My Life In The US

             I am Khanh and I’m from Vietnam. I arrived in America three months ago and though out my time here my life has completely changed. I am independent of my parents and have to discover a new culture on my own.

            The first day in the US when I arrived at the airport, I felt a little homesick I felt like my life had changed at that moment. My sister picked me up at the airport and we spent the whole day in Soho in New York City. When I arrived there, I was overwhelmed by a large amount of people with different types of races. I have never been to a place which has a variety of races like New York City. However, my sister suddenly had to go to work, so she gave me her house address. Everything was new to me, I started to lose the direction. I didn’t know how to go to her house even though I had a me, I totally could not read it, which is so hard to understand. I began to panic. I started to ask everybody, but when they showed me the way, I couldn’t get it. Fortunately, there was a man willing to give me a ride to my sister’s house. When I finally went to her house and I felt so thankful to him.

            One week later, I traveled to north New Paltz, because my new school is located there. In my mind, this place must have lots of people like New York and be near the city. However, when I arrived, I found that there were few people. I was totally surprised. Everything is perfectly different and I like this place, because I don’t like the place that has lots of people like New York. Moreover, the following morning, I had breakfast in the dining hall. I felt so shy, so I decided so sit in the corner and I felt so alone. When I saw them talking so excited. I felt like I was living in a different world and there was a wall between me and the others. However, there was another new student like me who sat near me, then we began to make friends. Since then, I didn’t feel alone anymore.

            Furthermore, I have learned lots of different behavior between Americans and people from my country. Everytime I went to class or the dining hall or other places, students usually hold the door for each other and reply in a polite way. Moreover, in every place, they always stay in line and wait for their turn. One time, I cut in line and everybody started to look at me. I felt so embarrassed. But in my country, people usually not stay in line, they always cut in line. That’s why I made a mistake. Then the other students began to understand me because I’m a new student. Beside, when I finished my meal in the dining hall, I didn’t bring the dishes to the washing room. When someone reminded me to bring them to this room. I felt embarrassed again because I didn’t know that. Because in my country, when students finish their meal, they don’t have to clean that. Thus, I have learned lots of different behavior between two countries about holding the door, food service and waiting on line.

            I am loving my new life in New Paltz. In the beginning period, I was very shy, but now I am trying to become more outgoing. I am trying to become successful by studying hard. I know the only way to become successful is by becoming familiar to this new culture.