From the Beginning

    When I come to the United States for the first time, I felt myself like a baby who could not be an independent or adult person. All my life, I had lived in a small city Brest in Belarus with my family who loved and took care of me. I do not have a big family, but their love and support for me were huge. Belarus is a country in Eastern Europe, that has our own cultural aspects. Some people say that people can look angry and rude, but it is just for the first time when a person starts talking with them, they open and show a different and very friendly side. The national language in my country is Russian, and people don’t speak English at all. My experience living in a completely different country and city like Chicago has changed the way how I see myself and my own culture a lot because my difficulties in adaptation in the United States have influenced my values, habits and my relationships. 

    I think the most difficult part for me was language because I needed to struggle not just with different culture, but also with simple things that I couldn’t do by myself. I come to Chicago one and a half years ago, and the first weeks were difficult because all that I could say were just some simple words. These were things that I did in my country quickly and without any problems like calling a doctor or going to a grocery store. And here were a nightmare because I needed to spend more time on regular and simple things. I felt so stupid after every small conversation with a stranger. I felt so ashamed that I looked like a baby and could not protect myself. I felt insecure, so I decided to force myself to learn English. I started reading and watching everything in English. I eventually started education in a real American college that helps me a lot with my difficulties. 

    Therefore, I see myself differently now compared to the day that I first arrived in the United States. Adaptation in a different country was a very hard experience in my life, and I think that I am still not finished. However, this is not so hard for me that it was in the beginning. These challenges made me a stronger person who can be independent. These hard things in the beginning, like going to a bank, are easier in the present. Now, I am not afraid to talk with people because I can understand them. I also have a few friends who are native English speakers. Sometimes, I meet them and forcing myself to talk in English as much as I can. I am an introvert and this is hard for me. This is the best way to become fluent in a language. I adapt to a community and create more social experiences for myself. 

    I think this experience like living in the United States has changed me a lot because now I am more independent and mature person that I was in the beginning. I have been here for just one and a half years, but it feels more. This was a stressful and valuable period in my time. I have learned a lot this time. This is not just about language, but also about how to be an adult in a completely different country without your family near you. When I have come to the United States for the first time, I have felt myself insecure like a little baby, but in present I am person who need to be adult and know how to help yourself. I believe this hard period was a great lesson for myself, and I know how to deal with my problems on my own.

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