Coming To America

Stepping out of my first plane ride, I experience an epiphany of new culture, which seems to me as a whole new world. Buzzing around my ears are conversations in an unfamiliar language that intrigues me. It then struck me that after twenty hours of a seemingly perpetual plane ride that I finally arrived in The United States of America, a country full of new opportunities. It was this moment that I realized how diverse and big this world is. This is the story of my new life in America.

A mere two weeks passed by since the day of my arrival to my new home before the start of second grade. I struggled to learn basic phrases before the start of school, phrases such as “May I use the restroom?” and “What is this?” After timeless tries, my aunt, who already knew English, came up with an idea to write the phrases down on pieces of paper. I would have to hand the teacher the pieces of paper which matched what I needed in order to communicate with her. The idea made me feel embarrassed, but knowing that it was the only way possible for me to get my needs from my teacher, I agreed to the p...