It's so hard to lose the one you love, to finally have to say goodbye! You try to stay strong but the pain keeps holding on, and all that you can do is cry. Deep within your heart you know it's time to move on, and the fairytale that you once knew is gone! When the last teardrop falls I'll still be holding on, to all of our memories and all of what used to be....When the last teardrop falls I will stand tall and know that your here with me, in my heart...when the last teardrop falls! So now I'm alone and life keeps moving on but my destinations still unknown. Will there be a time when I fall in love again? Or I am I just meant to walk these streets alone? If there was just one wish I could be granted here tonight, It would be to have you right back by my side....When the last teardrop falls I'll still be holding on to all of our memories and all of what used to be between you an me....When the last teardrop falls I will stand tall and know that your here with me, in my heart, when the last teardrop falls! Now it's time for me to find my happiness again, but the emptiness from missing you will never ever end!!! When the last teardrop falls

The purpose of this essay is to tell you about my background. It all started when I was born in Southern Sudan, Juba in 03/02/1985. For people who don't know Sudan, Sudan is the biggest country in Africa; it has 400 different languages and each of those languages or tribes has there own rules and way of life. I have 6 brothers. My family immigration started in 1972. When my brother and I went inside the school and everything was changed, it was unbelievable because the whole systems for the school were changed to an Islam way. One of the most important things in our school was religion class because my school was a Christian school. The books, clothes, and teachers were also changed, as for clothes we used to wear white shirt or pans, for girls they used to wear blue dress or skirts and white T-shirt. These Islam rules started to take over the nations systematically (step by step), and because the government of Sudan is Muslims it became easy for the people who wanted Sudan to be an Islam or Muslim Country.

By the middle of 1996 Muslim people ruled � of Khartoum the capital of Sudan because Christians were getting killed or kidnapped by Muslim's. So it became very hard for Christians to go to Church or even to wear that they used to wear. Women had to wear long dresses; your head had to be covered, and women are not allowed to leave the house without their husband's permission. If she raised her voice while her husband is talking to his friends, the women will get beat up. Then for teenager's girls, they were not allowed to leave the house without their brother or uncle. I remember when the soldiers were fighting. It was around down when I heard the sounds of bullets flying in the air �pew, pew, pew, pew.� My mother dragged us out of the house. We ran to the riverbank and hid. I wasn't really afraid because it wasn't the first time the soldiers attacked. When the soldiers struck again, it was all day, which means for six to six. Fighting started at six in the morning and ended at six at night. My family stayed in a kanduck, an underground hideout, for the whole day during those hard times.

As for my family living in a Muslim area it was very difficult especially when my uncle was in Jail because my family was the only Christian living in a Muslim's area and we didn't want to follow the Islam rules. While all of this was happening we were still going to school, but the way teachers taught students wasn't the way that people should be taught. Education became something else; no body wanted to go to school no more because school became a place of revenge, and instead of learning people began to fight.

So by April 1998 my sister couldn't take it anymore, because so many civilians were being killed, so we moved to Egypt as refugees. Life wasn't essay in Egypt but at least it was better then my country. While we were in Egypt we heard about this place in where people go and get interview by American lawyers, if a person filled their test they wouldn't be able to come to the United States of America, but however if you pasted the test you would come to America. My sister was very happy when she heard about it she just had that faith that we would come to the United States. While we were in Egypt she applied for coming to America, she knew it would take a long time. My sister knew that my family had to leave Sudan as soon as possible because the Civil War was going on in Southern Sudan between two regions Christians and Muslims. On April 27, 1999 my sister decided that my family should leave Sudan and come to Egypt, from Egypt we would decide what to do next. So on July 10, 1999 my family made their move which was going to Egypt. Going to Egypt was very hard because we left our older brothers in Sudan, they wanted to stay. First my family took a train from Khartoum to Wodey Hlfia for another day then they took a ship to Oswin from there they took bus to Cairo. When they got to Cairo it was so different and wild, the way people dressed, food, etc or walk and of course the costumes were different. We stayed in Egypt for ten month, and then my sister went to the United Nation to fill the application for coming to the United States. After year and half the United Nation called us to come and take the first test. The first test was just to tell why did we moved to Egypt from Sudan, and why should they let us come to the United States of America. I came to the United States in April 26, 2000 from Egypt; we spent five hours in New York airport, and then we came to Portland, Maine. Here I have found possibilities for a future. Education, work, friends a school and neighborhood community where I can learn and work to make this world a better place. When I moved to Portland I was placed in ESL classes. I was worried about learning because I hadn't learned simple things, like the English alphabet and spelling. The teachers were teaching me Arabic when I was in Sudan. The work I did at school in Sudan and Egypt was different from the United States. I was put in ninth grade here and learning ABC's and simple math like 2+2 while my classmates were learning other things. I couldn't tell the teacher that the work I was doing was too essay because I didn't know the language. I have made a lot of progress over the past 3 years, moving from ESL classes to general classes. My ability to speak English has improved dramatically; I have gone from not understanding any English, to having the ability to carry on a conversation with anyone. I feel this accomplishment had opened many more opportunities for me in and out of school in addition to being fulltime students when I was in high school, I was also very active in after school activities. I was a member of the Interact Club and I participated in the SAFE AND SMART program. I was a member of Jobs for Maine's Graduates, which had prepared me for my future and given me more opportunities to give back to the community. During the summer of 2001, I worked for Cultivating Communities as a harvester, volunteered at East End Kids Catering and Preble Street Resource Center (where I also received more computer training). The rest of my free time I spent playing soccer, which I participated in year round when I was in high school. I had a dream about America, I thought of America as the land of freedom. I also imagined lots of money, that the streets were full of money. But when I came to the U.S what I was imagining was not true. All I could see outside was white snow and no money. You must work in this country to survive. No money flew around in the street. I didn't understand the America customs. I couldn't believe that women in America wore pants and swimming suits in public. I couldn't just ask a neighbor for money, I thought it was the same as where I come from, where a person can borrow money from their neighbor. Finally, I will never forget what I went through when I was in Sudan and how Education became something else; no body wanted to go to school no more because school became a place of revenge. Also Christians were getting killed or kidnapped by Muslim in Sudan. And how I had a dream about America. My family living in a Muslim area. For all these reasons, I think that I made a lot of progress from going thought a hard time in life with my family and moving in a different country and learn about their culture and customs and they way they life.

