Personal Essay
Whenever I think of my parents, I think of many things. I think of the future and the past, I think of the years we spent together and the funny moments. From as far back as I can remember, I saw my dad everyday but not often because he used to come home from work late, and at that time I used to be asleep. However, my mom was there most of the time. On weekends two of my uncle’s, my aunt, and my grandfather come to our house. The adults go to the living room and they either talk about their week, about family related, or politics. My brother and I enjoyed playing with our cousins, but at the same time my dad insisted that I should stay with the adults. My sister helped my mom in the kitchen. As soon the food was ready we all would go and help my mom to get the food on the table. It would take my mom all morning just to make Arabic food;dolma, kabab and some rice . Yet she would be last one that starts eating. At the table everyone would be busy either eating or passing the food. On the weekends that my uncles, aunt, or my grandfather couldn't come to our house my dad would take us to a restaurant that my brother, sister and I choose. We always choose BurgerKing, McDonalds, or PizzaHut. However, my mom prefers to eat healthy food. My relationship with my parents when I was small was perfect to me. I still remember those moments of my childhood, the times that I used to sleep in my parent’s bedroom every time I felt scared, and the times I used to love going with my dad to work. When I was a kid I also had good relationship with my brother and sister. I remember the times I used to tell my brother scary stories which frightened him, and also the times I used to annoy my sister by going into her room, and the times my brother and I used to sleep in the tent we had.
However, those were in the past. My relationship with my parents and even with my brother and sister worsened as I grew older. I enjoyed going out with my friends more than with my family, and at other times I wanted to stay home to play video games by myself. When my dad noticed that I was spending more time with friends and alone he decided that Friday would be family day and I should spend it with the rest of the family. It didn’t last long as I finished grade 11 my dad decided that I should come to Canada to continue my studies in high school and university. My dad decided that because the schools in Canada have better education than in United Arab Emirates, and my dad wanted me to have the best education possible. At the beginning when my dad told me about it I wasn’t sure because most of my friends and my family were telling me not to go. However, in the end I took his decision and continued my studies in Canada. I went to Canada because I wanted to be more independent, while when I was in United Arab Emirates where I was depending on my parents for mostly everything.

My last day in United Arab Emirates was little depressing as I was not going to see my friends and some of my family for long time, but it was at the same time happy because my friends and I went to the movies and had fun. It was July 5nd when my mom and I arrived to Canada. It was a nice day. I met many people who were friends or family. Mostly everyone that I met was telling that it’s going to be hard on me, since I was going to live with my aunt without my parents. However, I didn’t feel anything because my mom was with me. A month later my mom had to go back to United Arab Emirates, because school was going to start soon and my brother and sister needed her. The day we were dropping my mom at the airport I felt sad but I didn’t say anything about it. She said “Goodbye” and she started crying when she hugged me. Well I say I didn’t want to cry, but I held it. I guess I’m not the type of person who likes to express his feelings. Anyway, the first week was very painful to me. The whole time I was wondering if I made the right decision by coming to Canada. After the first week I began to forget about it by spending some time with my cousins and by going to the “New To Canada” program.
Remembering my family and some things that they used to do makes me happy. I always laugh when I eat hot dogs because I remember when my mom and my sister traveled for a month and the only thing that my dad knew how to make was hot dogs. I remember my mom every time I wash the dishes or wash my clothes because she used to do it for me, and every time my aunt makes something I don’t like for lunch I remember my mom because she use to know what I didn’t like. I remember my brother when I’m on my computer because he used to annoy me every time I got on the computer. I also remember him when he used to asked me for money and he never paid me back. I guess it’s a bad habit, but I didn’t mind. I remember my sister when I used to get into her room and discuss something with her. She used to like it, but I only did that when I’m bored.
My relationship with my family decreased when I came to Canada because I only get to see my dad or mom once or twice a year, and we don’t talk much on Skype. I think my relationship going to decrease ever more when I go to university because I’m going to have more responsibility than from now and it’s probably going to take most of my time away from socializing.