Moving To America

I walked around unsteadily all day like a lost baby, far away from its pack. Surrounded by unfamiliar territory and uncomfortable weather, I tried to search for any signs of similarities with my previous country. I roamed around from place to place and moved along with the day, wanting to just get away and go back home. This was my first day in the United States of America.

A few months before all of this I was pleased with my calm life in a local city of Taiwan. I settled there at the age of two with my family, and things were going well so far. Because I lived there for ten years, the longest time that I ever spent living in one place, I had made really good friends and was not looking forward to any significant changes although my mom had told me a long time ago, we might move to USA to settle with our uncle and grandma. My mom also told me that the other reason we move is for a better education and life there but I was not listening at that time. I thought she was just joking around because my brother and I have always expected to have a vacation to other countries. By the time I finished my first year of middle school I knew that this was nearly impossible. My family was already packing up, cleaning out the house, and reserving four airplane tickets to USA.

The day that I discovered my parents' future plans was one that seemed like a normal day for a twelve-year old. I got up, had my breakfast, and then proceeded to hang around with my friends. Later on that day I went out to play basketball at the school along with my older brother. After we went home, my mom was making dinner and talking to our uncle. After my mom finished the call, she tried to casually approach me and then said in Taiwanese, ?Judy, we are moving i...

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... and I started to realize some of the good effects that moving has had. I now understand that this experience has changed me in positive ways as well. Soon I would have friends in different places in the world that I can visit. I would have many places where I could go and feel like home. Most importantly, I would learn that one can adapt to every town and its people and that friends can be made everywhere. Every place has its conveniences and its problems. Every town has its generous and heartless citizens.

I live now more secure and bold, like a lion with increased mass and knowledge, not with one, but many packs. I can roam territory that is unfamiliar without feeling lost and alone. Instead, I search for the best way to take advantage of my position in a foreign territory. I can visit recognizable lands and feel at home. This is my, not so new, way of life.