Cultural connections: Moving to a different country

by Bisharo Dadow
Guest columnist

Moving to a different country and adapting to a new environment has a huge effect on a child. It is hard and distressing to adjust to changes in a new culture. It can be fun exploring new things and getting a head start on a new future. However, no one tells a child how easy it is to forget one’s past culture and lose oneself in the new culture. When I was 8 years old, I moved with my family to America. We first landed in Atlanta, Georgia. After a few months, we moved to Minnesota. I remember hearing lots of good comments about America, so I was excited to see those things come into my life.

As I continued learning about America in school, I began to miss learning about the culture and history of my native country. The only time I learned about my Somali culture was when I was home with my family. My culture is something I don’t ever want to lose. I want to be able to speak my native language and learn more about my culture. I lost my native language because I was surrounded by people who only spoke English. In order for me to be where I desire to be in the future, I know I must be able to communicate in English. I am sad and disappointed, however, that my mother language is slowly fading away. I am grateful I am getting an education and I can help my mom provide for my family because I can speak English and work in America.

It is difficult to have a deep connection with my mom because I have completely immersed myself in English. She speaks Somali and only a little bit of English. I cannot speak Somali without saying “um” after every sentence. I read, write and am enrolled in writing classes, but they do not help me communicate with my mom.

I believe if I grew up in a place where I also spoke my native language, I would not be in this situation. I would do anything to speak Somali fluently rather than have this disheartening feeling of not being able to speak fluently with my mom.