urge me to study hard for a better life because every parent want their child to be a better person than them. My responsibility is to fulfil their wishes. As English is not my mother tongue, I am trying to master it because being able to speak English fluently can give me self-esteem and self-satisfaction and it also shows politeness and respect to the local people that I have made an effort. I feel like my life is changing little by little, step by step. Nothing is impossible. It depends on how much you put an effort. The bottom line is that I am trying to adapt to the new environment with unfamiliar culture, unfamiliar language and weather.
.
Work Cited
“Asylum-Seekers”, UNHCR. http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/asylum-seekers.html. Web Accessed November 23, 2016.
Bandow, Doug, “Military Rule in Burma”- The American Spectator. https://spectator.org/37187_military-rule-burma/. Web Accessed November 23, 2016.
“Child Soldiers International-Myanmar” Child Soldiers international.com. https://www.child-soldiers.org/myanmar. Web Accessed November 23, 2016.
“Kawthaung” Wikipedia. 24 November 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawthaung. Web accessed November 24, 2016.
“Mae La refugee camp”, Wikipedia.22 June 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_La_refugee_cam. Web Accessed
I was detained in the camp for one week with very little food and water. They tortured me like throwing water on my face and Luckily I could manage to escape from their hands when they were celebrating a party and everyone was being intoxicated. I rushed to my house and told my parents what had happened. They asked me to run away from here as soon as possible. I hitchhiked for free ride on some trucks that went all the way to Rangoon, the former capital city of Burma. I stayed in the monastery for two nights and I got contact with the broker who was living on the Thailand-Burma border. I went to the border town and crossed the border with the help of broker at night. From Thailand to Malaysia border, we had to lay on top of each other in a cramped truck. The broker can take only a certain amount of people, but there were many more who wanted to go. We were supposed to pay the money back to the broker when we got to Malaysia safely. The one who had no sponsor to pay back the broker would be sold to work on a fishing boat in Thailand and his life would end up in the sea. It took one week to get to Malaysia border. The situation was pitch black when we crossed the Malaysia border illegally so that we couldn’t be seen by the Thai authorities patrolling on the border. Finally, I made it on my way to Malaysia safely. As soon as I arrived in Malaysia, I applied for a refugee status at UNHCR and I was recognized after two years. I came to the United States in September of 2014. As soon as I stepped feet on America the so called ‘Land of Opportunity’, my aspiration was to go to college to gain an education, but later I found out it is easier said than done to implement my dream. My resettlement agency helped me apply for all necessary documents for me. I was given the assistance, such as food stamps and welcome money from the government for four months. After four months, they cut off all the assistances given to me because I got a job at the hotel. It is when I start to stand on my own two feet independently. I had never a thought of living in the U.S. I thought the streets in the U.S were paved with gold but it was not what I expected. Living in the U.S is a rat race; utilities and salaries. As I am an education-oriented, I have decided to continue my education in the U.S that I couldn’t finish in my country. Education is a key. I need education to improve my life. The people from my country discourage me not to go to college. They told me that going to college to get a degree is a wishful thinking that can never be done. I talk to myself not to pay attention to the naysayers and I will prove that they are wrong in one day. I read about a story about a refugee who lived in “Ma La” refugee camp, now studying in a foreign country. She didn’t have a chance to go to school when she was in Thailand. Instead, she spent her mornings selling snacks to the school children. Finally, she got a chance to study in an orphanage dorm. Because of her dedication to education, she became one of the best students in her class. Studying hard paid off. She said, “if you really try hard, nothing is impossible, you just need to put you mind and heart to it. She is a role model for my life because her report makes me inspired to go further in my education. Because of her hard work and dedication, she was awarded a scholarship to finish a three-year bachelor degree in a university of a foreign country. Her strong will took her far beyond she ever could have imagined as a child. She is a role model for my life. During five years of time living in Malaysia, I didn’t a certain goal for my future. When I got to the U.S, I feel like my future is like an open record. There is no turning back from a good future in the U.S. I am now taking full time classes at the Community College of Aurora. To be a successful student, I need to come to my class every day. I need to turn in my homework assignment in time. This is my second semester as I took summer classes that were CCR 092 and AAA. I got lots of strategies from those classes that is beneficial to the fall semester on how to handle stress and difficulties I might face. In other words, I start feeling like an educated person. I can face and solve many problems. My life is changing little by little and step by step. As English is not my native language, I am trying to master it because being able to speak English can give me self-esteem and self-satisfaction in the U.S. It also shows politeness and respect to the local people by showing that I have made an effort. Nothing is impossible, it depends on how much you try. In conclusion, I am trying to adapt to the new environment with unfamiliar language, unfamiliar culture and unfamiliar weather.
