My name's Anh Kim, and I am ALMOST 15 years old. I was adopted when I was 10 from Vietnam. I now make my home in Tennessee with my family.
My life hasn't been an easy one. I was born into extreme poverty in a little village near Saigon, and I tried my best to care for my siblings when they came along. I then got sick at the age of 6 when my one leg got sore--they found out that it was bone cancer, and I had to have my leg amputated--, and at the age of 8 we were all put up for adoption and were then flown to America.
I was adopted at the age of 10 to a family that already had several kids when I came along, and let's face it: I was a scared little boy who spoke very little English. But then I found out that my adoptive parents had made provisions to learn a few BASIC words in Vietnamese, just so to make me feel more at ease. That was really nice of them. And as I got used to my new home and my new family, I found out that they loved and cared about me.
At the age of 11, I started feeling sick again. My joints hurt, I felt tired and feverish all the time, and my body started getting these "bruises" that puzzled me: I didn't remember running into anything. When I went to the doctor, he put me immediately into the hospital, where I was then told I had leukemia--cancer of the blood.
Oh, GREAT! Not again! I had had cancer; I now had it AGAIN??--
This COULDN'T BE HAPPENING!--
I had to undergo painful bone marrow treatments and more chemo and stuff; I ended up losing what little bit of hair I had left 'til I was as bald as a rock. I had big old circles under my eyes, and I looked evil. I became depressed, so certain that I was going to die. WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE? I wondered.
I am glad to say I'm presently in remission--that is, my cancer isn't active--, but I still have to have chemo treatments every week (for two years, at least, according to Dr. Emmons, my doctor).
I have since adjusted to life in America, but I still find many of her quirks puzzling. Like, why are most people often in a hurry?
Or why are there so many cars; there CAN'T be THAT many cars for THAT many people! Or why are the buildings so tall? Or WHY do people speak other languages OTHER than English here in America? Are they American citizens, or are they JUST VISITING?? (Yes, I speak both french and Vietnamese, but I live here in AMERICA; therefore, I prefer to speak ENGLISH!) And why isn't the leaders of our country doing ANYTHING TO STOP this evil called "terrorism"? (I feel bad that the Twin Towers fell and so many people died, especially since I had SEEN them just TWO MONTHS prior!) And also--WHY is there so much garbage on tv??
But despite her problems, America has been my home for over 4 years now, and I have grown to love her very much. I love the flag and what it stands for, and I love the idea of freedom, that I can do as I please--AS LONG as I DON'T break the law; one HAS to be careful, especially nowadays! I love the diversity of her citizens--red, white, brown, black, tan--we all come from different parts of the world, but WE ARE UNITED AS AMERICANS ALL! And I love the diversity of her landscape--you have bayous, sprawling cities, miles and miles of fertile farmland that seems to go on for MILES, lush green forests and majestic mountains, and--I could go on and on.
And she has NEAT entertainment: pro sports teams, music of ALL types, movie theatres, amusement parks--ANYTHING to make people happy!
I may have only been in America for 4 short years, but I am intensely honored to be an American. I will stand for EVERYTHING America has stood for, and I will defend my freedom in the best way I know how!!!
Gemma succeeds in starting a girls' football team at her new school, but bitter rival Tyrone does everything he can to stop the girls playing. So begins a battle of wits between the girls and boys, and also between Gemma and sports teacher, Mrs Lawfo
