To know another country, another language, and a new culture is surely a memorable experience that everyone who has the opportunity should enjoy. All of my experiences and life changes began before I arrived to the United States. First of all, I had the opportunity to change the enrollment from Portugal to another country, in which the government offered immersion course in the local language.
My anxiety increased every day that passed until I had received the confirmation notifying me that New Orleans would be the city where I would spend the next sixteen months. My expectation was wide at every email received and each new piece of information about the city. I was very afraid. After all, the idea to of leaving my home, to go far away from my family and friends, live in another country where I knew less than the basics of the language, is frightening. Many people criticized and thought that I was crazy, but at the same time, other people admired my courage. I listened at them.
My curiosity and the feeling that I could do it was bigger than my fear. The great day came. The farewell was one of mixed feelings. Although the sadness, the happiness, the fear, the anxiety were with me all during the trip, everything went right. The city was more beautiful in front of my eyes than I imagined.
My first impression when I arrived was that I was in a movie or a dream. The city was so beautiful and friendly. The same occurred to me at the university. The people were very polite and receptive. I felt better so my fear decreased. Now I can see that the people are not as welcoming as I imagined. The people here are closed. After all, here the people are not so sentimental as is in Brazil. This is a different culture.
The place is beautiful for me still. At each field trip around the city, I could see just how rich the culture is here. Walking in the town hearing the jazz and around the parks it is very pleasurable. The culture here was very interesting for me, but at the same time it was one challenge. The spicy or sweet food is really different that I used to eat. The fact that people are closed was hard to handle. Because we had to take care not to touch the people. We could not to relate with them with the same way Brazilians relate.
However the necessity of to hug, kiss, laugh, cry, demonstrate what you feel, was easily supplemented with friends. Everybody was in the same situation, with the same mix of feelings. Each one quickly found friends. These friends are like a family. These are who give you a shoulder to cry and laugh and who share all the experiences and are with you always when you need it. Friends who will stay together here this little time, but I am sure that they are for the whole life. They are who make this experience so special.
Édina Liara Schons
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