I knew that my grandmother’s visit was always short and sweet, for she always had to return to America while I went back to my distressing life at home with my uncle. She would always come down to Fiji for about two weeks, twice a year, but on this particular holiday, life was going to change. My grandmother walks into the hotel room, after visiting the embassy in town, and gives me the biggest hug and kiss while I am sitting on the bed. She says, “Grandma is taking you to America next week. Do you want to come?” She hands me a passport with my picture in it; I immediately flip the passport book open and stare at my picture with a muddled look. I ask her “Is this real? Am I going to America?” She says yes and then we both, immediately, start jumping on the bed …show more content…
It was strict and somewhat of a boot camp but nothing serious damaging to a child enough to complain. The school was from 8 am to 12 pm because I was only five and it was kindergarten. Mommy Voi would drop me off at the driveway of the kindergarten, and I would remember crying because I didn’t want her to leave me there. I felt like the only person that mattered was leaving me alone. The world would start spinning again when she would pick me up at 12 pm. I would be so delighted to see her and run to hold her hand. We would then walk home talking about my day at school and what I would like to eat for dinner. By the time she would pick me up from school, she would have a plastic bag of small groceries for us at home. I remember asking her a couple of times, “Mom let me carry that” and she would say, “No, it’s too heavy for you.” Walking home was fun for me because I passed two other elementary schools with my mom and those kids could not laugh at me or touch me. The school I went to was regarded as an outstanding school and so my uniform informed everyone on the way home where I was educated. School children seem to dislike me because of the name on my badge, so I always made sure to walk by them with
I remember the first time I came to America; I was 10 years old. Everything was exciting! From getting into an airplane, to viewing magnificent, huge buildings from a bird’s eye view in the plane. It was truly memorable. After staying few days at my mother’s house, my father and I wanted to see what Dallas looks like. But because my mother was working the whole day, it wasn’t convenient for her to show us the area except only on Sundays. Finally, we went out to the nearby mall with my mother. My father and I were astonished after looking at a variety of stores. But after looking at different stores, we were finally tired and hungry, so we went into McDonald’s. Not being familiar with fast food restaurants, we were curious to try American
Throughout my life I have always had one person who has stuck with me through thick and thin, my mother, Genoveva. My mother’s devotion was to her two daughters, she always prayed that my sister and I would have a better life then what she had and pushed through every obstacle for us. She is from Mexico, Puebla and is a very loud, assertive woman. She always believed in herself and whenever she put her mind to it, she always got the job done. She came to America in 1982 when she was just 16. Even though her journey was made from a rash decision, having to be forced to do something illegal and having to get accustomed to life in America she is just glad that she can now have a happy life with her family.
As I boarded the plane to move to the United States, the beginning of September 2005, I couldn’t help but think about all that I left behind; My family, my friends, my school, my clothes, and all of the awesome cultural food. Then again, I looked forward to this new life, a new beginning. I imagined it being like life in the movies, where everything seemed easy and life was just beautiful. After all, I was going to the States; the place where most people only dreamt of. I felt very blessed to have this opportunity because I knew that it wasn’t given to everyone. Coming to America marked my coming of age because I left behind my old life, I started life afresh, and I became a much grateful person.
Getting to the United States was very exciting, what I didn’t know was that it was so difficult I didn’t never thought I would have to go through all this again, now I didn’t plan to go back to Mexico. I was all around the place looking for a job I went to Dallas TX with my brothers but they were still doing the same selling drugs I didn’t want that anymore because I had a wife to take care of. I went to California with a couple of friends and started working in what I had experience in, harvesting. The plantations here in the United States were much bigger, we lived in a train wagon with another family this wasn’t what I expected. Long hot sunny days picking strawberries, grapes, tomatoes, whatever it was I was doing it. It was like when I
This summer, I went to India to visit my relatives after nearly six years. I remember moving to America and thinking I will face so much discrimination, but currently, I feel the opposite when leaving for India. Of course, people in India would be the most accepting of their type right? Turns out I couldn’t be farther from the truth.
