Gai Aguto
Age: 23
Region: Upper Nile
I don’t remember exactly how old I was when I left my village, Bor, because I was really young. People in
my village were attacked. When I was traveling, I was very thirsty and hungry. I wondered where my
parents were and it was very complicated for me. It was very cold at night and there was no place to
sleep but the grass. We went to Ethiopia, and I stayed with my uncle’s wife in the house that he built. I
went to school for three years. In 1991, I left Ethiopia with uncle and cousins.
I stayed in Panyido for about three years (1987-1991). I also stayed in Kakuma for nine years or ten years
(1992-2001). The best thing was that there was no food and no clothing. Many people were naked.
When I came to the United States, I was excited, but I didn’t know what it was going to be like. After I
was given an orientation, I felt more comfortable. I found that if I came to the United States, I would
have to work and pay bills, but I could also go to school.
I pictured the United States to have a lot of trees and be very green. Phoenix is very dry and very hot.
The most difficult thing about living here is waking up early and going to school. Going to school,
however, is the best thing.
The thing that surprised me about America is the culture of how boys interact with girls. In Sudan, girls
do their own things, while boys learn work ethics. The genders are not integrated as it is here in
America.
Right now, I attend Phoenix College and Study accounting, physics, and law, which are the requirements
for my future goal. I would like to be a part of C.I.S., which is the Computer Information System.
Someday, I would like to go to ASU. In the future, I would like to be a businessman and own a business.