MOVING INTO A NEW LANGUAGE LEARNING TO LIVE IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY Written by Elliut Medina
I
Illustrated by Kendal Foreman
stood in the middle of the parking lot surrounded by hundreds of kids that were getting dropped off by their parents on the first day of school, not knowing what everyone was saying, what to do, and where to go, just a week after I left my home country pursuing a different future but with no idea of what it was going to be like.
Everything started almost five years ago. After the political, social and economical situation exploded in Venezuela, my parents decided that their oldest son needed to move to The United States to seek a good education and safety. On Aug. 31, 2016 after two flights of four hours each, I arrived at Los Angeles International Airport from Valencia, Venezuela with the sadness of leaving my entire family and life behind, but with the excitement of starting a new journey. 46 Warrior Life
I was now one of the millions of people that moved to America each year chasing a better future.
My uncle was standing outside the airport waiting for me, grateful I told him that it is great to see him again. “Espero estes listo para la escuela, empieza en 7 dias, chamo.” I hope you’re ready for school, it would start in seven days, kid, he said laughing and then hugged me.
Thinking that school was around the corner and that I didn’t know English let fear consume my nerves. “School is going to be something different this time but you got this, just make people laugh as
