My name is, Abdirashid Osman, and I was born in Mogadishu Somalia in 1983. I am the oldest son of 12 children. My father was a military general, and my mother was a business woman. They both wanted to stay, and raise us in their mother land "Somalia" for the rest of our lives. My parents never know what is the meaning of the word "immigrant" before 1992 .When the civil war broke out in Somalia in Jan-26 1991 every thing was changed, and family dreams were destroyed. After one year of shelling, killing, and looting, civilians in Mogadishu my mother decided to leave the collapsed county and get saver palace for her children, while my father wanted us to stay and wait for a while. He tough that this war will end soon, but my mother said, "enough is enough", and led the entire family for their first immigration experience in the history in Feb/1992.
Although, I was only nine years old when my family crossed the Kenyan Somali border, I still remember, the names, and faces of the cousins, ants, neighbors, and those we left behind in Mogadishu in that historic day, and never be seen again. I lived in Kenya for eight years waiting resettlement from the United States, but the Kenyan government did not treat us like human being. The Kenyan government officialese used to send the police to arrest the illegal Somali immigrants, in order to make money. I still don't know what caused that notorious Kenyan police actions, but it will be investigated one day.
Luckily, in Jun/05/ 2000 my family asylum seeking status has been granted by the U.S officials, and we were flown a free flight from Nairobi Kenya, to the Nashville Tennessee where I lived my first five years in America. Thanks to the American government, they provided us free housing, free food, and free transportation form the airport, and also gave us free buss cards for our first two years in America. I attended Hume Fogg High Academic Magnet, where I started in the ninth grade, and graduated in 2004. During my high school time English language was the hardest subject I ever experienced for my entire life. I hated my English class the most. Luckily, I got a experienced teachers in the school who helped me a lot, in order to over come the language barriers that restricted my ability to communicate with the others. My first year of the high school I did great job, learned a lot of English words, and I made new friends who help me to practice My English. My second and third years of the high school I was doing great, no problems at all, but I know learning a new culture, and new language never be easy for the new immigrants.
I was only seventeen when I first landed in the United States; It is not easy to be an immigrant, especially when you are a young person. Some young people easily forget their roots and adept new cultures easily after they come in this country, while some of the young immigrants end up in the prisons. I would not stick with my Somali culture without my parent's presence, and guidance. I feel sorry for the Somali contemporaries those who immigrate this country without a parents; because young people are the most vulnerable for violence, and economic problems, if they don't have their parents with them.
I really love America, because it deserved it. In my opinion America is the land of the immigrants, and American government is the pest government which provides to the immigrants freedom, opportunity, and Justice they deserve, since most of the immigrants are looking for a justice they could not find their homelands. Furthermore, American people are also generous, and they like to welcome the new arrives. This helps immigrants to adopt new way of life, and respect their American brothers and sisters.
What I like the most about this country is the Justice system. American Justice system attracted my family as well as the rest of the immigrant families. This system does not classify between an American citizens to the non American citizens. No one is above this justice system, even the President of the United States. If a person commits a crime he/she faces the American justice system equally, without discriminating the immigrants from the American citizens. This is what made America the pest country to live. God bless both America, and Somalia!
Although, I was only nine years old when my family crossed the Kenyan Somali border, I still remember, the names, and faces of the cousins, ants, neighbors, and those we left behind in Mogadishu in that historic day, and never be seen again. I lived in Kenya for eight years waiting resettlement from the United States, but the Kenyan government did not treat us like human being. The Kenyan government officialese used to send the police to arrest the illegal Somali immigrants, in order to make money. I still don't know what caused that notorious Kenyan police actions, but it will be investigated one day.
Luckily, in Jun/05/ 2000 my family asylum seeking status has been granted by the U.S officials, and we were flown a free flight from Nairobi Kenya, to the Nashville Tennessee where I lived my first five years in America. Thanks to the American government, they provided us free housing, free food, and free transportation form the airport, and also gave us free buss cards for our first two years in America. I attended Hume Fogg High Academic Magnet, where I started in the ninth grade, and graduated in 2004. During my high school time English language was the hardest subject I ever experienced for my entire life. I hated my English class the most. Luckily, I got a experienced teachers in the school who helped me a lot, in order to over come the language barriers that restricted my ability to communicate with the others. My first year of the high school I did great job, learned a lot of English words, and I made new friends who help me to practice My English. My second and third years of the high school I was doing great, no problems at all, but I know learning a new culture, and new language never be easy for the new immigrants.
I was only seventeen when I first landed in the United States; It is not easy to be an immigrant, especially when you are a young person. Some young people easily forget their roots and adept new cultures easily after they come in this country, while some of the young immigrants end up in the prisons. I would not stick with my Somali culture without my parent's presence, and guidance. I feel sorry for the Somali contemporaries those who immigrate this country without a parents; because young people are the most vulnerable for violence, and economic problems, if they don't have their parents with them.
I really love America, because it deserved it. In my opinion America is the land of the immigrants, and American government is the pest government which provides to the immigrants freedom, opportunity, and Justice they deserve, since most of the immigrants are looking for a justice they could not find their homelands. Furthermore, American people are also generous, and they like to welcome the new arrives. This helps immigrants to adopt new way of life, and respect their American brothers and sisters.
What I like the most about this country is the Justice system. American Justice system attracted my family as well as the rest of the immigrant families. This system does not classify between an American citizens to the non American citizens. No one is above this justice system, even the President of the United States. If a person commits a crime he/she faces the American justice system equally, without discriminating the immigrants from the American citizens. This is what made America the pest country to live. God bless both America, and Somalia!
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