From Africa to America: Mehamed’s Story

19 February 2013

Just by looking at his face, you can tell he has a story. One eye permanently closed, the other a little foggy; a nose strewn with scars; a scar from the middle to the left corner of his forehead; and one perfect smile.

Mehamed Gomez was nine, living in the Gode Region of Africa (near Ethiopia). He had no set language, and no real home, being of a nomadic people. There was no thought of technology, and most things in life for him were agriculturally based—whatever you needed, you either caught or created yourself. Gomez describes the land as “beautiful, wild and raw.”

However, the words that Gomez uses to describe his original home are the exact description of what changed his life drastically. His family was torn apart by a pack of wild hyenas. He was in need of serious medical attention when a few missionaries found him after the attack. The missionaries didn’t have the ability to give him the medical attention he needed so badly, so they arranged to have him come to the United States to treat him.

Gomez spoke no English, and couldn’t quite comprehend what was going on. He finally came to the conclusion that he would be here in America for a few weeks—just long enough to be treated, and then return home to Africa. However, he soon found out that there was nothing for him to go back to.

The host church of the missionaries had a family volunteer to have Gomez stay with them for the duration of his operation. After a few weeks, they asked him if he’d like to stay with them in America. He said he “felt loved and like I was meant to be there.”

***

From this point, Gomez’s biggest challenge was learning English so he could better adjust to American culture. He said he learned a lot from the television—a concept which in itself was completely foreign to him. He said that he found technology to be fascinating. On a trip back to Africa, he failed to describe just what “technology” was to his native people. He said, “I hate this comparison, but it’s almost like Heaven. You know how you just can’t describe it until you get there for yourself? But, you know it’s great.”

Gomez shared that because birthdays were not significant in his culture, his family estimated that he was nine years old. He later found out that he was actually about 11 years old, but he still celebrates birthdays as if he was nine when he came to America.

After living here for two years, Gomez entered the public school system, in the fourth grade. He went through the motions of not truly understanding, and by sixth grade he knew and understood what school was, and was starting to do some work. “And by work, I mean, 2+2 = 4. I was so behind,” he says, as he thinks back to his middle school days. Although he was initially extremely behind, he made it through high school and is on track to graduate from the University of West Georgia this spring.

***

While adjusting to the American school system originally presented itself as a challenge, making friends came easily for Gomez. The social aspect of American life, for Gomez, was easy enough to figure out. He said, “I know it was two different cultures, but I realized that all boys and girls are the same.”

The only social problem Gomez faced was the issue of being an African American from Africa. “I didn’t fit the ‘black’ stereotype. Black people would say I’m not a true Black. But I would think to myself, ‘I’m actually the truest Black.’”

Gomez used these comments to reflect on the type of person he wanted to be. He said that he concluded that he could either change who he was to conform to the ‘black’ stereotype, or he could choose to just be himself. “Who do I want to be? Do I want to fill the stereotype to make them happy, or be true to myself?” he explained.

He chose to be the person that he was born to be, and not to conform to what others expected of him. Although the answer to the question, ‘Who do I want to be?’ has not fully been answered for Gomez, he knows he wants to make a difference. When asked about his accomplishments in life, he simply said, “I know I’ve made a difference in friends’ lives, influenced them for the better. I think my real accomplishment is realizing my potential, and pursuing that.”

Gomez attends the University of West Georgia, where he studies business management. His goal is to get into graduate school as an Economics major. He wants to secure a job that will allow him the financial stability to travel back to Africa to contribute to their education system. “That’s something I am looking forward to,” he said.

Gomez said he believes that coming to America was all in God’s plan for him. Living here has given him a broad perspective of what life is about; taught him how people are the same even in different cultures; and given him an appreciation for technology, and how easy life can be. He summed up his experiences in both worlds by saying, “Even the poorest person here is richer than anyone where I was from. There was no one to give you handouts… Being born here, you are given so much. I hope to bless others as I have been blessed.”

Gastric Bypass: Lillian’s Story

2 December 2011

According to the CDC, one third of Americans are obese; but instead of choosing to alter eating habits and increase exercise, some turn to weight-loss surgeries instead. In 2005, approximately 140,000 gastric bypass surgeries were performed in the U.S. alone.

