Reflections from a former refugee

In the light of recent events I have spent a lot of time reflecting on my journey from a refugee camp to the United States.  Many people wonder about what it was like to come to America over 14 years ago and get a second chance at life.  In short, my future was rewritten in an instant! But, I would really like to share what I imagined of America and how the realities surprised me.  
    As I say in my book, as a refugee in Kenya, I imagined that America was next to heaven!  America was a place that even the richest and most powerful could not reach - in some sense going to America would have been as impossible as travelling to Mars.  I imagined America to be a utopia.  To me, Africa seemed a continent full of violence and turmoil. After seeing the devastation of war across so many African countries and observing life in the refugee camp, I felt trapped in the fight for survival.  There were moments of joy amidst the pain, but I wanted so badly to go to a place without sin and without violence where there was not reason to be afraid.  In my essay to the U.S. embassy cataloging my life story I remember writing: "I do not feel safe here.  I have nobody to take care of me. I want to have a new life in America."  

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But when I arrived in the U.S., speaking essentially no English, I thought that there had been a terrible mistake.  From all of the training I had received in Kenya I was told that I would be joining the workforce to make a living to survive in America on my own.  I expected to be taken to a factory.  But at the airport a family waited for me carrying a sign - "Welcome Home!".  I was taken to what looked like a mansion and I kept looking for the servant's quarters...but instead they gave me my own bedroom, my own soccer ball, and my own bike - I had never had any of these before in my life.  I was dreading the day when they realized that a mistake had been made and that I did not belong here with them.  When I started running Cross Country I felt a lot of pressure to prove to my family that I was worthy of representing them. 

After about 6 weeks when I started feeling comfortable with English my parents took me out on a boat ride on the lake (my Dad was determined that I would learn to love the water since we lived on Otisco Lake). This was the first time I told my story.  This was also when I realized that the Rogers were really my family.  My life in America was not just one of hard work, but also a rediscovery of childhood!  Despite the fact that in many ways I knew nothing about America at the age of 16, I knew that I had been given a most amazing gift.  I belonged in my new family and I belonged to a country.  It didn't change the fact that I wanted to represent family and country with every effort and make them proud.  I still strive to do that everyday!

I give constant thanks to the family who pushed through all challenges to bring me and my 5 adopted brothers to the US. They are a blessing and there is no replacement for the love of family! Even more, I thank the American people for opening up their arms to a refugee. That's why we are a great country - a nation of all people! And that is why we have so much to be proud of. 
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I want to share support now and in the future for all of the refugees searching for a new life and a freedom from war!   
To hear more about my story please read Running for My Life.  

Running Tip #15: A healthy body is essential for training. Listen to your body during training and make sure that you promote recovery - healthy food, stretching, and most importantly sleep!