My version of the American dream to immigrants including Chinese Essay

My version of the American dream to immigrants including Chinese - Essay Example In my own way, I had my version of the American dream to many immigrants; America personified the opportunity to experience the freedom they lacked in their countries, and exploit available opportunities in work and education. Although in the modern day, many countries have become more liberal than there were in the past, I carried such sentiments because, in China, it is well known that the media and freedom of expression are far from the world class. Despite my original enthusiasm, when the day came, I had mixed feelings about leaving my homeland to go to a place I did not know and where I knew almost no one. I said a few tearful goodbyes, and as I walked into the airports interior, I did not look back to wave to my few waving relatives because I did not want them to see my tears. My journey to America in many ways was more than just a physical journey; it was a spiritual one too. I had begun to question myself and decide where I belonged, did I belong to China and should I study, and they return to my home or did I belong to America like my unknown relatives? On the plane, I kept turning these thoughts around in my mind until I fell asleep, I when I woke up, I was in America. When I got off the plane, I stood transfixed in wonderment, staring at the crowds milling around receiving and saying bye to friends. I could hardly believe I was in America, the land of freedom and opportunity, as I experienced a mixture of joy in finally arriving and nostalgia when I realized I had left my homeland probably forever.... I had begun to question myself and decide where I belonged, did I belong to China and should I study, and they return to my home or did I belong to America like my unknown relatives?  On the plane, I kept turning these thoughts around in my mind  until I fell asleep,  I when I woke up, I was  in  America. When I got off the plane, I stood transfixed in wonderment, staring at the crowds milling around receiving and saying bye to friends. I could hardly believe I was in America, the land of freedom and opportunity, as I experienced a mixture of joy in finally arriving and nostalgia, when I realized I had left my homeland probably forever. Settling down was not very hard, and it was arranged that I should stay with my relatives at first before I could move out on my own. I did not move around much in the first few days, and when I did venture out on my own I walked into a cafe for a snack, the first thing I noticed was that almost everything was fried. The food was not bad, bu t I knew it would take time to get used to, some combinations were, however, strange to me, and I did not even attempt them such as cheese and apple. Contrary to what many people in my homeland China imagine, life in America is not an easy one, yes, the jobs pay more, but one has to work longer hours and at times work more than two jobs at a time. When asked my uncle what I could do for work since I needed to make money for my upkeep, he said for the time being I could work in his grocery store in my free time. However, he encouraged me to look around and see what else I could do since he knew selling greens was probably not going to be very interesting to me. One of the fears I had about coming to America was racial discrimination, which I had heard so much about, however, in