Personal Narrative: A New American Language

When my older brother was five, my mother hired a babysitter because she was returning to work. For him, it was a sudden change, as he was now living with a stranger whenever my mother left. She has been babysitting me, however, since I was born.
“Salam, ismeh man, Jamila.” “Salam, ismeh man, Dennis.” I responded in a broken Farsi accent. “Jayid jayid!” my babysitter said gleefully. I knew I wasn’t good at speaking Farsi, but I was learning step by step.
Jamila is a national Iranian who immigrated to the United States after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. She mostly spoke Farsi, the native language of Iran. Although she spoke little English with a heavy accent, she more than made up for it with her resolute desire to assimilate into this new American culture, showing interest in American soap operas and Judge Judy. …show more content…
For example, she insisted that I learned Farsi. It was unappealing at first, as I wasn’t skilled in the art of dialect, but I soon learned its importance, listening in on conversations between her and my brother or her friends. Over the years, Jamila and I have developed a relationship that has grown into something more than a babysitter and her charge; we were best friends.
As much as Jamila was a part of our family, we were also invited into hers. We celebrated weddings with her, ate traditional Iranian food at Iranian restaurants, and drank tea with her friends. Occasionally, a relative would arrive and we would discuss different news from her home.
Jamila has been around since the day I was born, and I know she’s left an impact that will last forever. She’s acted as a second mother to me when my own was working, and I’m grateful that she’s a part of my life. I had the benefit of learning a different language and culture, and we have had the opportunity to navigate the world