My First Day in United States of America

“What do you want to be?” This is the question that I always got when I was in junior year. Every time someone would ask me if what my plans for college are, I would just answered them in jokes because I really do not know what I want to be. When I was in my senior year my parents told me that I would migrate in United Sates of America. I finished my high school in the Philippines without thinking about my college plans. I did not know what life has to offer until I got here.

                        I graduated March 24, 2012; it was two days before I leave Philippines. It was my last day that I saw my friends. That last two days I was in the Philippines was just so normal to me. It did not even bother me that I am already leaving. My father was the one who packed up my things; he went with me to the airport. Because I was minor that time I was escorted; I was only 16 years old. Still I do not feel any nervousness that time. While I was waiting before the boarding, I just feel happy because I feel special. I look at my surroundings, there were also minor travelers waiting to board. And there it goes; it was my first time traveling alone for fourteen hours.

            It was fourteen hours of waiting to get to the United States of America; I was just relaxing in the plane. “Welcome to Los Angeles, California.” The flight attendant said. I was escorted again because I was immigrant; they brought me to a booth for immigrants, I submitted my papers, they asked for my finger prints, I waited again for two hours, until the immigration officer called my name, he asked me some questions and he welcomed me.

            I found my mother and my cousin waiting for me. They welcomed me with a big smile. We ate at Denny’s; I was amazed because it was my first time to eat a big burger. I thought that I would like to live here because of the burgers, but when my mother told me that I have to study hard and work so I could have a brighter future; I feel like I do not know where to start. What would I do here?

            Because the time zone in the Philippines and here is different, I was getting a jet lag that night. So while everyone was sleeping, I messaged my friend in high school. I told her, “I do not know if I am okay. Maybe something is wrong with me. I always just live in the moment and I do not have plans. I do not know how I will start my life here. Everything is a mess.” And she replied to me, “Wake up, Justine. You are the one who told us to study hard for our future. You’ll regret it if you do not change your attitude. Do not live in the moment because there are a lot of tomorrows.”

            After I talked to my friend, I decided to sleep for an hour to unwind. When I wake up, I saw my mother preparing for food. While we ate our breakfast she told me to take a bath because we would go outside. So we walked to get to the bus stop and waited for the bus. It took almost an hour for the bus to arrive, in the back of mind, I am not happy. This is not the life I want. I am having a hard time to adjust in the environment here. If I were in the Philippines my life would be different and easy. I and my mother went the DMV for my California ID and I also applied for my social security that day.

            We went to my uncle’s house in the afternoon, I met my little cousins. But I ended up comparing them to my cousins in the Philippines which are the same age with me. They supposed to be my first friends here but they are too young for me. My uncle told me that there would be times that I will baby sit them. I cannot say no because I need to do something while my mother is at her work.

            When I got home, I stared at my room. There is a television, a bed, a mirror, a cabinet, and two windows. All I can hear is silence, silence that makes me long for my life in the Philippines, silence that make me sad. I just sit there in my bed, looking outside the window, thinking about life. I am lost. I do not know what to do. I do not know how I would start. I just want an easy life. I want my friends back. I want my life before. And then I started crying, I cried out all my emotions.

            As I lay in bed I felt the tears coming from my eyes. I tried to remember the face of my mother when she first saw me in the airport; I remembered what my friend said that I need to change, and there I was thinking all the reasons why I should be thankful and be positive in life. I realized that maybe getting here is a blessing because God knows that I need some change in my life. I am given new opportunities. I have to grab it and enjoy it.

            I fell asleep with a smile on my face, with a positive thinking, and with a new start for me. I was so lucky to be here, in a country that I can be who I want to be. I just have to work hard and strive for success. I will have a lot of struggles but I know I can do it, because I am here.

            And that was the most memorable day in my life, in just one day, I was full of different feelings and emotions but I ended up being positive and having goals in life. The person who does not have any dream before is now a dreamer. That event in my life is the start of my journey.