New Chapter

 

New Chapter

            Many people feel lucky when they meet people who speak the same language that they speak in a foreign country, and I feel the same way. Before I arrived in Chicago, I lived in a suburb called Holland near Toledo, in Ohio. I noticed that there was no one who spoke my language, Mandarin or Cantonese, and the suburb was not lively. It was also hard for me to learn English and make friends there because everything was unfamiliar to me. However, after I moved to Chinatown in Chicago, everything changed. I told myself this was the place that I belonged. In Chicago, I could handle many things and help my mother that I could not before, and I have learned a lot about American culture since moving to this city.

            In Chicago, there are many Chinese people who speak my language. Sometimes, I feel like I am back in my hometown, Jiangmen. The first place I saw when I arrived in Chicago was Chinatown. There were many elderly people speaking Cantonese, and they were going to buy food for lunch. It was exactly the same scene that I used to see in Jiangmen. Moreover, there were many restaurants with Chinese characters on their signs, and this meant that I did not need to eat bread or sandwiches anymore. In Chinatown, there is dim sum and many different kinds of Chinese local foods. The flavors fill me with happiness and joy. In some restaurants people only speak Mandarin, but in some restaurants, people only speak Cantonese. However, I can speak both languages, which means I can fit in everywhere. I sensed that everything was familiar to me, and I could handle many problems because some shops and restaurants in Chinatown were owned by people who spoke Chinese. Before I arrived in Chicago, I used to live in the suburbs of Toledo. It was quiet there, and no one was walking on the streets. Therefore, after I arrived in Chicago, I enjoyed this lively atmosphere. I loved seeing people coming and going.

            In addition to feeling a little more at home in Chinatown, I also learned about an American custom after I moved to the United States. It is Halloween and children’s heaven. On that day, kids dress up in their favorite cartoon characters, and everyone has prepared candy or chocolate in their home. At night, their parents bring the kids to each house, and the kids knock on the door. The kids say “trick or treat” to the people who live in the house. Next, people who open the door give some candies to the kids. The kids are very happy. In this tradition, "trick or treat"  means that if you do not give me candy, I will do something bad to your house. Last year, on Halloween, I noticed that my coworkers brought many kinds of candy to where I worked. There were many kids on that day, and I enjoyed this moment. I saw many different cartoon characters. I loved to watch cartoons, and the kids were adorable, cool, and pretty. In my hometown, this would never happen because the people usually do not want their children to eat too much candy.

            Hence, I felt more comfortable in Chicago and have learned some parts of American customs. I used to be very shy and an introverted person. Fortunately, I started to open myself in this new environment and adapt to new experiences. Chinatown often seems just like my hometown, so I adjusted my life easier than before. I will continue to embrace this new chapter and look forward to the journey it brings on.