Roux-en-Y Gastric bypass is the most common form of the surgery, in which the doctors cut a smaller size stomach and re-route your intestines to the smaller stomach. With such a small stomach, people feel full quickly and eat less, enabling drastic weight loss. This strategy is also called “restrictive,” since the new stomach size restricts food intake.

Although the surgery is considered to be an extreme alternative to weight loss, the recovery period is not extensive. Most people are back to their daily routines just two to three days after their surgery.

Lillian Milhouse, a mother of three, weighed in at 320 pounds, when she decided to get the surgery. Milhouse, like anyone, had worries about the surgery. She’d heard the horror stories of surgeries gone wrong, resulting in serious complications, or even death. Nearly one percent to five percent of people have serious or life-threatening complications after gastric bypass surgery, such as: blood clots, heart attack, or a leak in the surgical connections with the intestines, serious infection or bleeding.

Milhouse’s main concern was the fact that she had other existing health issues, and wanted to know how those would be affected if she underwent gastric bypass surgery. Her surgery went along well without a single complication. The only post-surgery snag was Milhouse’s heightened anemia. “The doctors told me that most people who undergo [gastric] bypass surgery generally become anemic. Well, I was already anemic, and the surgery made it worse. But that’s something I can live with,” she said.

In regard to her existing health concerns, Milhouse did extensive research about gastric bypass surgery and she was assured that it was for her. “I researched for about six years before I finally made the decision,” she said. She emphasized that research is imperative before deciding to have the surgery. Milhouse admitted that she’s tried diets and even considered other surgeries, but the results and procedure of gastric bypass seemed just right for her needs. “I’ve met people who want to get the surgery, but haven’t researched it, and I’ll tell them I don’t think it’s for them. Or, I’ll tell some people ‘You might want to check this out.’ It’s all about doing your research, and knowing what will work for you,” she said.

Milhouse says her decision was made for her when she was told by doctors that she had a clogged artery. “I knew then,” she said, “that I had to do something drastic to get on track. I couldn’t believe I had eaten my way to a clogged artery.”

Milhouse often emphasized that the surgery is not a solution to weight problems, rather a means to an end. She said, “So many people consider the surgery, but aren’t willing to make adjustments to keep the weight off once they lose it… This surgery is not a fix-all solution; it’s a tool. You have to make it work for you.”

Milhouse said she believes that people’s lack of dedication is what makes the initial process of being qualified for the surgery so long. “They do an evaluation with a psychologist and psychiatrist; they check to make sure your lungs are healthy; they also send you to a nutritionist because, more than anything, they want your mind to be made up that you’re going to eat right,” Milhouse explained.

With the advantage of gastric bypass surgery being “make it work for you,” Milhouse explained the different adjustments she’s had to make in her daily life. “I had to clear out my cupboards. I can’t eat a lot of sweets and fried foods like I used to… I try to incorporate some type of exercise into everything—whether it’s parking far away from the store so I have farther to walk, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. This surgery is something you have to be dedicated to,” she said.

Because of the many success stories and its complications to results ratio, gastric bypass is considered the leading surgery in weight-loss. Gastric bypass accounts for 80 percent of weight loss surgeries. Because of the extremity of the surgery, weight loss is often dramatic—patients generally lose 60 percent of their extra weight, a desired result.

For Milhouse, her dedication to the surgery paid off in a loss of 120 pounds that have remained off throughout the three years following her surgery. Because of these results Milhouse says she would definitely undergo gastric bypass all over again, if she had to. She said, “It made my arthritis better. I lost 120 pounds. I feel healthier. [The surgery] works! It really works!”

Buford Highway: Home

18 November 2011

Buford Highway can be summed up as simply an immigrant haven. However, it is more than a myriad of different races and ethnicities living and working together. What some would call an immigrant haven, others call home.

Dedos, a 30 year old Mexican tattoo artist, has lived and worked on Buford Highway for eight years. Like most would think, Dedos came to America to have a better life. Dedos likes living and working on Buford Highway because, “The work on Buford Highway is good,” he says.

Although some have difficulty assimilating into a new culture, Dedos said adjusting to life on Buford Highway was extremely easy. He said that he adapted quickly, because life in America is easier than in Mexico. “To live here is nice. I like it. You adapt here, very fast,” he says.

