Personal memory and reflective experience in memoir writing

Personal Memoir

"the Move"

Anyone who has ever travelled outside the country they were born in can understand exactly what I felt when I moved from Vietnam to the U.S.A. anyone who has lived in their country of origin since they were born and not travelled anywhere cannot be in a position of understanding me. A friend of mine had travelled to the U.S. For a year and we kept constant communication. She spoke highly of the country and really encouraged me to apply for a visa to travel to the U.S.A. At first I was a bit reluctant but when she continually talked of the opportunities that exist for me there I was more than sure that I wanted to take a shot.

At the back of my mind I still had reservations. I asked myself several questions how will my life be there? Will I be able to adapt to the lifestyle there? Is the country so different from Vietnam? Will the people there we welcoming and warm as people are here at home? I could not find the answer to all these questions not unless I go there and find out on my own.

I had not told anyone about my intentions of travelling to the U.S. I secretly applied for a Visa and passport. It is only my friend who knew about my plans and encouraged me as I went through the application process .I vividly remember the day I received the phone call from the embassy. They called to inform me that my application was successful and I was meant to travel in a month's time. Honestly speaking I received this news with mixed feelings. I was excited and scared at the same time. Excited because I had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time but scared since I did not know what to expect when I travel there .I was also disturbed by the fact that I did not know how I would break this news to my family. I did not know what my parents would say about my decision since I had not involved them in my plans.

I had to break this news to my parents; they were upset that I had not informed them of my plans. However there was nothing they could do since I had already made up my mind to travel to the U.S.A. when the day I was to travel came we were all so emotional. My parents were really worried; they could not seem to find a way of expressing how worried they were. My mum really cried a lot, she was so afraid that I was no longer going to be near her so that she could protect me from anything. I hate goodbyes and all this took a toll on me when I boarded the plane.

It was my first time on a flight and I was so worried scar5ed.it was a feeling I had never felt before. It was not like the usual bus trips that I made within Vietnam and the fact that I was going to a new country did not make the flight any easier. When I finally got to the airport in New York city I felt more scared saw completely new faces and so many of them. All this people were strangers and that is when it dawned on me that I was far away from home .I was in a land where I knew no one apart from my friend who I did not know where she lived. I was more scared than never before and I really regretted making that decision to move to the U.S.A.

I really felt homesick. I wanted to go back home was so lonely and lost; the world seemed too different here. I immediately joined school which was my main reason for coming to the U.S. In the first place. This was a new experience all together. My classmates were all into their own business. Most of the students there did not bother about anyone. People there were so antisocial as everyone only cared about their lives .I learned that most of the students work and study at the same time. I was now job searching, I had to find a way of taking care of myself without asking for money from my parents .I applied my first job in a restaurant. After a series of interviews I was give the opportunity to work in that restaurant was over the moon when I got this chance. I vowed to myself that I would work very hard so as to keep the job. I really enjoyed working at the restaurant . I got the opportunity of interacting with very many people .I learnt a lot from this interactions. It was a really great experience working there, this was an eye opener and it gave me an insight of the life there in New York. When I got my first pay check I was so happy beyond words. I did not believe that I was the one who had earned so much money working. Back at home in Vietnam, restaurant jobs did not fetch so much money. When I looked at my paycheck what I earned was close to three times what I was earning back at home. This is when I realized that I had made the best decision .I had enough money for my upkeep and also send some home to my parents. When my parents got the money I had sent they were very happy.tey could not believe that I could be bale to raise that much money in just two months of my stay there.