“Is it possible for anyone to find a reason to call strangers family? That is so weird!” said one of my American friends Kelly when I told her that I do not miss home. Before leaving my family, I could not imagine that it is possible to find peace and comfort away from home. Where I come from, Rwanda, family is everything anyone would every wish for. However, I have passed through many life circumstances which influenced my understanding of who I should consider to be my family. I always wonder why people find it harsh and mean whenever I tell them that I never miss going home because the comforting company I find in any new place I go to. I have come to realize that family is not just people in my family blood line; family can also be anyone
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When I was in the 4th grade, we had a farm worker, Emmanuel, who was almost my age. Even though he had dropped out school, it was not because he wanted to happen. After his mother found out that she was HIV positive, she stopped taking care of him and his sister. His relatives had already abandoned his family after his father deceases. The only option he had was to drop out of school in order to find a small job to take care of him and his sister. He had been working at home for almost three years, but to me he was no longer our farm worker but also a brother. My brother and I asked our parents if they can help him go back to school since he wanted it so bad. Because he had demonstrated good manners to my parents, they trusted that he would never turn them down in case they paid his school fees. For twelve years, Emmanuel did not talk to his mother or his family relatives, and they did not bother to look for him neither. We became his …show more content…
I have also lived a way from my family for almost 18 years. Since grade four, I attended boarding schools only. When I went to high school, I was far away from my family. Every time we had a school break, I had to go visit my Aunt who live near to my school. I met my mother once a year, and sometimes once in two years. Most of the time we spoke on the phone. In the middle of my eleventh grade, I went to study in South Africa for two years and then came here in the US. All that time, I occasionally talked to my family on the phone or via Skype. Because of the experiences I had with people who never had a chance to know their blood families, I appreciated the fact that I was fortunate to have mine. Unfortunately, many of my relatives do not know much about me because I have travelled a lot. Nonetheless, I try hard enough not to lose connection with my family even though it is not easy for them. From my life experience, I learned to cherish what I have at hand, and not cling on what I think is
When I was in the 4th grade, we had a farm worker, Emmanuel, who was almost my age. Even though he had dropped out school, it was not because he wanted to happen. After his mother found out that she was HIV positive, she stopped taking care of him and his sister. His relatives had already abandoned his family after his father deceases. The only option he had was to drop out of school in order to find a small job to take care of him and his sister. He had been working at home for almost three years, but to me he was no longer our farm worker but also a brother. My brother and I asked our parents if they can help him go back to school since he wanted it so bad. Because he had demonstrated good manners to my parents, they trusted that he would never turn them down in case they paid his school fees. For twelve years, Emmanuel did not talk to his mother or his family relatives, and they did not bother to look for him neither. We became his …show more content…
I have also lived a way from my family for almost 18 years. Since grade four, I attended boarding schools only. When I went to high school, I was far away from my family. Every time we had a school break, I had to go visit my Aunt who live near to my school. I met my mother once a year, and sometimes once in two years. Most of the time we spoke on the phone. In the middle of my eleventh grade, I went to study in South Africa for two years and then came here in the US. All that time, I occasionally talked to my family on the phone or via Skype. Because of the experiences I had with people who never had a chance to know their blood families, I appreciated the fact that I was fortunate to have mine. Unfortunately, many of my relatives do not know much about me because I have travelled a lot. Nonetheless, I try hard enough not to lose connection with my family even though it is not easy for them. From my life experience, I learned to cherish what I have at hand, and not cling on what I think is