Africans Of New York
Africans Of New York (Amira)
11:00 AM
Both my parents were born in Ghana and so was I but my mum is Yoruba and
traces her roots from Illorin, Nigeria. So I claim a country depending on my
situation. When I’m with a group of Ghanaians, I’m definitely Ghanaian; I speak
twi and hausa & when I’m around a group of Yoruba people; I can pass as
Yoruba because I understand the language, I know their foods and I am accustomed to their culture. I like to
think of myself as I have the best of both worlds but I usually identify as
Ghanaian.
Why
did you come to America and How was your journey to America?
Honestly, I came to America because my parents asked me to; it was supposed
to be a vacation but years later and I’m still here. I however, think it was a
great opportunity because I got access to quality education and I met really
amazing people. The journey was of course a one-way ticket from Kotoka airport
in Accra to JFK.
What
were you doing in Africa before coming to America?
I had just completed junior high school
and I was waiting to enroll into a high school I was obsessed with. That is why
I wasn’t excited about America.
Do
you plan to stay in America, or will you move back home?
As tempting as it is to want to live the ‘American life’, my long term
goal is definitely to move back to Ghana after my education and gained some
working experience in my field. I hope to build equipped and affordable heath
care facilities back home
How
do you like living here compared to living in Africa?
I
like America; I think its fun except for the cold and lack of fresh African
food but overall, the country presented a lot of opportunities for me.
What
do you miss most about Africa?
I miss my family & the Ghanaian way of life which is not totally
lost in New York but there is no place like home. And I definitely miss my
early morning waakye and late night fresh kenkey from Botwe junction.
0 comments