A main aid in adapting to life on Buford Highway, for Dedos is the big and welcoming Hispanic community. Dedos explained how it was easy to fit in with the other Hispanics, because everyone treats each other like family. Dedos described Mexican Independence Day, Sept.13, as a typical day for everyone to get together and celebrate their Hispanic culture. Dedos said, “Everybody comes from Alabama, North Carolina, Savannah and Tennesse to Plaza Fiesta and we have a big celebration… It is mostly for the Mexicans but everybody comes from the different countries: the Puerto Ricans, the Colombians. It’s a big celebration, it’s nice.”

Dedos also highlighted the tradition of celebrating the Day of the Dead. Dedos said the Day of the Dead is a “big, big celebration in Mexico.” Dedos said, “The people put candles in the lake and line the streets. The people say that when Nov. 1 comes, the dead people come back and go to the houses of their families. Here nobody celebrates it like that, only Halloween, and trick or treating. The Hispanic people still put the pictures [of the dead] on the table, but only that.”

Despite the close Hispanic community, Dedos explained that the community does not have many leaders. “The Hispanics here don’t have a leader. If you get in trouble then you go to the Mexican lawyers. I think they are the closest we have to leaders,” he said.

Although Hispanics make up the majority of the Buford Highway population, there are also a good amount of Koreans, Blacks and Whites who live and work along Buford Highway. By simply driving down the main strip, you can see the separation of Hispanic and Korean populations. There are a few integrations of the races, such as a Korean laundromat that is catered to the Hispanic community. “Everybody gets along. The only problem I have is sometimes with the Blacks. I just don’t like that sometimes they sell drugs, or the gangs,” Dedos says. Dedos explained that the police previously wiped out the Latino gangs. However, the Latino gangs have since been replaced with Korean and Black gangs. Dedos said that he hopes the police will soon get rid of the Korean and Black gangs on Buford Highway as well.

All in all, Dedos loves the time he has spent living and working on Buford Highway. In regards to comparing life here to Mexico, he says, “Mexico is my country; I will visit. But, there is nothing there for me. Buford Highway is my place. I have my work; I have my girlfriend. I’m making my life here. When you move to a different country, you don’t go back. You make your life. There is so much more for me here in America, on Buford Highway.”

Improvements to GSU’s Campus

27 October 2011

While walking down Piedmont Avenue, one can’t help but notice the new GSU symbols in the middle of the pedestrian crosswalks, the construction of Willy’s Mexicana Grill (attached to the Petit Science Center) or the scaffolding attached to the side of Kell Hall. Students often pass by construction work being done at Georgia State without giving it a second glance. But, what is really being done to the infrastructure on campus, and what is it costing students?

Recently, Georgia State has been preoccupied with giving the campus more of a college feel. Extended sidewalks and GSU emblems in the middle of the road have been added to increase the presence of Georgia State in the Atlanta area.

“Most times, you don’t realize you’re on Georgia State’s campus until you see a sign on top of a building. It’s not like a real campus,” said Chris Shattuck, a sophomore writer for The Signal.

James Dutton, the SGA President said, “They are trying to give the campus a more college-like feel. They even plan on adding a green rooftop to the Petit Science Center, where students can just hang out in the grass; play Frisbee.”

Dutton assures students that there is no raise in tuition or student fees for these improvements. “There’s no direct cost to students. Most infrastructure jobs are paid for by bonds from the city of Atlanta,” said Dutton.

Students seem to support the decision to add a more college campus feel to the school. A few students even mentioned that they wouldn’t mind if the money came out of their student fees, if it was a nominal cost.

In addition to the current infrastructure jobs on campus, Dutton said that there will definitely be more to come. Including, but not limited to a few different extensions to the Petit Science Center, more GSU-embellished crosswalks and reconstruction for some of the older buildings around campus.

“It’s a great time to be at GSU; we’re doing some big things,” Dutton concluded.

