Essay on My Expirienc of Moving to USA

In the unlikely story that is the USA, there has never been anything false about hope. - Barack Obama.

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It was quotes like this that intensified my curiosity of moving to a new country from my homeland, Kenya. I was naturally a curious child who longed for change. I dont know what kind of change I wanted, but I believed that deep within, many forces work against us to make that change. One of those forces was the environment we were placed in.

As a child, in my wildest fantasies and by the influence of the things I watched on TV, I had always dreamt of going to the USA. For so long, great tales had been told of brightly-lit New York streets, very tall buildings, generous and beautiful folks and their advancement in everything, especially science. I have always had a wild obsession with science, and even then I already knew what I wanted to be. We were a family with limited means but that never deterred me from pursuing my dreams and aspirations especially after the results came out and I got straight A`s. My parents were always supportive of my pursuits, but this time they were totally lost on what to do about my college education. It is said, where there is a will, there is always a way.

I can still vividly recall that cold, rainy, evening when my fate took a different turn. It came in the form of a phone call that my dad received from grandmother Bunny who lived in the United States. She had received news of my outstanding performance and wished that I travel to the US for her to see me through my college education. According to the emails, she had been sending, she was a re-known realtor in the US aside from owning some businesses there. To be honest, I didnt know how to feel about that piece of news. I wasnt sure whether to revel in the prospect of the new experiences ahead or to be sad about leaving the all-to-familiar landscape, the weather-beaten paths that I knew too well, the people and friends I had known all my life.

I was twenty-one years old when I moved to USA to live with my grandmother. I remember my first experience of jet lag and excessive tiredness as a result of the 20 hours of travel. I recall how scared I was of the new environment, having to learn a new language because my knowledge of English was limited, and making new friends. To say the least, I experienced a major culture shock. I had to make many adjustments in a bid to fit into the new environment, and since then, my entire life and dreams had been revolutionized.

Grandmother was very supportive and helped me get admission at the John Hopkins University for a degree course in medicine. It was a great experience though I was more worried about the kinds of courses I would be taking as I had heard that the USA had a different system of education. Often I was the only one without a partner during practical sessions or being taunted about my `weird` way of dressing. And even the way I spoke was sometimes criticized, and most times I didnt quite follow what was being taught because the lecturers were fast. I remember one class time when a tutor asked a question I didnt get well, probably because he was talking so fast and through the nose. He pointed at me for the answer, but since I had no idea what was asked, I sat there silently with a grin on my face. I felt silly. As I began my second semester at the university, my communication skills slowly started to improve, and as a result of this major progress, I was able to enjoy the ability to converse with my course mates. I managed to master the language well and even made two new friends within my second month in the USA. My performance wasnt exactly impressive in the first semester which I attribute to the fact that I was still adjusting to the changes around and within me. But as we came to the end of the second semester, suddenly my grades started improving and soon I was among the best in my class.

I started enjoying going to school and soon noticed that I also enjoyed playing basketball more than the handball I was used to in Kenya. It is true to say life was not all rosy, especially during the transition period where I had to change in almost everything to adjust to the new environment. Learning a new language and culture and customs takes time and determination. Many were the times I wished to go back to Kenya, to run to my parents and seek solace there but I reminded myself that fortune only favors the brave, and now that I had been given a chance I was never going to waste it in self-pity. People all over the world come to the USA in pursuit of very different interests, but I came to believe that coming to the States as a student is the best way to experience its life. Back at home, I mostly relied on the wisdom and advice of my parents before attempting anything, but here I was forced to make every decision without relying on the wisdom of elders. Besides, Grandma was always busy, so I had to learn to make judgements on my own. Another positive aspect is that I realized that I was in an extraordinary league of people who thought like me and many had the same dreams as I; to be the best medical doctors in the world. It was my most humbling experience to know that despite coming from different parts of the world, we all had almost similar lives, nurturing same dreams and aspirations in life.

Studying here, living here has made me independent, resilient and much stronger. I have learned that confidence can enable one concur any obstacle, especially when it comes to adapting to a new environment. Through interacting with friends from different countries I have learned to be polite, and gentle around me. My responses towards other people will always be positive, even as I look forward to graduate in two years time.

So it is very true what Obama said: In the unlikely story that is the USA, there has never been anything false about hope. There is always hope here, in the USA.