How to Get Accustomed to a New Life

Essay by Karla Mata Pacheco

Are you going to be a new student in the English Language Institute, and you do not know how it is going to be? How do you feel about it? Well, there are some aspects that you have to consider if you are planning to come to this new country (United States of America). As soon as you arrive, you will notice that everything is going to be different. You have to start a new life. It is a big step because you will have to start all over again. It is a big change. You can get accustomed easily, if you decide to work on it. These are some of the aspects you need to know.

First is that you will have a new life. Why? Well, the reason is obvious. You are coming to another country. Maybe you are coming from another continent. Sometimes you are coming alone. That is why you will have to get accustomed to new responsibilities that you do not use to have. For example, you will have to learn how to do laundry. When I came here, I did not know how to do that, and I made many of my clothes to shrink. Also, you will have to start to cook, if you do not have a meal plan in the place that are you going to live. You should make sure that you have at least something to eat. Another responsibility is cleaning your room. At first it is hard, but you will get accustomed to that with time.

Second is that you will meet a lot of new people that could be from a different country, city, or even from a different continent. It can be hard to find friends very fast, but you have to be open minded with everything. Sometimes, people from other countries do not have the same culture or religion. When I came here I did not know that there were a lot of people from other countries. I thought that it would be hard for me to find friends, because sometimes I can be very shy. Now, you can see me talking with people that you could never imagine, although some of them have a different religion or culture. You can learn a lot of things from them, as they can learn from you. It is a multicultural exchange. The “ELI” has some cultural activities for all the students. That is a good way to start to meet people from the program.

Lastly, but no less important, is the language. All of the people are coming for the same reason as you, to learn English. You have to improve your skills, even if you do not have a good English level. Do not worry that is why you are coming here, to learn English. One of the most common pieces of advice I have heard is that it is not good to be shy. A good way to improve your English is talking with other people, doing all your assignments, and practicing. “The more you practice, the more you learn.” That is something that some of the people who have helped me with my English have been telling me. It is a good start, if you are determined to improve it.

Finally, you have to know that it can be a different and interesting experience. You are coming because you want to be good, or better with this language. You will learn a lot of things, and you will notice that it is worth it to come to learn English, even if you have to have more responsibilities. This experience has changed my life in a positive way. I am glad that my parents convinced me to come to the English Language Institute to improve my English. I am definitely going to miss the people who have been helping me, and the experiences I have had with them.