Language and Literacy Narrative
May 31, 2014
In my whole life I have never paid much attention to language and literacy. I never really like to pick up a book and read. Always thought it was something insignificant that I wouldn’t have to focus on. Never thought I would be challenge to work so hard to communicate and speak up. Let alone do it in a different language. I see now how naïve I was to think that. But now that I am so frustrated and lost, I wish I could’ve done something to make it better.
The smell of coffee and food filled the airport. I can already see how different everything is. We walk to get our luggage. I feel like I’m in a dream, everything is different and new. While we wait for our bags, not only are we waiting for our bags but my uncle as well. My uncle has been in New York for 2 years. I’m really excited to see him again. When I looked outside through the glass doors, I see a caravan of taxis and a busy airport. When I look around, I see my uncle walking towards us. I am so happy to see him, I missed him so much. I keep looking around watching every shop, every car, every building as we take the air train to the subway.
Everything is in English; I am so intent in taking everything in. The different words I see are like hieroglyphics. My mind is trying to figure out what they were saying I could only capture a few words but I couldn’t understand it all. I felt so anxious and overwhelmed. While we walk, I feel the cold wind on my face. I am so excited to hear everyone speaking so differently. I want to learn English so much. After my uncle helps us move around, he takes us to a Dunkin’ Donuts. I stare at the bright sign of Dunkin Donuts while my uncle buys coffee. I am overwhelmed with emotion. Everything is so different, the streets, the people. I never thought I would be here, when my uncle hands me my coffee he excitedly says ” Bienvenidos a New York City”.
That is the exact moment I decided to do whatever it takes to learn the language, even if it is by myself. I never felt like this before, I am very determined to learn English. I also never felt this frustrated trying to communicate. The basic action of communicating is now something so difficult to do. This is a moment that I will never forget. A moment so important is a turning point in my way of looking at things and thinking. I know how hard everything will be from now on. How much work I will have to put to be able to succeed and just to adapt in a new country.
I have so much more respect for literacy and language now that I have so much difficulty with it, it is very eye opening. Just communicating is a luxury that now I barely have. However, it is going to be so satisfying when I finally learn it. Just being here I see so many new words, so many new things I feel so honored. I will not let the fear I have beat me, I will learn it no matter what. I cannot wait to go to school and be able to dive into language a lot more. Maybe even meet people that are going through the same thing I’m going through now. So many things I want to be able to do.
After settling in on the hotel, I tiredly lay on the bed next to my sister. My eyes dropping with sleep. I lay with so many thoughts that keep me awake even though I’m so tired. I tell myself how tomorrow or in a few hours there is going to be a whole new exciting day waiting for me, with new experiences. I tell myself how I will beat this challenge. I will push myself to learn and be better. For my family and me. I will learn English because I am not going to be naïve anymore. I am going to take the bull by the horns and ride it.
