Sadness, Excitement, Trepidation

When I was told that I would be moving to America, I initially greeted the prospect with sadness. I was unhappy because, for one, I would be leaving England, my home of sixteen years, but most all, I would be parting with my friends, not knowing whether I would see them again. However, I also felt a degree of both excitement and trepidation. On the one hand, I was excited because I have always been intrigued by the U.S. This may be, in large part, due to the fact that England has always had, at least in my mind, some fixation with American culture. So, to be moving there was a realization of a dream. On the other hand, I was fearful because I had a number of doubts, such as whether I would fit in my new school, whether I would make new friends, and most importantly, would I actually like living in America. Leaving England was an emotional time, nevertheless, the notion of living in a new country was something that I relished.

I Didn’t Miss the Weather!

The first couple of months in Washington were hard. There were certain subtleties that I began to notice in my new home which highlighted aspects about my life in England that I had taken for granted. For instance, in England, everything is in close proximity to each other in comparison to here where things tend to be spaced out. So, if I woke up one morning and wanted to go to the shop down the road to get a packet of crisps (chips), all of a sudden what used to be a simple two-minute walk around the corner, over here turned into a metro ride and a bus journey. Now, I’m not trying to criticize modes of transportation here, in fact, I quite like taking the metro, but it’s the convenience of getting around that I miss. There were various other peculiar subtleties that I could list that mark the contrast between American and British culture, such as the nature of the absurdly long American TV commercial, but I don’t want to bore you with all that. One thing that I didn’t miss, however, was the British weather!

New Friends and Sleepless Nights

Focusing more on my time at high school, I looked forward to my first day, although I was not a fan of the seven o’clock starts each morning, something that I never got to grips with. Joining in the eleventh grade, I was thrust into the deep end, because the people I would be studying with had already known each other for two years. So, I was already at a disadvantage in the sense that there were various clicks (groups) that I had a tough time integrating into. Nevertheless, this was a situation that I was prepared for, since this is something that everyone has to deal with, whether they are starting at a new school, or at a new job.

One thing that I wasn’t prepared for, though, was the amount of summer reading that I had to catch up on. Doing the International Baccalaureate (hereafter IB) I think I underestimated just how demanding the course was going to be...big mistake! To say the IB was demanding would be a massive understatement!

Struggling to make friends, the IB tended to impede on my social life, as I had to contend with an extremely heavy workload and playing catch up certainly did not help matters. Nonetheless, I began to partake in a variety of extra-curricular activities, especially those that were of particular interest to me. I have always held a passion for the performing arts and most of my fondest memories of high school came from my involvement with the theater department. It was there that I began to find my feet, as I met numerous people with whom I have shared common interests. After-school rehearsals were a welcome distraction; however, striking that balance between work and play was not easy. Ultimately, I had to pay the price of having a good time by burning the midnight oil completing coursework...mind you, had I managed my time more efficiently, I probably wouldn’t have had so many sleepless nights! It took me the best part of my first year in the States to fully settle in and, although I was enjoying myself, I still missed England. Fortunately, I knew another Brit whom I met on my first day. It was somewhat of a blessing that I came across this person as he was in the same boat as me, so he understood all too well the feelings of homesickness. Gradually over the two years we drifted apart and began to mingle with different social circles.

It was Worth the Risk

Making the transition to life in a new country can be extremely tough. Personally, I think it depends on the type of person you are; some can take to a new culture like a duck to water and for others that may not be the case. My British friend would fall under the former category and me the latter. His decision to stay in America for college did not surprise me as it appeared as though he fitted seamlessly into the American lifestyle. Even though I got used to living in America, there was a part of me that felt happier in England, which prompted my decision to return there for university.

Adjusting to a new country can take time, and I would say that in order to take those vital steps toward fitting in, you have to put yourself out there and make friends. The idea sounds simple and clear; however, it takes an enormous amount of courage to take that risk all the more for people like me, since I have never considered myself an extrovert. In retrospect, it was a risk worth taking as I regard those two years as an unforgettable experience that has made me a better and more well-rounded person.

By Henry Kerali