My name is Krystel and this is my story, it is about how I got here and
what my life has been like since I entered this country. The truth is that it was never a dream for me to get here since I had always wanted to visit other countries but I never thought about this one. If there was ever a reason why I wanted to visit it, it was because of my mother and my brothers. I wanted to meet them and spend some time with them but not live here.

I am a very daring girl, I like extreme adventures and doing fun things with
my family and friends and my family have always considered me brave. So, when I made the decision to come to this country, it didn't seem like a sur-
prise to them. When the day came to leave, they asked me many times if it was really what I wanted and it was something very difficult and sad to leave
my family with whom I had lived all my life to start a new life. I did not know
what it was going to be like in another country totally unknown to me, so
when I made the decision, it was something decisive to that moment.

I am 17 years old and now I have a different perspective. I have already
found my routine and I know more or less what my life will continue to be
like here. A very special moment that will remain marked in my heart and in
my memory is when I reached my mother's arms after a long time. I always
imagined that moment but when I was a few minutes away from landing the
plane. I felt that emotion of finally meeting the family that I had so wanted
to have close. A mixture of feelings and memories passed through my mind
and the only thing I did was think and imagine what our first hug would be
like, a first caress, and what it would be like to feel the connection between
mother and daughter. When the plane landed, I remember I was in Boston
MA, and I felt that nervous feeling like when you see the person you like or
when you are a few steps away from finding what you have always wanted
in your life.

I felt my skin crawl when she hugged me, and when I arrived where she
was, I only saw how a beautiful woman with a child and a baby was waiting
for me. When she saw me she ran towards me and wrapped me in her arms
and told me how much she loved me, how big and beautiful I was. I thanked
God for allowing me to arrive safely.

So the days went by and the happiest and most exciting thing for me was
going out with my family, going shopping with my mom, and visiting new
places and learning a little about the culture of this country. As the days
passed I felt even more how much I missed my family that I left behind. But, even so I continued here enjoying the time with the new people and oppor-
tunities that I have had. Another thing that complements my day a little isngoing to church, my life was literally in the congregation. I spent time there
from Monday to Sunday and I had the best adolescence next to God and my
family of faith. So, when I arrived here, I did not plan to leave my lifestyle;nmy family and I have always been Christians so finding the perfect congregation was not a problem and now I go 3 times a week. Going to churchnhelps me a lot since I have reached a part of my life where I feel so good
about myself and my personal, spiritual and social relationship.

© Krystel. All rights reserved. If you are interested in quoting this story, contact the national team and we can put you in touch with the author’s teacher.