In 2002, I was young and I lived happily in Ruava, Chin with my whole family. My dad was a pastor, a member of the council and once worked as school principal. My family and I lived in big house with two floors that my father built. Every night we always had family prayer time before bed. Every dinner we ate together.
We grew all kind of vegetables and many fruits inside our garden. In addition, my sisters grew beautiful flowers on our balcony. When I was four, my parents put me into school. Unfortunately, my dad became ill and died. Because there were no good paying jobs, my older brother decided to go to Malaysia with other job hunters. Then important people in our city decided to relocate everything, as the city was very old and in bad shape.
As people moved, we were left behind. With few houses left in 2005 we moved to Rezua City. Soon, my siblings started to move to other states for school and jobs. It started to feel as if my family was like a raindrop that falls on a rock and scatters, which once used to fall into an ocean, but that’s what life’s about. People must move forward. My second oldest brother from Malaysia decided to immigrate to the United States. As he made money, he started helping more of us immigrate too. We were seeking knowledge and a better education for a better life because it is really hard to get in Myanmar. Consequently, we came over to Yangon to meet with a border cross dealer.
Two months later, one evening, the dealer crammed a group of us into the back of a truck. As it moved, felt like we were inhaling the air we exhale over and over. I did not expect it to be this way. It was dark, with only light beams from holes. We spent over fifteen hours in there just sitting up. I got thirsty but could not drink as for obvious reasons. Time feels like ten times longer. I was sitting and questioning “why am I doing this”. I was thinking how this will change my life and wondering what’s waiting for me. Suddenly, the truck stopped, I stopped breathing and my heart started racing. I was scared because of bad rumors about this journey. As the door opened, it was the driver saying “We’re here.”
We arrived inside car repair shop. Soon taxis arrived one after another. In the fourth taxi my sister, brother and cousin jumped out and my sister ran toward me with tears and hugged me so tight. I felt so much relief! Our adventure in Malaysia began! When we arrived at their house, my sister leads us to some stairs with a flashlight. When we reached their apartment, there was a steel cell door. My cousin start unlocking the master lock size of a fist and the shackle was thick as a thumb, and another one on top. And main door has double locks, but triple from inside. My sister showed me to bed then I slept right away. On next day, people came visit us with drinks and foods.
We lived together with my cousin and his wife with their kid, teenagers in three bedrooms. Every day I stay at home babysitting my nephew and watch TV. Soon we received UNHCR paper, but doesn’t mean it’s safe going out because police are everywhere. Later they put me in Refugees School. Worst thing in Malaysia is Operasi, doesn’t happen often, but its nightmare if it does. Malaysia was half level of hell. Youngest sister and oldest brother of mine were once caught by Operasi. Later they got bail by UN Refugee Agency. Soon we got UNHCR ID Card and passed blood test then we go to U.S. I was really happy. Later I attended at Middle School, started from 8th grade. It was really tough, because people were making fun of my accent of speaking English. Sometimes I just wanted scream out to the world. As time passed I made friends, start to be comfortable and have hopes. They were amazing friends, always helping me get through with works and studies. That’s when I learn more English, but I couldn’t speak like other because it’s not what I speak since I was kid. When semesters are finished I enrolled to High School.
Even though I was in High School already, but I was barely starting from level zero. Eventually I started to have more friends and more and amazing teachers. Start to love America. Currently, I am senior class, graduating in 2016. And I’m so excited to go to college. In 2002, I was young and I lived happily in Ruava, Chin with my whole family. My dad was a pastor, a member of the council and once worked as school principal. My family and I lived in big house with two floors that my father built. Every night we always had family prayer time before bed. Every dinner we ate together. We grew all kind of vegetables and many fruits inside our garden. In addition, my sisters grew beautiful flowers on our balcony. When I was four, my parents put me into school. Unfortunately, my dad became ill and died. Because there were no good paying jobs, my older brother decided to go to Malaysia with other job hunters.
Then important people in our city decided to relocate everything, as the city was very old and in bad shape. As people moved, we were left behind. With few houses left in 2005 we moved to Rezua City. Soon, my siblings started to move to other states for school and jobs. It started to feel as if my family was like a raindrop that falls on a rock and scatters, which once used to fall into an ocean, but that’s what life’s about. People must move forward. My second oldest brother from Malaysia decided to immigrate to the United States. As he made money, he started helping more of us immigrate too. We were seeking knowledge and a better education for a better life because it is really hard to get in Myanmar. Consequently, we came over to Yangon to meet with a border cross dealer. Two months later, one evening, the dealer crammed a group of us into the back of a truck. As it moved, felt like we were inhaling the air we exhale over and over. I did not expect it to be this way. It was dark, with only light beams from holes. We spent over fifteen hours in there just sitting up. I got thirsty but could not drink as for obvious reasons. Time feels like ten times longer.
I was sitting and questioning “why am I doing this”. I was thinking how this will change my life and wondering what’s waiting for me. Suddenly, the truck stopped, I stopped breathing and my heart started racing. I was scared because of bad rumors about this journey. As the door opened, it was the driver saying “We’re here. We arrived inside car repair shop. Soon taxis arrived one after another. In the fourth taxi my sister, brother and cousin jumped out and my sister ran toward me with tears and hugged me so tight. I felt so much relief! Our adventure in Malaysia began! When we arrived at their house, my sister leads us to some stairs with a flashlight. When we reached their apartment, there was a steel cell door. My cousin start unlocking the master lock size of a fist and the shackle was thick as a thumb, and another one on top. And main door has double locks, but triple from inside. My sister showed me to bed then I slept right away. On next day, people came visit us with drinks and foods. We lived together with my cousin and his wife with their kid, teenagers in three bedrooms. Every day I stay at home babysitting my nephew and watch TV.
Soon we received UNHCR paper, but doesn’t mean it’s safe going out because police are everywhere. Later they put me in Refugees School. Worst thing in Malaysia is Operasi, doesn’t happen often, but its nightmare if it does. Malaysia was half level of hell. Youngest sister and oldest brother of mine were once caught by Operasi. Later they got bail by UN Refugee Agency. Soon we got UNHCR ID Card and passed blood test then we go to U.S. I was really happy. Later I attended at Middle School, started from 8th grade. It was really tough, because people were making fun of my accent of speaking English. Sometimes I just wanted scream out to the world.
As time passed I made friends, start to be comfortable and have hopes. They were amazing friends, always helping me get through with works and studies. That’s when I learn more English, but I couldn’t speak like other because it’s not what I speak since I was kid. When semesters are finished I enrolled to High School. Even though I was in High School already, but I was barely starting from level zero. Eventually I started to have more friends and more and amazing teachers. Start to love America. Currently, I am senior class, graduating in 2016. And I’m so excited to go to college.
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