lost in translation essay
                                                          The Best of Both Worlds
                     On October 7, 2011 I embarked on an adventure that would forever change my life. At age sixteen I, Hassan Ani-baba , left Nigeria to do my schooling, specifically to go to college, and in doing so I left my family and friends in Nigeria and started my new life here in America. Though much is missed back in Nigeria, I find my life here in America to be quite eye opening. With this experience I have learned that moving to another country is like changing one’s identity and way of life.
                 Life in America and life in Nigeria both reap benefits, but with comparison one can definitely notice the change in lifestyles. A time I came to notice this was when I would hang out with my friend. When I was in Nigeria, after school had finished, I would hang out with my friends. My friends would even come over to my house, and I still remember my mother would have to run them out of the house when it got dark. Back then I saw my friends every day, and we always had time for each other, but living in America I have notice that hanging out with my friends is not be as frequent as it was in Nigeria. One thing about America is that, it has programmed Americans to live such a fast pace lives, in that they only have time to work and take care them self. Nowadays to see my friends may take some work, as in finding a spot in both of our schedules to dedicate time to hanging out. But with a change there is always a better side, and in this case I have been opened I to new cultures. Though hanging out with friends may be a hassle, I have been able to have fun in different ways. Sometimes I go to the basketball court and play ball with some of the locals down there, and in doing that I have been able to create a diverse group of friends. I also have been open to American football, which I have noticed was commonly watched here in America, it the equivalent of soccer for Nigeria. With these cultural changes I try to learn from them to better my future, because that is my purpose here.
                 As I said in the beginning, when I left Nigeria, I ended up leaving my family behind, and not a day goes by that I don’t reminisce about my life with my family in Nigeria. One of my fond memories of my father is when we would watch soccer together. We always would argue about the games, and which teams were better, but the arguments always led to laughter. Another memory I have, is of my mother, since I am the youngest child my mother would spoil me. She was always taking care of me and she would watch out for me to make sure I was always ok, for this I love her dearly. Watching these games with my father and those times I spent with my mother meant a lot to me, because now I find myself having to appreciate those moments. As much as I miss my parents, I do like the fact that I am on my own, it