I am new, friendly, and curious

When I first came to the United States of America, I found out the importance of knowing English. Whenever I went to the market to buy food, to the post office to mail a letter, or to take a bus to the bank, I had to communicate in English or things would not go smoothly. But the two most important reasons for learning English for me are to be able to go through the interview process to get a job and to be bale to read English to know what is going on in the world.

First, learning English is essential if I wish to go through the interview process to get a job. It is important to feel comfortable with the language and be able to converse without hesitation with the interviewer. Even if the interview may be in another language, sometimes the interviewer will switch to English just to test your fluency. But conversation is not enough; I must be able to understand formal written English, including contracts. When I was in Sudan, I went for an interview and was given a letter of employment to read and sign. The letter stated, �You will have a nine month probation period, and one month's notice or payment in lieu of notice has to be given if either party wants to terminate the contract during the probation period.� I did not know what �payment in lieu of� or �terminate� meant. I could not ask the interviewer or I would not get the job. I signed the contract and started the job. I quit six months later without prior notice. Because I did not understand the contract, I lost a month's salary.

Second, learning English is important for me because I want to know what is going on around me in the world. When I read newspapers and magazines in my own language, I feel I am not getting enough news of the world. I believe that Western reporters communicate all kinds of news in greater detail, and this will give me a different perspective. Also, being able to read magazines and newspapers in English will keep me abreast of the technological changes that will be affecting us all. With recent advances in technology, the world is changing rapidly in many fields, such as business, arts, and medicine. These changes will affect me soon, and it is important for me to read and keep up with these changes.

In conclusion, it is important for me to learn English so that I will feel confident about myself when I go for a job interview again. It is also important because I want to know what is happening in the world around me, and by learning English I can do this. In fact, learning English is the answer to a lot of the things that I need and want.

What I am good at is playing soccer. It is the only sport that I am good at. I been playing soccer since I was 5 years old. Now I hope that someday I will be playing in MLS.

Well my favorite books are Lord Of The Flies, Let The Kids Play, Afflication. For movies I like different kind of scary movies, and also love movies. I lisent to slow songs, Hip Hop, African music, Arabic music Egyption music, etc.... My favorite foods are M, Fast foot.

My Family My Friends My Girlfriend

You know, Bush did not have control of the hurricane, but let's see reporters were staying in New Orleans and several of them said that they were able to get in and out. Supplies did not reach the people in New Orleans until almost 5 days later. Oh and when did that happen? Why just before George Bush was to go and tour these areas! Coincidence I think NOT. He knew if he got there before food and water got there it would be a big mistake! I mean you can not tell me that in America we should have to watch while people die on the streets begging for help. There were ways to get supplies to these people, we are one of the most advanced countries, and yet we absolutely dropped the ball. I think that these have been sad days in America. When we stand by and watch our people lay dead in the streets. God help us! Oh and by the way I keep hearing Bush cut his vacation short because of the devastation, too bad, that is the price you pay when you are the PRESIDENT OF THE USA! There is a reason his approval ratings are so low and it is because he let our people down.

Well I am attending Southern Maine Community College in Portalnd Maine. I go Tuesdays and Thursdays. So I work Mondays, Fridays. When I get out of work at 10 P.M then I go out and have fun.

Don't have one yet but I will tell you later on.

You should message me if you want to know more about me and how I got from my country to the United States. My screen name is pityalomeri@aol.com just IM me if you want to chat with me.