I'm Not From Around Here

I was talking to my mom recently and she had made a statement of being proud of me for remembering where I come from and never forgetting my roots. My answer to that was "I may be in the United States but I'm not from around here". For those who don't know my biological mom is in Ghana, West Africa and has never been in the states. I left her when I was ten years old to come to the United States and it has been seventeen years now. Of course, it is to the point where I have lived here most of my life but no matter how much longer I continue to live here I will never forget my roots. I will never forget my home of Berekum, Ghana and the hard work my mom put in day in and day out.

My mom raised me until I came here to the United States to live with my dad but that hasn't changed anything. Life in Africa is completely different from the United States and of course the United States is more advanced in almost everything but that doesn't mean my home is just any place. Ghana is one of the most beautiful places in the world and lately a lot of high-profile people have taken a visit to experience the beauty. Stevie Wonder one of the most prolific celebrities here in the United States moved to Ghana and became a citizen.

I remember Dave Chapelle talking about eventually moving to Ghana when everything is all done with and having his peace. All of this is to say no matter how long I have been here, I always remember where I come from. My standards are different from someone who was born in the United States because I wasn't. I don't compare myself to those who were born here because my circumstances are different. Even though I am in the same position as others and can make the most of every opportunity I have, I still have my African beginnings.

I still remember the times in Ghana in which my mom had to make sacrifices just for us to be able to have somewhere to sleep and food to eat. I will never forget that and will never forget the people I had over there friends, family etc. I remember going back to Ghana in 2022 and most of my friends and family were surprised I still remembered things from my youth. It had been fourteen years, and I still remembered a lot. I told them I could never forget where I come from and never will.