as told to LaRosamour 

My name is Paul Merveil, and I come from a small country in Africa. I was forced to leave my country for political reasons. For someone who has lived in Africa for a long time, starting a new life after 30 years is a big deal.  

My first difficulty after arriving in the U.S. was the language because I have always spoken French. I remember that when we were children in primary school, we were not very interested in English. We always told ourselves, “We will never go to an English-speaking country.” 

But then I arrived in the U.S., and I had to use English right away. Since I couldn’t speak yet, I used Google Translate with the U.S. immigration agent. And then I took transportation to Maine and stayed in a household of immigrants.  

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In Africa, we have this idea of the U.S. that is based on what we learn through film, and from social media. We learn that Black people are not treated well in the U.S., and live in poverty. But to my great surprise, when I went outside on my first day in Maine, all the white people I met looked at me with a smile – and they always had the magic word “sorry” in their mouths – even when they had done nothing wrong! 

What I appreciate most is not feeling different than others. I have seen how immigrants are treated in other countries, where some must sleep on the streets, and others in detention camps. But in Maine, as soon as I arrived, I went to General Assistance, and they promised to take care of me once I found a house. I am aware that not everyone has my experience, but I am speaking from what has happened to me so far at this point. 

I signed up for English classes right away, and then started volunteering to keep myself busy until I could work. Despite my low level of English, the people around me always encouraged me to have conversations, and my language started to improve. In Africa, if you make mistakes in French, well, people make fun of you – but it’s the opposite here, a quality that I appreciate. I felt encouraged by others. 

After a while I met a good friend, who helped me a lot with my integration. She helped me with several things, including getting my driver’s license, and my work permit, and thanks to her, I also have a job today. 

What strikes me the most is that I lived in my country for 33 years, and the only times the authorities ever gave me something for free was during the electoral campaigns, when they were trying to buy my vote. But here I benefited from free services and had access to free food when I needed it. 

In Africa, you hear that the U.S. is a leading world power. We tell ourselves that reputation is just because of military strength. But today I would say the opposite. A couple of weeks ago, I traveled with my friend from Colorado back to Maine, and we crossed quite a few states, including agricultural areas, like corn fields. We saw livestock, and breathtaking infrastructure. I was very amazed at the way everything shone. 

One of the things I appreciate most is the mix of races in the U.S. – Black, all kinds of shades of Brown, and White. I feel a certain freedom of expression that I have never experienced elsewhere. I have only been here for a year – I know I still have a lot to discover.