This I Wonder Essay
Sabatino Mangini
ENG 100
This I Wonder Final Draft
It was a Friday afternoon and I had just came from soccer practice. I went to the kitchen to get something to eat and my mom had just came from the local supermarket to get groceries. I went to my room to rest as I lay their trying to sleep, I heard in distance my mother call my name to help her with unpack groceries. I came running as I got close I saw this glow in her face it was surprising because my mother isn't usually this happy. I hadn't seen my mother this happy since her brother's graduation.
As we finished unpacking I asked her why she so happy then she replied "we are moving to America." When I heard those words I felt as though time had stopped and I didn't know what to think. "What do you think my mother asked me." I was silent for a moment then I replied with fear "I don't wanna leave my best friend." My mother was shocked and then she said "I thought you would be excited." and without another word she stormed off in anger leaving me silent and confused. As I was getting ready to go to my best friends house to blow off some steam, my mom approached me again and apologizes on how she reacted. She tells me that we won't go if I am not ready. I was surprised that I had a say in this matter. I went about my business but in my mind I knew this day would eventually come because of my uncle who lived in Maryland and wanted to bring his only sister. He represented America to me and was a great influence on how I saw America. I would always ask him a lot of question on the life style in America.
Later in the evening we had another discussion and she continued on telling me that she had been struggling working two jobs saving up since my dad's passing and with the help of her brother she planned on someday coming to the states. For some reason I wasn't surprised because my uncle always called to see how we were doing and hinting at the idea. He always called twice a month to see how school was and our behavior. After we talked about it I had made my choice that we should move to America and my mother that she hugged me in happiness.
After spending my first eleven years of my life in Uganda it was time to move on. I knew this would be one of the biggest obstacle I would have to overcome. The truth was that I was excited and felt like I had an opportunity to be something better but in the back of my mind It also meant I would have to start all over again like making new friends, new school system and the language barrier. but this was a chance for us to get a better life. A life of good education system and be whoever we chose to be. Whenever I heard of America I always thought the street were made of gold and everyone was rich. Well at least that's the kind of stories I got through listening to my relatives.
I was glad that I get to see my favorite uncle and see if all those stories he told me on the phone were true. The stories he told me were mainly about the food and his job as a nurse was like. In the stories that were told that I began to imagine myself there enjoying all the good stuff In America. One day I was one phone with him for almost two hours. He me told that "one day my car broke down in Maryland there was no one for miles." I had to walk at least five miles to find a pay phone and call for help." Then I replied "wow" in my mind I was like I walk five miles everyday to go to school but you don't see me complaining. He continued on saying "I was so hungry and thirst that when the emergency services arrived I had collapsed." He went the hospital and the doctor told him "you are dehydrated." After hearing this story I wasn't so sure about America having golden street. I had not the slightest idea what I was to embark on for the years of my life to come. It was all a mystery.
I wonder if I hadn't listened to my mother about making the decision to move and what my life would be like back home. People around my age usually would have a wives and some of them have kids of their own. Most likely I would have ended up joining the military just like many of males in my family or have a small family business. Would I be alive now. I would probably be a farmer. I wouldn't had the same opportunities like the ones I have now. I thank my mother for convincing me that moving to America would be great.I am just glad that I had the opportunity to come to the United states and make something of myself.