Dear Mom:
I miss you. It’s the first time that I have been away from you for such a long time, and I do not know how to describe my feelings. I know you want me to become independent and not rely on you and dad as much as I used to. However, I never thought being in a different country and speaking in a different language would be so difficult for me.
Ever since I was young, you have taught me how to communicate with others and also told me to not be afraid to talk to people that I do not know. Though I know what you are trying to teach me, and knowing your expectations for me, I still have not made any friends here. Not only do some people think we have different color of skin and just ignore me; in addition, whenever I try to communicate with others they cannot understand what I am trying to say. Mom, can I please go back home?
Dear Son: I know how tough it is to be in a different country that you do not know anyone and do not speak the same language as they do, except life will not always go the way that we want it to. Sometimes there are challenges that we have to face, and after we have passed through the obstacle that is in front of us, we will learn a lot. Right now you are about to learn, and it is just the beginning of it.
When I first went to the United States I also did not speak English very well, yet it did not bring me down. On the other hand, it gave me motivation to get better. After four years of college and two years of work experience in America, now I can at least communicate and express my feelings to others. But I came a long way, and there were definitely times that I wanted to give up and go back home, but I know learning English it could only help me later in life and it will not become a detriment. So baby, just stick with it, I know you will be able to do it. I miss you too!
Ten days later…
Dear Mom: I got your letter. It is good to hear about your experience and knowing the technique that I could use to do my best in school while also leaning the ways to connect with people here. Yet, I finally had a conversation with one of my classmates. However, I felt embarrassed after talking to him. So, today when he came up to talk to me, he asked: “hey, how are you?” I said: “I am eighteen.” And he had a face that he was confused about what I said. Then I asked him back by saying, so “how are you?” He said: “I am doing good, school just started.” It was not until then I realized I got confused between how are you and how old are you. Even though my English is not good enough to communicate with him, he was still really kind to me and he taught me some words that I could use in a conversation. Therefore, I made my first friend, and his name is Alex. And mom, did you know that the school system here is also a lot different than the school that we used to go to? In America, the teacher asks us to talk in class and engage in the conversations, while back in Taiwan we just take in the information. Here, teachers care about what we think, and are willing to hear about our opinions about a story or a poem. On the other hand, teachers just tell us about the meaning and the theme of the story or the poem back home. Even though I still need time to adjust to the difference in culture, I enjoy hearing all of the other students talking, instead of just listening to the teacher. Although I did not understand most of the words that were coming out of their mouth, but my classmates were laughing or smiling whether they were listening or talking about the topic that we were discussing, and people were not getting offended by other people’s comments; therefore, I thought going to class in America is a lot more entertaining than classes back in Taiwan. In summary, I know I will be familiar with the styles of teaching here in a couple months, and my English will improve.
Dear Son: I am glad to hear that you are starting to like the experience in the United States, and making friends. I know you are trying hard to not disappoint me, but do not give yourself too much stress. Remember to take it step by step; do not get ahead of yourself. Everything will come in time, and you just need to be patient. You are still learning, English is your second language, I know it will take time, just stick with it, and you will learn not only English, but also the way to live on your own. I miss you, my baby.
A month later..
Dear Mom: I know it’s been a long time since I last talked to you, and you are probably worrying about me. But don’t worry, I have been good. I started to play soccer, as playing on an athletic team made me made more friends. I am starting to be able to have a simple conversation with people, and a lot of them are nice and willing to teach me my grammar and also the way to pronounce each word. Therefore, understanding that most of the people are willing to talk to me I am starting to start conversations with other people now. Even though I am just asking simple questions like: where are you from, or how long have you been playing soccer? But I am trying again. In contrast, during my classes, I realize the difference between a male teacher and a female teacher. For example, a male teacher would not give me any excuse for not understanding the reading; however, a female teacher would understand the ability of my English and let me tell her what I did understand. Therefore, I just need to prove to the female teacher that I actually did the reading; on the other hand, the male teacher just thinks I did not do the reading and gives me a low grade for the homework. While back in Taiwan, a female teacher and a male teacher are both willing to help the students with disability. Moreover female teachers like to let us have group conversations when we are discussing about a story. Conversely, male teachers want each of us to come up with our own idea about the topic we are arguing.
After two years of being in the United States..
Dear Mom:
After coming to the United States for three years, I have learned how to communicate with people and have been not as afraid to talk to strangers as I used to. In addition, I also learned about the difference in culture about female teachers and male teachers, and the techniques they use to teach. Most importantly, for me, I think I have become a lot more independent than I was when I first came to the United States. The challenges that I have been through from high school has had a huge impact in making me the character I am today, and it has also affected the ways that I think. After all, I really thank you for sending me to America, and let me grow as a person on my own; while experiencing something that you have also experienced before. In the future, I will do my best to succeed in life like what you always have told me; to have an idea about where to go in life. From all the conversations and discussions in class, I have heard about other people’s thoughts in life; and now I finally have some thoughts about my future. So thank you mom, thank you for everything that you have done for me.