Han Thar
Professor Clark
ENG 121133
24 November 24, 2016
The Revision of Personal Essay
Life is always struggling for existence and everyone will inevitably face immense difficulties in their lifespans. To me, the difficulties are the ladder of success. We need to step on each step cautiously, not to fall. In other words, we can’t climb the trees with your hands in your pockets. My parents told me that “if I want to be strong, learn how to fight alone”. I am a migrant from Myanmar and I resettled to the United States in 2014 because of political reason in my country. Before I came to the U.S, I faced immense difficulties in Malaysia, a country where I sought asylum. “An asylum seeker is someone who request for sanctuary has yet to be processed. National asylum systems are in place to determine who qualifies for international protection” (Asylum-Seekers). After five years of living in Malaysia, I had a chance to resettle in America. I have been in the U.S for two years now and I find it difficult in managing all by myself. There are a lot of challenges placed in front of me, but I am trying to overcome all the obstacles with perseverance, motivation, determination and hopeful spirits. When I was a child back in Myanmar, I knew that I should eat two meals per day. I didn’t even know what is the cost of living was because my parents were always there to get what I desired. My parents raised me up to become the one that I am standing now. My father is a retired English teacher and my mother is a good housewife and I am the youngest of my siblings. My parents told me to study hard because they said that they didn’t want to see my life as a general worker and they also warned that “how hard an educated person’s life is”. “Uneducated people who have not completed their minimal educational qualifications do not have much chance of having a good well-paid jobs unless they are very lucky” (Educated vs Uneducated). With hard working and dedication, I had passed my high school with good grades, and my goal was to go to college to continue my education. I did go to college in my country for one year, however, I couldn’t finish my education as I was forced to join the Burmese Military, is one of the cruelest military regime in the world. I was walking home from my friend’s house in the middle of the night and out of the blue the Burmese soldiers showed up and arrested me, accused me of having an ulterior motive. Because of that reason, I was taken away forcefully to their military base camp and detained in a very small room with very little food and water. “For a half century, the impoverished people of Burma (also known as Myanmar) have lied under a brutal military dictatorship” (Bandow). In those days, Burma was ruled by a dictator, and the country has become one of the world’s poorest countries in the world. They tortured me like throwing water on my face and putting me in a wooden stock. “This 16-year old boy was forcibly recruited by Myanmar’s national army, the Tamadaw Kyi, before being sent to the front line of an internal conflict in the northeast of the country” (Myanmar-Child Soldiers International). The reason why they tortured me was to force me to join the Burma Army. I couldn’t bear being tortured, so I agreed to join them. I was released as soon as I agreed and I was asked to do cleaning the kitchens and to take care of chicken coop. I was always about fleeing as I wasn’t happy there.
Luckily I could manage to escape from their hands when they were celebrating a party and everyone was being intoxicated. I rushed to my house and told my parents what had happened. They asked me to run away to the border to avoid from being arrested again. I hitchhiked for freeride on some trucks that went all the way to Yangon, the former capital of Burma. By the time I arrived in Yangon, I stayed in a Rakhine monastery for two nights . I got contact with the broker who was living in the border town of the Thailand-Burma border. I went to Kawthaung on the bus, it took for four days to get there and the authorities asked for lots of bribes as it is very difficult for the people from other states to travel on that road. “Kawthaung is in southernmost part of Myanmar, located in Tanintharyi Region” (Kawthaung). I crossed the Thailand-Burma border with the help of the broker who took us secretly through the jungles. There was a run-down house in the jungle and we were all detained in a cramped house because they were afraid of the people run away and not pay back the broker. From Thailand to Malaysia, we all had to lay on top of each other in a truck and they covered us with some kind of mat so that we couldn’t be seen by the Thai authorities.