As the steps echoed off the metal walls in the brightly lit cabin of the airplane, the curiosity of a six year old was peeked. After a long 5,428 km journey across the North Atlantic Ocean from Cape Verde to Boston, Massachusetts, the plane had finally landed and the passengers were heading out towards their new destination, and I was one of them. Unbeknownst to me, however, my very first step on American soil was the start of an unyielding battle against the odds. My first steps off the plane had made my family and I immigrants, and
It was a Sunday morning when I woke up by the morning shiver and with the sweet smell of tea filling the room. I woke up with a yawn but still laying down because I was too lazy to get up. I stood up quickly almost losing my balance when why mom yelled my name. “Come down stairs I have good news for you” said mom. I went down stairs I saw my parents drinking green hot tea and watching news on the television. I walk toward the table distracted by the chaos of different loud noises like the news, my brothers watching cartoon, and my sister whining. I greeted my parents, as I passed them I heard someone saying “can’t wait to move” excitedly.” After finishing my delicious breakfast I ask my mom, where are we moving? “We are moving to America” with
When I was young, I never expected to live such a lit life in America. I was born in Laos which is a small country in the Southern part of Asia. My life was slow and my family didn’t have much. Then one day my mom met my stepdad in a bar and the next thing I knew, we move to America. My first impression of America was that it was way different than where I came from. I saw snow for the first time and never felt something so cold. My early life in America was a struggle, but as I grew up, I started understanding what my purpose was. I went from nothing to having great times with great friends, having cash flow, and riding motorcycles.
I was born in Chicago Illinois, but moved to Puerto Rico at a very young age. Having lived my early childhood in Puerto Rico, my Hispanic culture mode me in the person that I am today and how I view the people around me.
When I came to America, I had just finished 5th grade and I barely knew any English. I spend the whole summer practicing english, studying the American fashion, watching movies and traveling to amazing places. Then there was the first day of school in a totally different country. This was just the beginning.
I always dreamed about the day I will be able to come to the United States. Everything started at the age of 15 playing a soccer tournament in my country against FC Dallas. I arrived at the stadium and saw a bus arriving at the same time, I wondered who was arriving in such a beautiful bus, it was the FC Dallas soccer team U15. They were all dressed up with the same uniforms wearing head phones and the coaches started to give water bottles to the players, I was amazed because they all looked like a professional team. Drinking water from a bottle something that I did only a couple times in my all life living in my country. My team had barely had enough uniforms for us to play the game and they even had uniforms to get
I was born in Sri Lanka, a small island torn by a civil war. As the violence grew, my parents decided to move us to the United States so we can have a better life. In 2001 my parents left everything they had to start a new life the United States. . I came from nothing. All Throughout my life, my parents worked hard to provide for my family so my brother and I can have a better future. Their sacrifice is what drives me every day. Their Sacrifice and hard work motivates me to work harder.
It was about two years ago when I arrived in United States of America, and I still remember the day when I left my native country, Honduras. As I recall, one day previous to my departure, I visited my relatives who live in San Pedro Sula. They were all very happy for me to see me except my grandmother Isabel. She looked sad; even though she tried to smile at all times when I was talking to her, I knew that deep inside of her, her heart was broken because of my departure the next morning. I remember that I even told her, “Grandma, do not worry about me, I’ll be fine. I promise that I will write you letters and send you pictures as much as possible.” Here reply was, “I know sweetie I know you will.” Suddenly after she said that I started to cry. For som...
My heart was pounding as I boarded my flight leaving the Bangkok International Airport. A flight attendant in a grey dress with a red bow draped over her shoulder announced; “Welcome aboard flight AA350 to the United States.” My journey began that day.
What does phenomenal mean to you? One dictionary states phenomenal means very remarkable. My great grandmother was a very sophisticated and remarkable woman. Phenomenal should have been her first name, because that she was. My great grandmother was a rare breed; many do not come like that anymore. Memories of my great grandmother take me to a happy place, and hold a special place in my heart.