The Subway: A Sight-Seeing Stop of Its Own

7 March 2013

A man with hot pink fish net stockings, jean shorts and mesh shirt, a long yellow wig, and glitter all over his eyes. You don’t know where he’s going; you don’t really care. You just want to look at him, for as long as you can, without him really noticing. A homeless man, a businesswoman, and a middle school child are all in the same car. That is, a car on the subway, the metro, the train. Whatever you want to call it— it is the means of transportation for millions of people living, working and visiting in New York City. No trip to New York is complete without experiencing a ride on the subway. The things you see, the things you smell, the things you hopefully don’t taste, all add to this necessary experience. New York City, the city that never sleeps, is known for its bright lights and many sights to see, places to visit. But what’s a better way to get to sights than the mobile sight itself?

According to MTA’s website, the New York City subway served 5.3 million people weekly, in a study done in 2011, the highest amount of people within the past 50 years. The top three busiest stops are Times Square, Grand Central Station, and 34th St.-Herald Square. Once you get over the germs and claustrophobic effect of rush hour, or peak hours, you are able to sit back and observe, people watch; take in the sights that can only be seen and experienced on the New York subway.

A ride on the express 2 train can garner all sorts of entertainment for the city visitor or resident alike. Because the ride is express, the stops are more infrequent, allowing train performers more time to entertain you, in hopes of collecting money. One of the more common acts you’re likely to see on the 2 train is break dancers. Yes, it is possible to break dance on a moving train. The 2 train break dance crew consists of 3-5 teenage boys, and sometimes a younger child, all of whom are equipped with crazy moves. They manipulate their bodies around the poles on the train, and creatively entertain the passengers for a full 4-5 minutes. After their act, they send the youngest boy around with a hat to collect spare change from whichever passengers are inspired to give. The Break Dance Boys, as I’ve personally nicknamed them, have gotten the most money from train riders of all the acts that I’ve seen on the subway.

If you opt for a ride in the other direction, towards the beach in Brooklyn, you’re bound to run into a few musical acts on the train. There is a man who sings and plays a guitar, along with a pre-recorded track broadcasted from a boom box (which is held by a little girl). It is an upbeat Spanish song that most Americans won’t understand. But you can tell that the man has fun singing it. As the song comes to an end, the little girl puts on her sweetest face and walks around to all of the passengers to ask for money. As the train comes to a stop, they both hop out, and run to the next car to do it all over again.

One of the best things about the subway is the convenience. It is possible to get just about anywhere in New York City, and surrounding boroughs for much less than cab fare. Aside from convenience, the people and styles that you see on the train make the ride so worth it. The people of the New York City subway system have been so outrageous that there are several websites dedicated to exposing the different people that you can see on the train.

Although it seems that every day in New York is a festival for something, the Mermaid Parade on Coney Island is one of the best days to ride the train to see the amazing costumes, outfits and getups of the participants. Actual mermaid outfits, more promiscuous mermaid outfits, men in mermaid costumes—it’s all there. And it’s all interesting to see.

When visiting New York, don’t miss out on the mobile sight that is the subway. There is always something to see. Riding the train is an experience all on its own. No matter which direction you’re going or what you have planned for the day, incorporate a subway ride and you won’t be disappointed. Maybe you’ll see someone on their way to work in Times Square, already dressed in costume as Elmo or something you can’t quite figure out. The New York City subway is a sight that shouldn’t be missed.

Problems with the SGA

20 October 2011

Georgia State’s Student Government Association (SGA) came under fire in the first edition of this month’s The Signal student newspaper. In a letter to the editor, senior Amon Kirk gave his opinion about how Georgia State University is currently operating under a corrupt student government.

With such statements as, ‘Little separates SGA politics from the politics within our current U.S. government—corruption, a lack of transparency, greed and other questionable acts and policies,’ Kirk alerted many students who weren’t previously aware of the condition of our SGA. Kirk’s main points consisted of several instances in which tradition overthrew reason in SGA politics, including who was able to run and be elected president of SGA; how finances are, and instead should be spent; and how the SGA is not a representative of the diverse student body Georgia State encompasses.

Kirk also unveiled that although the Board of Regents voted to increase tuition, the SGA voted to increase their salaries. ‘Their justification, as said by a member in SGA follows: “The type of work we’re doing, we deserve to be paid more.’”

Kirk, a former SGA supporter, has since temporarily relinquished his association with the SGA and urged students to get involved in the SGA’s meetings to get the answers they deserve.

