“I will always be in your heart.” Those were the final words in the letter my father gave me at the airport. We both cried as we said our goodbyes and I embarked on my journey to my new life in America. I will never forget that day. It is ingrained in my memory as the day my life changed forever. Transitioning from South Africa to America was by no means easy. I had to get used to saying things like ‘truck’ instead of ‘bakkie’ or ‘sneakers’ instead of ‘tekkies’, and the culture and values differ in many ways. Our first stop was Dallas. Two years later we moved to Charlotte. I dearly loved the sports of my birthplace (soccer, cricket & rugby), but one of the major influences that helped me with my transition was falling in love with basketball.
Have you imagined leaving your homeland behind and settling in a different country? As a kid I always enjoyed the idea of traveling the world, and discovering new things, but never had thought it would be very hard to let go everything and leave. Growing up, I was always eager to meet new people, learn new languages, and make my own adventures in life. Soon, that dream turned into reality when my family decided to move to the United States of America in hopes of having a better future and new opportunities. I had mixed feelings and was confused about what to expect in the future. However, this was the biggest fear I have ever faced in my life. It was difficult to get adjusted to a new culture challenging because change brings the unknown and unfamiliar with it.
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
New country means new language, new culture, new people and different lifestyle. I never thought of being somewhere where you don’t know the language and people. For my parent and me the difficult part was learning new language. Since, I and my sister were going to school, so we knew Basic English. But for my parents adopting new language after so many years was really tough. Since, my dad had his own business, he also had to take care that before we move to us.
It runs through my veins and I cannot live without it. For a long time I did not know who I was but one day, through a basketball camp, a coach helped me realize what my identity was. He helped me figure out that i am a child of God. All my uncles played basketball along with both of my Grandfathers. For a long time I thought that basketball had to be the only thing to define me but, it does not.
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
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 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.
It was time for us to leave and board the plane to America. I was very excited to get to America, I was also anxious to see my Dad who I haven’t seen in months. The flight was long, I can remember in the air was my first time feeling turbulence, whoa let me tell you it was a scary one it felt like the plane was about to crash. I was anxious for the plane to land. When we arrived we exited out the plane and head out to the train inside the airport in order to go to U.S. customs and border protection, to get our documents sorted out, so that we could enter the country.
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.
Basketball kept me and my friends connected we watch it and play it whenever we get the opportunity.
My brother knowing that I will definitely experience culture shock, started giving me tidbits of what I would expect. I remember him saying “This is America my sister, they speak different here, many things have different names from home”. He then told me “open the trunk and offload y...
Basketball isn’t my favorite sport. I am not particularly good at it and it will probably never change my life in the future. Still, the sport cemented a core belief of mine: Perseverance can accomplish anything.
On Monday, October 11, 1999, in a hospital in Nigeria, I was born. If questioned about the early part of my life, I would not be able to respond. I cannot recall memories of elementary school, let alone early childhood, everything was hazy. I was not born in the United States, but I have no memories from Nigeria. In my childhood, I felt separated from my African side, like I could not be called Nigerian and the only remnant of my African identity was my name. I felt on a similar level, what civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois, called the double consciousness, of how I did not feel like I could choose a side. My nationalities were in conflict because I was hesitant to accept the Nigerian culture, and I could not call myself an American. I would become apathetic when Nigeria was brought up in conversation. I was more attune with identifying myself as an American rather than being a Nigerian, I was afraid of claiming a nation that I did not belong to.
Basketball is one of the interesting sports I have always wanted to engage myself; even as a little child. It was a dream come true when I started playing basketball in my high school.Moreover, I was very good in it, and I became the team leader. Of course, I enjoyed every bite of the time I spent playing basketball.