America has beneficial to Burmese family

Rachel Gray, Student Life editor

In recent years, Burmese immigrants have been migrating into American states such as Indiana. Junior Nu Hing’s typical day consists of going to school Monday through Friday, similar to most American schools. This was then followed by a 6 a.m. wake up call that lead to a weekend of working on a farm and a Sunday visit to the church.

Hing came to America in 2008 at the age of eleven. She had been able to travel into the U.S. through the Union of Myanmar Travel Association. She left her home in Chin State alongside her parents, two brothers and two sisters. They then boarded a boat that would lead them into Malaysia. Hing spent what she had described to be a long uncomforting passage into Malaysia.

“ It was terrible. It was pretty scary. We were traveling day and night, because it’s a long distance, ” Hing said.

Upon her arrival in America, Hing initially moved into Arizona, but then her parents received word that they had family members within Indiana. This choice had been made, because they wanted to have the ability to take care of one another in times of need. They had found it to be much easier if they were to live within the same state.

When she arrived in America, Hing knew nothing about the English language. She was initially taught only how to say the phrase “my name is.” Though once in school, Hing was soon placed into the EL program which has helped her increase her knowledge of the English language. She has found America to be an immense educational opportunity for her as well as other Burmese students who are coming into the foreign country. When in Chin State, Burma, the schools that Hing attended, were much smaller than those within the U.S.

“Here you can do whatever you want for education. They don’t have scholarships. Even though they passed high school, even though they’re smart, the government won’t pay for it,” Hing said.

She has enjoyed the time she has spent in America, and Hing has found the country to be more beneficial for her as well as other immigrants who either have came or are coming into America.