The book of the unknown Americans turns out to be a love story with a bit of a twist. It involves at lot of different families and people that migrated to the United States of America. One Latino family, the Rivera’s, from Mexico move to the United States of America to give their daughter a better life. Their life in Mexico was nice and simple, they had a great piece of property and Arturo ran his own construction company. They needed to move to America because their daughter who is only 15 years old had an accident at her dad’s job.
“No pain no gain”, echoes in my mind, as the hot sweltering humid air engulfs my room, baking me in the unbearable heat early one morning, during the summer after my freshman year of college. The thought instantly brings me back to memories of my childhood, where whenever I complained, my dad would retort “no pain no gain”. Back then, I hated hearing it over and over again. To me it was just something my parents said to stop us from complaining, and I never stopped to think why that one phrase was so important to them.
Most people have an interesting story about their past,learning about it lets you get to know the person better. I am interviewing my aunt, Ana Marie Lastimosa Macadangdang. I chose her because I wanted to know her experience about .In 1985 Ana was born and raised in Philippines. She lived with her father ,mother,and 6 sisters until her mother died from sickness.
Too Many People: Coming to America Our class reviewed immigration by those who use mostly illegal means, and how illegal immigration is currently being addressed. Still, nothing we have seen has given us a viable solution to the problems incurred by those who immigrate, the problems arising from those who detain, house, then deport immigrants, or what the United States can do to resolve the issue of illegal immigration. Implementation of National Identification Card, such as used in Germany can be an easy answer. Even though initial cost, implementation, and future maintenance may contribute to an already high national debt, federal reformation of current immigration law is in order.
In the film Coming to America describing the two cultures in the film are the African and American cultures from Africa and Queens New York. The African and American cultures in the movie are different in some ways but similar in other ways by the way the characters in the movie are all family oriented with the respect they show their parents and the way the parents only want what is best for their children. Then there are subcultures in the film that go a little further with style of living. The culture in Africa is that people are to wait on the royal family for everything they do, but in America, the family cares for themselves without the help of servants. The rites of passage are a cultural norm in Africa for the Royal family by having arranged marriages.
When I was six years old, living in Ethiopia, my dad won an American green card visa lottery among 53,000 people. Although it was exciting news, family members were discouraged because my dad could not afford the visa processing and traveling expense. However, he found a sponsor in Seattle, which allowed him to settle in America. As soon as he found a good house and a stable job, he started the process for me and my family. Multiple errors and obstacles delayed our processing for five years.
I used to have this grudges in my heart when everything go hard that would made me wanted to blame my parent. But I can’t because I was not raise to think that way. When I come to America, I was eleven years old and no one asked me if I wanted to come it just happen in a second. I was in a cold place with extended family that I never met before and that one person who raise me and made me feel secure was still back in the country. I had to lived months without her and next thing you know I adapted and convince myself they are doing this because the wanted the best for me.
As I ponder over my life, each memory seems identical to the other, and I find myself drifting through a reality of similar events that generate the same memories and emotions. Looking back further into my childhood includes memories of my homeland. I remember entering a new world at the age of five, where all of my later memories would be formed. This was when my family moved to the United States from Peru, my native country in the South. The complete change in culture and values truly impacted me when I first moved to Florida, and I reflect over the significant effect it has had on my character during the last thirteen years of my life.
The first eight years of my life, I spent in India where I was born. Growing up I was constantly reminded by my parents that I needed to make them proud by getting a good job and living a good lifestyle. They told me this because they did not want to see me live a hard life like they did. When I was nine years old, I moved from India to the United States of America. The reason why I moved to America was not because I was living a bad life in India, it was so that I could have a better education and more opportunities in life.
As a teenager moving to a new country with a different culture, different language, and being thousands of miles away from everyone I grew up with was not an easy change, however, that was precisely what I did in January of 2013 when I came to the United States with my father. My whole world changed since, and shaped my way of thinking. From learning English, adjusting to a new culture, experiencing my first snow and finding my way in my new country, my life has been an exciting adventure. My parents brought me to America almost 5 years ago to have a better life, and to get a better education.
“The Warmth of Other Suns the Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson p. 37 “Everybody seems to be asleep, about what is going on right under our noses. That is, everybody but those farmers who have wakened up on mornings recently to find every Negro over 21 on his place gone-to Cleveland, to Pittsburgh, to Chicago, to Indianapolis…and while our very solvency is being sucked out beneath us, we go about our affairs as usual. ~Editorial, The Macon Telegraph, September 1916.”
With no doubts, multiple people face with events that have significant meanings for them and there are many experiences that bring drastic turnings on the long life road. For me, this turning was made when I was told that my government chose to study in the United State Of America instead of the United Kingdom where I previously applied to study. Though enough time has passed, I remember this day like it was just yesterday. The feeling of excitement because of the upcoming journey was mixing with uncertainty and fear. Realizing that I will be in the country where currently I have no relatives and friends was more than frightening for me.
Born in El Salvador, one of the smallest countries in Central America , was lucky to be part of a more fortunate family. In order for my family to be where they are now, there were many sacrifices they had to make. At the age of eight, I met a friend from America that had came to visit my country. He came from the city life and the way that I imagined it to be was different.
My Journey to America Moving from Nigeria to the United States permanently feels great, but at the same time it is sad leaving some of your loved ones and family behind. There are many events in life, which can change one’s way of thinking. As for me, one of the major changes in my life occurred when I moved from Africa to America. This change has entirely affected my personality positively. Why?
The American dream is alive in the hearts of all Americans and inspires many to move to the country. It is defined in Merriam-Webster as: “A happy way of living that is thought of by many Americans as something that can be achieved by anyone in the U.S. especially by working hard and becoming successful.” This topic is a central theme in literature because of its widespread popularity. In “Soldier’s Home” by Ernest Hemmingway, “Battle Royal” by Ralph Ellison, and Saving Sourdi by May-Lee Chai the theme is prominent in how the characters act. However, each story shows it from a different perspective.