The driver dropped us off somewhere in the jungle and after a few minutes the villagers who had contact with the broker finally came and took all of us to his house. He cooked for all of us because we hadn’t eaten anything for two days and everyone was starving. We were supposed to pay half of the service fee to the broker before we got to Malaysia. The consequence will follow for those who have nothing to pay the broker will be sold to work on a fishing boat without getting paid like a slave. “Slaves are still on the boats; nationals of neighboring states are still trafficked to provide or cheap labour” (Slavery and Trafficking continue in Thai fishing industry, claim activists). They can never come back to the land again and their lives will end up in the sea.
Luckily, I made it my way to Malaysia safely, where I took refuge.
As soon as I arrived in Malaysia, I applied for a refugee status at UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and I was recognized as a refugee after two years. Before I was recognized, I had to stay as an undocumented migrant. As the condition was not stable, I was always worried about the arbitrary arrest and repatriation process conducted by the Malaysia Immigration Department. I came to the United States in September of 2014. America is called “Land of Opportunity” where someone can achieve anything, no matter who they are. They just need to put their minds and hearts to it. My resettlement agency helped me apply for the necessary documents to live and work in the United States legally. I was given the assistances from the federal government, such as food assistance, welcome money to pay rent. They cut off all the assistances as soon as I got a job at the hotel. Since then, I have to stand on my own two feet independently. As I am an education oriented, I have always wanted to continue my education since I had to drop out of college in my country before I finished because of forced recruitment of the Burmese military. Education is a key; I need education to improve my life. The people from my country discourage me not to go to college and they told me that going to college to get a degree is a wishful thinking that can never be done. I always warn myself not to pay attention to naysayers and I am determined to prove that they are wrong one
day.
I heard the story of a Karen refugee girl who lived in “Mae La” refugee camp, now studying in a university of a foreign country. She didn’t have a chance to go to school when she was in Thailand. Instead, she spent her mornings selling snacks to the school children. “Mae la is the largest refugee camp for Burmese in Thailand. Over 90% are ethnic Karen” (Mae La refugee camp). Eventually, she had a chance to study in an orphanage dormitory and she studied fundamental English there. Because of her dedication to education and hardworking, she became one of the best students in her class. Studying hard paid off. She said, “if you really try hard, nothing is impossible, you just need to put your mind and heart to it. If you think you are doing right, and then don’t be afraid to fail, just go ahead”. Her perseverance, motivation and hopeful spirit took her to reach her goal. She is a role model for my life and her story makes me inspired to study hard for the future. Frankly speaking, living in the US is a rat race; utilities and salaries, but I am determined not to turn away from a good future in the U.S. I am now taking full time classes at the Community College of Aurora. To be a successful student, I need to turn in my homework assignments in time and pay attention what the instructor is explaining.
My parents always urge me to study hard for a better life because every parent want their child to be a better person than them. My responsibility is to fulfil their wishes. As English is not my mother tongue, I am trying to master it because being able to speak English fluently can give me self-esteem and self-satisfaction and it also shows politeness and respect to the local people that I have made an effort. I feel like my life is changing little by little, step by step. Nothing is impossible. It depends on how much you put an effort. The bottom line is that I am trying to adapt to the new environment with unfamiliar culture, unfamiliar language and weather.
.
Work Cited
“Asylum-Seekers”, UNHCR. http://www.unhcr.org/en-us/asylum-seekers.html. Web Accessed November 23, 2016.
Bandow, Doug, “Military Rule in Burma”- The American Spectator. https://spectator.org/37187_military-rule-burma/. Web Accessed November 23, 2016.
“Child Soldiers International-Myanmar” Child Soldiers international.com. https://www.child-soldiers.org/myanmar. Web Accessed November 23, 2016.
“Kawthaung” Wikipedia. 24 November 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawthaung. Web accessed November 24, 2016.
“Mae La refugee camp”, Wikipedia.22 June 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_La_refugee_cam. Web Accessed