America
n. Amerika (Uzbek)
a country where everything starts first
I’m grateful to be in America. There is so much to see, but it’s not easy to move in a foreign country where everything is new—friends, school, language, people, food and places.
Border
n. biên giới (Vietnamese)
an imaginary line separating countries and people
We cross the border for the purposes of protecting our families and living a fuller life.
Culture
n. ثقافة (Arabic)
the customs, art, and achievements of a particular country
Brides use henna to make themselves more beautiful for their weddings since it is part of their culture.
dreamer
n. soñador (Spanish)
a child brought to a different country illegally often without having
control or giving an opinion
To be a dreamer is to be isolated at a young age.
Education
n. ta’lim (Uzbek)
a power that no one can take away
Education is not only being in school, but also learning from the life around me.
Faith
n. đức tin (Vietnamese)
a strong trust and confidence in one’s religion or trust in another person
I have faith in God’s plan for me and that he will protect me from danger on my journey.
Happiness
n. আনন্দ (Bengali))
The explosion of joy one feels within oneself when one’s heart is full
I feel a burst of happiness when I explore the big city of Philadelphia.
Immigrant
n. immigrant (Uzbek)
someone who migrates from one country to another to start a new page of their life
I like being an immigrant. I have a chance to meet different people in my life and learn something new about their culture. It’s fascinating and gives me an opportunity to shape my life differently.
Jewelry
n. গয়না (Bengali)
articles of gold, silver, and precious stones for personal adornment
My mother brought her jewelry with her because it reminded her of her past, her family and traditions.
Knowledge
n. জ্ঞান (Bengali)
the sum of what is known
I think my faith is a good source of knowledge. It helps me stay on track.
Green Card
n. Tarjeta Verde (Spanish)
a piece of plastic that allows you to move freely across the U.S.
My brother Paul has to carry his Green Card everywhere because of his daily attire and skin color.
Leave
v. terketmek (Turkish)
to go away from somewhere or someone
When I was leaving Turkey, I could not breath. It was like I was dying.
Memory
n. ذكريات(Arabic)
something that you remember from the country where you were
born
All my good memories are from Sudan.
Now
adj. ahora (Spanish)
at a present moment
I’m not a friend of procrastination, nor am I patient (waiting to get things done). I like to do things now.
Occupy
v. إحتلال (Arabic)
to occupy another country or someone else’s place
Years ago the British occupied Sudan.
Prisoner
n. prizonye (Haitian Creole)
someone who belongs to someone else or is kept temporarily somewhere
When I came to America, I felt like a prisoner because I felt trapped in a place I didn’t know much about.
Qualifed
adj. উপযুক্ত (Bengali)
having the training to choose the job you want
My mom is a qualifed nutritionist in her country, the Dominican Republic, but in America she is looking for a job.
Refugee
n. refugiado (Spanish)
someone who is running away legally or illegally to better themselves
or their family
What makes refugees like my Mom and Dad happy are their things from home like photos of the bush where they grew up.
Stereotype
n. 刻板印象 (Chinese)
assumptions about certain types of people because of their characteristics
To me a stereotype is the same as an uneducated guess. We subconsciously stereotype different people. People stereotype me too.
Water
n. ماء (Arabic)
a liquid that the world needs to live
There are people who have to leave their countries because they don’t have water. When the sky sees them, it starts crying rain to help them.
Trust
n. ثقة (Arabic)
To find your way in the darkness with the help of others
When I first came to the United States I had to trust others to help me through the changes.
Upset
adj. molesto (Spanish)
the feeling of being down
I feel like it’s not other people that make you upset, it’s the life you are living.
Youth
n. ِthiếu niên (Vietnamese)
the next generation of young people full of aspirations and expected
to pursue their dreams
My youth will be spent working hard in school so that I can graduate from college and show that being an immigrant is not a disadvantage.
Zero
n. صِفر(Arabic)
a number that represents nothing
Every immigrant starts their journey from zero.
Text
the 24th letter of the English alphabet, a consonant
The letter X is not a letter in Turkish, Urdu, Bengali, or Arabic—languages that many immigrants speak.
Visa
n. visto (Portuguese)
a stamp in your passport that allows you to enter another country
My entire family had to go to the consulate to get a visa. We had to ll out a lot of paperwork. Then they stamped the visas in our passports.
