The Day I Lost The Moon: New Life, New Home, New Connections.

The story of how Alex’s journey to America birthed a new connection

Story Written By: Asia Bell
Edited By: Dainelis Rodriguez

A picture of Alex. Photo Credit: Alex

Alex was born in Sudan and is currently a student at Florida State College of Jacksonville. After facing struggles with civil conflict in Sudan, he moved to Egypt with his family in 2011. In search of new beginnings and a better life, they later relocated to Jacksonville, Florida when Alex was 13. It is there that he met his tutor, Asia. Asia is a recent public health graduate from the University of North Florida with a passion for serving the community and helping others. Together, they challenge and inspire each other to become better versions of themselves.

Life in Sudan

When it comes to size, Sudan is listed as the third-largest country in Africa (WorldPopulation). It is a country that encompasses many of the natural beauties of the world such as the Nubian Desert, ancient pyramids, and the Red Sea. As with other things, sometimes beauty comes with a trail of pain coloring the roots of its people.

Sudan has long been a place subject to civil wars leading to millions of displaced refugees throughout history. I remember my life there being tough as a kid. Mainly because we weren’t allowed to do many things outside of school due to the fear of our safety. People were dying, and religions seemed to be at war.

Before conflict drained the good from my eyes, I can recount memories of playing soccer in the night as the stars watched our backs. Those were some of my favorite moments being surrounded by family and friends. I often miss the feeling of my feet dancing across the sand and the warmth of my community.

Mixed Feelings in Egypt

As tensions began to increase, my family made the decision to migrate to Egypt when I was 9 years old. I was excited for a change. I had heard a lot of great things about it. It seemed to be a huge travel destination according to the media. It was all everyone talked about. I was hoping for my own little piece of serenity, but I was soon greeted by the sweet smell of reality. When I arrived in Egypt, the first thing I noticed was the noise and the constant flow of people. It was really busy and not at all what I expected. I imagined that there would be more people that looked like me, but we become an instant minority.

In Egypt, all of the refugees were housed in apartment buildings. We were told that houses were reserved for the rich. I quickly made friends with other children in the apartment buildings. We spent most of our time playing games inside to pass the time. We did not have a lot of freedom to explore as it was not safe for us to travel outside. There were a number of people who did not believe we should be there. We faced prejudice daily, and we were even told to go back to our country a few times.

Still, leaving Egypt was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. It meant saying goodbye to my newfound friends without knowing the day I would see their smiling faces again. The tears kept falling as I waved my final forever. I was not just mourning the loss of my friends, but I was mourning the loss of the love that they showered us with for those four years. I haven’t yet healed from the hole that was left from that day, and I will always miss them.

The Day I Lost the Moon

Through a program for refugees, my family and I were able to relocate to Florida. That was the day I lost the moon. The day the stars left my sight, and the sky opened to something very new. I felt an immense amount of peace the moment I reached the airport in Miami. It was the first time since Sudan that I started to see others that looked like me—everywhere. I was excited and comforted by the familiarity. It made me feel safe. Shortly after arriving in Miami, we set out en route to Jacksonville. It was going to be our new home. Even as the rain played tunes across our car, I could feel the energy around me. It was a joyous feeling.

Navigating High school in Jacksonville

I was not prepared for the difficulty of navigating a new school without speaking the same language as my peers and teachers. Having a language barrier made even the simplest tasks hard. I could barely read my schedule let alone understand the people around me. For a while, it was chaos. However, I was able to get the bulk of the English language down in 6 months with the help of ESOL classes and new friends. I was beyond proud of myself for learning the language, but I was more so happy to be able to understand others.

In high school, I worked really hard at my studies. I knew that one of the biggest reasons for our relocation was to have the opportunity to get a better education, so I challenged myself daily. All of the hard work paid off in the end because I graduated as valedictorian of my school. It is one of my proudest moments.

Getting Closer to God

In Jacksonville, my relationship with God changed for the better. Before, I only went to church. Today, I still go to church, but I carry the lessons home with me in my heart. I have strengthened my commitment to learning more about God and practicing my faith.

I study. I meditate. I pray. God is real. Our relationship is serious to me. I believe my life has gotten easier because I lean on God and not on myself for the answers anymore.

Establishing a New Connection in the Middle of a Pandemic

At the start of 2021, I was introduced to an organization geared towards helping refugee families navigate life in a new country. It is called JaxThrive. They have a plethora of benefits. These benefits can range from English classes to mentoring. They have helped my family immensely, and I am very grateful for their support. JaxThrive is where I was partnered with my tutor Asia.

Asia is a volunteer tutor for Jaxthrive, and she is a fellow college student as well. She enjoys learning about other cultures and being involved in the community. It is one of the things that led her to Jaxthrive. She values creating an impact and making a difference in the lives of others. Asia believes that the time we choose to dedicate to the service of others has the ability to make positive changes in the world. She plans to continue to help underrepresented communities and has future plans to be a leader in healthcare.

Asia and I began to meet through Zoom due to the ongoing pandemic in January. We have been having weekly sessions ever since. When we are together, we work on improving my grammar and writing abilities. She even helped me sign up for my first college classes and purchase books. Our sessions have proven to be very beneficial during my first successful semester in college. We spent a number of nights hovered over computer screens completing homework assignments. She is always there when I have a question, and I can count on her to help with all things. My favorite thing about the connection we have established is that I feel completely at ease around her and comfortable with sharing my life stories. This is a big deal because I am typically slow to use words.

Alex and Asia connecting via zoom

When Two Journeys Collide

What started as a JaxThrive tutor partnership has blossomed into a lifelong connection. Together, Asia and I have helped each other grow and develop as individuals. We share the same passion for service, and we both have a strong desire to be difference makers. Through our journeys and meetings, we have learned the true importance of human connection. No matter where a person may start on the planet, their journey should never have to continue alone. Human connection builds bridges, opens doors, creates change, and makes room for opportunity. We hope to inspire others to get out and connect with the community around them. There is always a possibility that someone out there could use a helping hand. Support comes in many forms, but the results it yields can last a lifetime.

Alex (left) and Asia (right).

Disclaimer: The views, information, or opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of WeaveTales and its employees.

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