Kareem

Listen to the Interview
media type="custom" key="8171926"

**__ BIOGRAPHICAL/GEOGRAPHICAL NOTE __**

Kareem Elgafy emigrated from Egypt and has known how to speak English since he was in kindergarten. His father had left for America for better job opportunities, two years later he finally sees his father. Some day he wishes to go back to Egypt. Egypt is one of the oldest countries; most of western Egypt is desert meaning the population is mainly living near the Nile River. Egypt border the Mediterranean sea and is partly in of Africa

** creative writing piece **

(Kareem Elgafy was only six when he immigrated from Egypt to see his dad, he now lives in the USA and wishes someday to go back to live in Egypt)

Visiting Dad

Today I went to see my dad. I and my mom had arrived at a loud building with air planes by it. There where people yelling and running somewhere. We walked to a long hall way and sat down on some chairs, a lot of people were sitting there to. Then hall way started to move with a loud screech that came from the windows. Sometime later I fall asleep because I was so tired. When I woke up I saw my dad for the first time in two years, we made our way to the car where I sat down and fell asleep. When I woke up, I was in my dad’s house. It was a lot different than I expected it would be I missed my friends but mommy says it will be better here. By: Joseph Drewing

transcription

Joe: So how old where you when you came to the USA?

6

Joe: Do you remember much from your trip to the USA?

Kareem: I remember my ears hurt because of the plane taking off. Also I fell asleep on the plane because I was so young. When I woke up I saw my dad for the first time in two years. We went to my dad’s car where I fell asleep, then woke up in my dads house. Umm I was not use to the cold weather and the housing system was different than in Egypt.

Joe: Is there any down side to coming to the USA?

Kareem: Umm ya a few for starters I had a lot more freedom back in Egypt than in the USA. Also I had like ten times more friends back in Egypt than here. I was part of a sports club; I had to give that up. I played soccer, basket ball stuff like that. I left my hobbies to and I also left most of my history.

Joe: Why did you come to the USA?

Kareem: The main reason was that my dad had gotten a job

Joe: What was your favorite food in Egypt?

Kareem: Umm pizza and macaroni

Joe: Well I meant like any cultural food you liked to eat.

Kareem: Well most of the food is the same as over here, except lamb is harder to find.

Joe: Well was it hard to get use to every thing?

Kareem: The first time I came here, yes because I thought every one talked fast, and with the accents thrown in it was a mess. The funny thing is I had known how to speak English since kinder garden.

Joe: What do you miss from Egypt?

Kareem: Well my family is over there (my distant not immediate), a lot of my friends we there. Also my history and hobbies are over there as well. I miss the weather in Egypt I think it’s to cold here.

joe: Did you find any thing shocking in America?

Kareem :No not really I mean the super markets are bit bigger but that’s wasn’t shocking. People dressed differently but that’s it.

Joe: Any thing else you would like to say?

Kareem: Well I think America has a good educational system but I understood the one in Egypt better. Also when grow up I would like to move back to Egypt to live there and get married there, but not work there.

Joe: Alright thank you for your time.

ANALYSIS It seems as if Kareem felt more comfortable back where he was born and raised. It has been proven before that people prefer an area that they know. In many cases it was harder for people introduced to a new environment to feel safe. Also it seems there was reportedly no culture shock in this event possibly due to the similarities but immigrants have had culture shock over less. Never the less it seems as if Kareem did extremely well getting use to things. His determination to return to his country show that he prefers his roots rather than changing his life, which is completely normal.