Parinoch Chea
09/25/01
Knowledge, Art & Power
Dr. Jamie P. Ross
Informal #1
Personal Writing History

America is one of the most powerful countries in the world.  Everyone wishes to become an American Resident.  My parents are perfect examples.  Their dream came true on January 17th, 1996.  We left Cambodia for America.
We came straight to Oregon because most of our relatives were already here since 1975.  It was convenient for us as far as sheltering and foods.  When I first got here, everything seemed so new and yet different to me.  I thought United States was heaven on earth.  There are things that I had never seen before, blond hair, tall, big, and spooky people who speak languages that I never heard of before.  However, I remembered my mom told me that in this country people speak English.  At the time, I didn’t know any English.  On the first day of school, I felt so lonely, afraid and horrified.  I cried because I couldn’t understand what I was supposed to do in class.  Mr. Swihart was my science teacher, and I could barely pick up on his lab instruction.  I later understood that he asked us to write a lab report and it will be due following that weekend.  I had to look in the dictionary to put words together and formed a paragraph.  It was much harder for me because I didn’t know much of the English alphabets.  When I got home, I asked one of my cousins to buy me a speaker, some children books, and blackboard for me to practice writing.  About a month later, I had more essay assignments.  The assignments applied many rules because it counted as CIM Writing Essay.  I had to have rough drafts, outlines, revisions, double lines, introductions, bodies and conclusions.  Plus, I had to make it interesting so people would enjoy.  I tried so hard and it took me so long to figure out where I could start.  I did it without open my dictionary.  I had a difficult time on reading, writing and speaking English.  I asked Mr. Swihart permission to work on the assignment in E.S.L (English as Second Language) room.  I felt more comfortable as I studied a lot of non-English speaking students, so it is easy for me to say something then they could pick up right away.
In school, I liked to stay in English as Second Language room, while at home I liked to study in my room.  I would have the TV turned off.  No one was allowed to come into the room.  I have to stay silent (no singing or eating).  If none of these work for me, then I just give myself a break until everything cooled off.
I hope in the spring term, I will be better with my writing.  It is hard work that will pay off in the end.  I will continue to work hard no matter what it takes.  It is my dedication and commitment to do better.  Finally, in the end, my self-satisfaction is my best reward for my hardship and relentless efforts.  In America, hard work and dedication have its own reward in knowledge, richness, and freedoms.  One day, I will become an American citizen.

 

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