Name Surname:
Academic Level:
Seden Yapa
ELTI- Level 7
Getting to Know a New Life
Familiar things, like the smell of my home town like the sound of the seaside near our
house or even the people who are talking my language. For me, I could say that I never thought
about leaving all these things and head to a new journey in another country. You never know
what life brings you for the new day! I got married, which made a huge difference in every way
and then the love of my life said that we had to move. Far away from my country, far away from
everything I got used to for 28 years. I had to pack my memories of my soul. We had to move to
America. I heard a lot about the country and the people but never had the chance to see it before.
All my feelings were mixed .Fear, happiness, anxiety, sadness…This is the story about how my
life changed by the time I got here. I started to a new life which would give me deep and
memorable footprints in my path.
I sent a farewell kiss to one twin of my soul when I changed my life for good. My soul had
twins by the time I wanted to change my life. One of them wanted to stay in the place where I
loved and belonged. She said: '' This is all you will see. No need for a change. Stay here in your
country''. On the other hand the other twin was ready for new journeys. She said: ''let’s take the
wind to the back of our ship and make a sail to unknown oceans''. Being in United States was
waking up to a new moment, to a new beginning. Deep inside, I could still see the fear, feeling of
being alone. Some people say that you can never feel ready for a big change and I completely
understood than, that what they say is true.
We found an apartment but it wasn’t like home for me. I walked on the pavements as if
to discover something sudden, as though getting to know a new person. Smiling people was all
around me, it warmed my heart. Everyone was always ready to help me for everything. I didn't
get used to have this so I felt like I was a very special person in this country. I woke up every day
with the sounds of the birds singing a song for the morning light. There were people from all
around the world. I started to learn more about other countries, other cultures which I never had
the chance before. I was surprised when a school bus had a stop sign! This was so thoughtful. I
even saw a policeman helping to change the tire of a car for a person who needed help. I saw a
junk item place for people who needed home appliances; they were left by other people who got
new furniture. It was a really good way of sharing. There were places for homeless people which
they could feel safe and have food. They had the worth of a real home. People were patient and
calm while they were in traffic which rarely happens in my country. I started to be a patient
person by the time I stayed here. The school management system is so well organized that you
don’t have big distances between you and your teachers. I wish we had the same chance in my
country too. I felt free to have discussions with my teachers and tell them my opinions which I
didn’t get use to do before. I learned that it wasn’t a good thing to buy a watch someone who is
from China or there were delicious foods in Mexico. People from Korea were so friendly that
they are nearly the same as Turkish people. I heard before that United States was a melting pot,
and it is true. It is a mixture of cultures and lives. I felt safe, special and cared in here. My
apartment started to feel like home.
There were things in different ways. Apart from all differences I felt happy about being
here. I got rid of the shadows of my suspicions. I welcomed the new sun rising to my new life.
After some time I realized that it was imaginary borders of my prejudice which made me afraid
of being here. There are a lot waiting to be discovered. I realized that I winded in and out of
unknown lives, cultures and cities with a big anxiety this year. Even some places, I can't forget,
will call me back some day when I go back to my country. I am so happy that I listened to the
right twin of my soul.