READING 3 Chimene Ntakarutimana: From Africa to America

Chimene Ntakarutimana: FROM Africa TO America

Read the following essay. Pay special attention to the words in bold. 12.5

I’m the second of four children. Our names are Gentille, Chimene (that’s me), Joseph, and Joy. When we lived in Africa, our family was in great danger. We moved from country to country. I was born in Burundi, but my siblings1 weren’t. We were each born in a different country. Gentille was born in the Congo. Joseph was born in Zambia. And Joy was born after we left Africa. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? My parents dreamed of a better future, and we kids did, too. You can’t imagine what it’s like to live in fear all the time, can you? But that was our life in Africa.

I was six when we came to the United States. My youngest sister, Joy, was born in the United States. She was an American citizen from birth, but the rest of us weren’t.

At first, we lived in a small apartment in Chicago. Life was hard. We didn’t speak English. My parents didn’t have jobs. But a refugee2 agency3 helped us, and an American woman did, too. We started to call her “Grandma Sandy.”

After three years in Chicago, my family moved to Kentucky. Grandma Sandy was sad when we left, and we were, too. But she visits us often, and we always spend part of our summer vacations in Chicago. I love Chicago, and my sisters and brother do, too.

I now speak English fluently. I don’t speak my native language, Kirundi, anymore. Joseph and Joy don’t, either, but my oldest sister, Gentille, does. I understand it, but Joseph and Joy don’t.

I’m now a senior in college. My major is psychology. I hope we can learn from history and that the future will be better. I’m an optimist4 , aren’t I?

After college, I plan to go to law school. I want to be an immigration lawyer. I want to help other people and make a difference in the lives of others.

1 sibling: a person’s brother or sister 2 refugee: a person who leaves his or her country to escape war, natural disaster, or other dangerous situations 3 agency: an organization 4 optimist: someone who thinks good things will happen