Starting a new life

Cause-Effect Essay

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.
One of the most difficult effects of moving to a new country is the communication barrier. It is mainly due to the difference of languages and cultures. Indeed, this aspect is mostly neglected by people who leave their motherland because of bad leadership or poor living conditions. Over the time, it becomes a real integration issue in the society for those coming to the country. I underestimated the eventuality of culture shock before I stepped on the U.S soil. As a matter of fact, I assumed I was already familiar to the American culture through movies and and music, and I did not expect any difficulty to adjust in the American life style. Tough were the moments when I had to ask for directions or order something in the restaurant; my tongue was numb and my mind was so confused. Basically, people who move to a new country for a social life improvement tend to overlook the existence of communication challenges including the body language, and they are just content to cross the border for a better life. Thereby for quite a while, they fail to understand the cultures and the mindsets of the natives and so, can’t seem to express their own mind. They find themselves restrained to gestures.
In addition to the communication barrier, most of people who move to a new country tend to feel lonely. Obviously they left their friends and family for an unknown land. In fact, because of the inability to communicate, socializing is a luxury hard to find. My sister was my only family and friend in the U.S. Her company was very comforting but was not enough to fill the place of my whole supportive family and friends I used to spend my days with. For the first time of my life I felt lonely and anxious to make new friends. Indeed people may experience depression, boredom and have a hard time living a balanced life because human beings have been created to live in community. An isolated life may have negative consequences on the behavior in the society. Although, some people are more likely to overcome this boredom and loneliness concern. For instance, the daily gathering in classrooms or in the campus favors a fast integration and opportunities to socialize for international students.
Furthermore, the homesickness is another effect that people can experience. Everyone experiences homesickness in a different country. In fact, no matter why people leave their motherland, they still keep in their memory some good souvenirs that can’t be erased or replaced by new experiences in any other country. Those souvenirs may be emotional, professional, affective or from childhood life. As a matter of fact, while facing awkward challenges in a new country, some people get caught up by their memory, surrender the struggle and go back to their motherland. My memory is filled with good souvenirs of my motherland, and I miss that warm atmosphere provided by the pleasant people that used to be part of every step of my life. Sometimes I even regret the decision I made to move to the U.S like when a stranger cannot pronounce my name correctly. Besides, it is very important to have determination and bravery to 1conquer the homesickness and fight to make this country a new home.
In conclusion, people who move to a different country may be affected by the communication barrier, loneliness and homesickness. Poor living conditions, bad leadership and study can be some reasons causing people’s migration, but it is not that simple to move from the motherland to a different country without undergoing some tough and discouraging consequences. In fact, these are long term effects that people face and need to overcome on a daily basis in order to achieve the goal and purposes that led to their choice