Leaving Your Homeland Is Hard

LEAVING MY HOMELAND

 

Moving to another country was not easy at all. It is basically like starting a whole new chapter in your life. I lived in Greece ever since I can remember. I spent 21 years of my life surrounded by family, friends, and familiar places. I knew that at some point I would have to move out of the country and come to the United States since my mother had already moved; however it did not seem real until the day before I was going to board the plane and leave Greece behind me for a long time. The day before I left, I decided to spend the day with as many friends and family as possible. There was a strange vibe in the atmosphere and time seemed to go by very slowly. I thought the more time I spent with the people I loved, it would be less difficult to say goodbye.

The day I was flying out, my closest family and friends came along at the airport to say goodbye. It was all laughs and jokes, and none of us were thinking of the fact that we would not see each other for a long time. This all was until the announcer spoke on the loud speaker calling all the passengers on my flight to start boarding the plane. Everyone got so silent that I could hear my own heart beating so hard and so fast like I had never felt it before.

I started hugging and saying goodbye to everyone. I was still keeping strong and I had not yet broken a tear but not until my fiancé’s turn came to say goodbye. She was full of tears and could not say a word. I gave her the biggest and warmest hug I had ever given her in the three years we were together. I could not help it and I broke out in tears.

The announcer called the number of my flight again and asked all the passengers to board the plane immediately. I took my bags, said goodbye, and walked towards the gate. The airport was small, and I could see everyone while I was walking towards the gate. My fiancé was now crying on my father's shoulder while everyone else was waving their hands towards me.

Now sitting on my seat in the airplane, the only thing that was in my mind was how it would be when I got to the States. I was so excited to see my mother and my brothers, I had not seen them in over two years and the excitement was growing even bigger as the airplane was moving towards my new homeland.

The trip was long and very tiring; time seemed to be going backwards and I could no longer sit in the airplane. The nine hour trip seemed like days. When we landed we had to wait in the plane until it was our turn in the economy class to get off. My excitement was over the roof and I could no longer stand there waiting. We got off; I checked in with immigration, took my bags, and I walked towards the exit. When I exited, I stood there frozen waiting to see familiar faces; I was scared that I would not recognize them since it had been so long, but I guess you never forget your mother's loving face.

Life in the United States is much different than life is in Greece. People only mind their own business and it seems that they are on "fast forward" mode. I have been working since I arrived at a local diner and I am now going to build my future. Going back to school at the beginning seemed like a crazy idea and I thought that I would never make it a day back in a classroom; but here I am now, going strong, and I do not want to change a thing.