In last week’s edition of The Signal, James Dutton, the President of SGA responded to Kirk’s accusations. Dutton explained in great detail the formation, run and election of the Student First Ticket three years ago.

Dutton went on to explain how the Student First Ticket, although it has since had control of the SGA, is completely run by the students, for the students. He outlined how the Student First Ticket has accomplished many things for students, including the Repeat to Replace policy, the use of PantherCash all around campus, and the stagnation of institutional fees despite the determination of the Board of Regents to increase them. Dutton said, ‘Each of these initiatives took time and hard work from everyone in the SGA and shows our commitment to putting the needs of students first.’

As true as this statement may be, Dutton hardly addressed the majority of Kirk’s concerns. He did, however, clear up the issue of the SGA’s alleged salary raise. Dutton explained that although there was a vote to increase SGA Executive Board members’ salary, it was decided to not increase their salaries, but rather put the excess money towards more student programs.

Dutton concluded by inviting all students to attend the SGA Senate meetings, held every other Thursday in the Sinclair Suite (University Center). He also urged students to email him personally if they have any concerns as to who the SGA is, what the SGA does or what the SGA plans to do in the future.

After reading the coverage by The Signal, Stephanie Ifendu, a CIS major said, “This letter to the editor really opened my eyes as to what actually goes on behind the scenes in the SGA. It never occurred to me to think that things weren’t really in the student interest. I’m glad someone brought it up. And, I do plan on attending some of the SGA Senate meetings. I want to know what’s going on.”

Occupy Atlanta

13 October 2011

Many times Georgia State students hurry through Woodruff Park in an attempt to be on time to class; however, getting to class this week has been extra interesting because of the Occupy Atlanta event being held in the park.

Occupy Atlanta is a rally being held in Woodruff Park as an extension of Occupy Wall Street, and various other extensions around the country.

Amber Hughes, an Occupy Atlanta supporter, said her purpose is to support Occupy Wall Street until her list of demands is met. She said she is not happy with the way things are, “The way the government is running and policing itself, and how corporations are controlling every facet of our daily lives.”

When asked why she personally supports this particular rally, Hughes replied, “I’m just fed up, like everybody else.”

Kolton Hughes, an immigrant rally supporter, is a part of Occupy Atlanta in hopes of reformed immigrant education rights. “We need to make some immigration changes,” he said.

Hughes explained, “A lot of people have grown up in the U.S., gone to their high schools, and established enough knowledge to be able to get scholarships. Yet, they get turned away because they don’t have any citizenship. These people have been brought up in the whole American culture and I don’t think it’s very fair. There needs to be some kind of new law that allows people who are toddlers, basically, American citizenship.”

Although it seems like Occupy Atlanta was suddenly spurred by the onset of Occupy Wall Street, Philip (who wishes to keep his last name anonymous) said, “They [the Occupy Atlanta coordinators] actually did a month of training for this and had a set date on when this was gonna happen.” However, Hughes said she believes a lot of people were empowered by the movement on Wall Street, and wanted to do whatever they could to support the efforts.

There have been concerns from both the citizens and the police as to whether or not the Occupy Atlanta rally supporters will be forced to leave Woodruff Park. Hughes’ response to this question was, “We’re here indefinitely. As long as the police will leave us alone—we’re staying here until all of our demands are met.”

By watching the news, the message is conveyed that the Occupy Atlanta participants are wild, unruly rioters. However, by visiting Woodruff Park, you can see that the exact opposite is, in fact, true. I asked Hughes how she felt about the perception that this rally is not peaceful and she said, “Oh yeah, we’re an unruly bunch. But seriously, our main priority is that we stay as peaceful as possible, because we’re not an angry mob. We’re a group of people coming together in protest of something. And that doesn’t need to include violence.”

At first glance, Occupy Atlanta seems to be a bunch of indie college students, but after taking a deep look around, you can find a diverse group of people. Although there is a majority of people aged 18-35, there is a mixture of left wing, right wing, “neo-cons,” different religions and backgrounds, employment and immigrant statuses that support this cause. Hughes summed up the population of Occupy Atlanta’s support by saying, “We are the 99 percent, a representation of the U.S. as a whole.”