The Lost Boys of Sudan

Peter... That is my name. I've been having some trouble keeping up with the culture here in America. Everything is so different, everything is at a very brisk pace and everything is confusing. This is contrary to the life I had back in Sudan, where everything was calm, cheerful and at a very slow tempo.

Here the standard of living is very expensive. I try to keep up with my rent. Food and clothes are quite manageable here because of my frugal way of living. School and school work are a problem. After school I have to earn a living and after I finish work I still have homework from school. This keeps me up very late. The next day I have to repeat it over again. I find myself tired, stressed and sometimes a bit depressed. I hope things will get better.

I think my family back in Sudan is most important. They need my help but right now I am unable to assist them because of my very tight schedule. They have no idea how many resources are available here in America and one day I hope I can share these with them. I have also realized that racism is quite common here. Some people think that because I am black I am a danger to them and feel we are all criminals because of our color.

People also didn't talk to me. Well, only people with the same skin color interacted with me. I still tried to fit in by trying to join basketball games with the white people. I try to fit in by eating American food, like cheesburgers, fried chicken etc... I got a car, it took me a while to learn to drive it.

Overall I feel that over a matter of time I could learn the American ways. Easier handling of things I haven't been used to and interacting with different people from a different race or color.