DEPARTED FROM
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

ARRIVED IN
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

YEAR
2013

AGE
6

So what's your name?

My name is Agela Gemechu.

When did you start being an immigrant/when did you start moving?

So, my dad was already in America at the time. So, he called us this one night as a surprise to tell us that we were coming here. Yeah, you told us like in 2013 I think. I don’t remember what, like the exact month. But yeah, he told us as a surprise. “Oh, yeah, you’re coming to America. We’re gonna be all together again.”

So why did you start moving?

There wasn't really any specific reason. It's just that we thought that America would be to like start a bigger family. Where we were at in Ethiopia was fine, ‘cause like, there wasn't really anything going on at the time. But, we thought that it would be better to move to a bigger state and a bigger country to have a better life.

What way of travel did you use to move?

We used an airplane. It was a long 13-hour flight.

Who were with you when you traveled?

It was only me and my mom. Because, yeah, my sisters weren’t born at the time. So, yeah, it was just us two.

What did you use while you were traveling?

What do you mean by that?

Oh, yeah. While you were traveling? Just an airplane?

Yeah. Just an airplane.

What's one specific memory you had while you were traveling?

I remember that when we got here, it was like fall. And like, the colors of the leaves were changing and everything. In Ethiopia, like, there's fall and stuff, but like, it's not as cold as it is here. And, like the leaves and stuff don't change. So, it was pretty surprising to see.

How was your culture different from Ethiopia to America?

I got to like adjust to the American-like society and how, like, they do – like live their daily lives. And, it’s really different from how Ethiopians are there. Like there’s some similarities, but for the most part, I had to re-adjust to, like, how people were in the customs here and stuff.

What changed in your perspective about the world when you moved to America?

Well, I saw that there was like, a lot more people as you move to different countries. Like in Ethiopia, it was just like a bunch of Ethiopians. And then, when you move to America, it’s like different races and everything. So, there's a lot more people to see.

What emotions did you feel when you move to America?

I was really happy, because it's been a couple of months since I saw my dad. So, it was nice to see him again.

Yeah. All right. Thank you.