Jelena from Serbia, 19 years old

Full transcript of Jelena's story

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I remember when I came here, I could just speak one sentence: I don't speak English. People when they talk to me, I just repeat the same sentence again and again: I don't speak English.

I came here in 1999, February 5th. It was night. It was dark. I came with my mom and my stepfather, he wait for us. My first day, I watch tv and maybe a few days later, I register in school and then I went to the doctor and they check every part of me, if I'm okay. They first day in school, it was too many kids. It was just one girl who talk Serbian and I was always just with her, follow her. I was like a dog, just follow her wherever she go. First I was scared of other people, the teacher he introduce me I was new student and all the people look at me like wow. I didn't know what to do. And he asked me something and I look at him and then that girl, she translate for me. And it was difficult. It was very difficult. And sometimes if I understand a question and I don’t know how to answer, I don’t know how to explain in English. And maybe in ninth grade, it was so-so. I use the dictionary everyday. When I have homework, you had a lot of time, but in school when you had a school or test, it was a big problem. But now, I feel better. I try because my mom, she don't understand English. She understand, but now she's in the same position I was. You know, she understand, but she cannot communicate.