My Stories--Li Meiqian

There is a big cultural difference between China and America. I lived in China for more than 17 years. The Chinese culture is a part of my life. A big change took place after I moved to America. Now I am starting a new life in America.

When I was on the plane before arriving in America, I felt very excited and happy.
After I arrived in America, I felt that it was very hard for this new beginning.
At first, since I am still at school age, I need to look for a school. This is the most important thing for me in America. I found several schools and they all said that I was overaged. They cannot accept me. I felt scared in this new world. I thought "Is there no more chance for me to go on my study? My life will become very boring." I did not want that to happen. Luckily, I found a school that I could go to. This is a school for immigrants--Lower East Side Prep. High School. There are a lot of students in the same situation like me in the school.

Time flys day by day. I learn more and more culture and customs in America. New York is a place where many immigrants live in. Though, people in America said "No prejudice and racial discrimination", but I can see it happening in many many places.
I remember when I came here almost a year ago and my second auntie comes here less then half year ago. One time, my auntie and my old and worn down grandmother went into a subway station. My auntie forgot my grandmother who could use her metro card by herself and my auntie could not help her. Since they did not know any English word, not even a world like help, they used body language to ask for help. Nobody looked at them. Suddenly, a young teenager rubbed their metro cards and ran away quickly. My auntie and grandmother shout loudly “help” in Chinese. Unfortunately nobody paid attention to them. My auntie felt very upset. Her metro card was a monthly pass that she just bought. When I heard that, I felt raged and helpless. How come nobody could help them. I know language is very important. That is what we need if we live in here.
Another story was in a winter morning. Everyone was in hurry to catch buses or subways to go to work or school. I was lucky; I caught the bus on time. The bus moved, I saw a Spanish woman running to the bus and signaled to stop. The driver did not stop the bus. At the next station, a similar situation, the difference was a white man running to the bus. The driver stopped and smiled at him. I felt unfair. Why could this happen here? How could the driver do that?
Whatever, I know one person can not change the society. But I understand that I must study hard, speak the language and may be I won’t be the next victim. Sometimes this society is ruthless.