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My American Life
A Brazilian Woman’s Story
by AnonymousMy story starts three years ago when my husband talked for the first time about immigrating to America. I became very angry; I didn’t want to leave my country. I am very patriotic and proud of Brazil. We almost got a divorce. My mother is a stronger and wiser woman, and she made me see my intolerance. “That is your husband’s dream – to go to America – you need to help him accomplish it. You are his wife and you have a daughter with him,” she said.
I saw my furniture and all the stuff I loved put into a big container and it broke my heart. I remember my flight. I cried all the time. I was alone and frightened. I arrived in New York during a big storm; all flights to Boston were cancelled. Like a nightmare, I stayed stuck eight hours in the airport. When the plane arrived in Boston, the temperature was ten degrees Farenheit, and for the first time I saw snow and ice that wasn’t made by the refrigerator. Another two hours on frozen roads and I saw Dover, New Hampshire, my future homeland. For three months I lived in a hotel room. It was dark, ugly, and lonely. I cried during those days like I never cried before. Then I started to realize that I needed to set up my life. I realized that my life was here, and I needed to live it in the best way I could.
Now I live each day like one step on a large stairwell. One step is one more realization. Every day I try to know more about Americans, how they live, what they are like, and I try never to judge, never to compare with the Brazilian way. I dried my eyes to see the beauty, the best, and it has worked very well. I’m open to try new experiences, new friendships, and new tastes.
Sometimes I make a lot of mistakes and I notice people staring at me, but that only makes me more determined to learn. My English is improving slowly, and that is my only problem now. Of course I feel homesick, I miss my friends and family in Brazil, but I have friends here now. I have one life to live. I appreciate the effort that people make to understand my English. They never complain about it, but I do. I drive myself crazy when I need to say something and I can’t.
My daughter is perfectly adapted. She is a cheerleader and her grades are good. She is a happy girl with a lot of friends, and the other kids don’t treat her differently. How can I dislike a country like that? Now my husband is talking about moving again, maybe to Brazil, maybe not. Now I’m unhappy. I don’t want to lose friends. I don’t want to lose my identity again. Here now is my home, here I am safe. I don’t want to start again, try to understand new people, try to make another place my home. This is a paradox, almost illogical. Now I’m the one who doesn’t want to go.
Reprinted with permission from Expectations: What You Should Know about Life in the United States, by the ESOL class of 2000, Dover Adult Learning Center in Dover, NH.
Comprehension Questions for My American Life
1. How did the author feel about moving to America?
2. If you are an immigrant, how did you feel about moving to America and what was your first impression of America?
3. Can you describe her first impression of America?
4. What are some of the things the author likes about living in America?
5. What are some of the things you like about living in America?
6. What do you think the author means by "Now I live each day like one step on a large stairwell?
7. What do you think will happen to the author in the future?
New
England Literacy Resource Center
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Updated 10/01 Questions, comments, or problems please contact Steve Quann