America
... After a long 9 hour flight we landed on Chicago O’Hare Airport. The first feeling was very bad because I realized that I do not speak English. I have been studying English for whole my life, but I could not even understand the word “hello!” All of because American accent and differentiation between Oxford English and American-English slang. I was very confused. After one hour of waiting, somebody from my school found me. He told me that he is going from international student office and he is going to take me to my host family. Of course, the only words that I was able to understand was “hi and host family.” He said something like “How ya doin’?” in this time I had no clue that he meant “How do you do?” After all, when we got to his car I was happy that my plane had not crashed and some people found me in this airport crowd. I knew that my family will be understandable about my poor English skill and they will use as easy ENGLISH words as possible. I was wrong. When we got there I saw a small house that seemed to be a summer house not the place where I was going to discover the beauty of America. When I knocked on the door I saw a guy whose name was Tom. His face looked very tired, and he smelled of a little alcohol. I assumed that I am wrong, so I did not panic yet. I went to my room, (the biggest in the house – so it was all right). Later, I went to the kitchen I asked him about his wife and family. He said that he did not have any family. He was not divorced; he was just a single old man. I said to myself what a wonderful world this America is. I was not even 2 hours and I found one swindle already. I was hard. I said that everything was going to be ok. He ordered some pizza, and invited me for a dinner. I did not really enjoy that food, but I was hungry anyway. After we ate, I asked him “Ok, this food was great, but what time are you going to serve me breakfast and lunch?” His answer was negative; he said that he is not going to cook for me. In this moment I broke down. It was my third hour in U.S and I was ready to go back home. I went to my room, and I started crying because I was so excited about the trip and this adventure became a totally disaster. I wanted to be with my parents, but they were not there. The biggest thing that God gave to me is my family, and I exchanged them for some guy who was as empty as a well without water. The only fluid that could be in that well was alcohol. I was feeling a little like in prison, and I was afraid of that guy. I did not unpack my suitcases because I was sure that it was a mistake. I came to America on Friday, so I had to wait till Monday to meet with somebody from the international student office. When I went there I told them how I was feeling bad that they placed me in the house where the owner was a very strange guy. I demanded them to move me to the other family, to family with kids, parents, and some nice family atmosphere. I told them that I wrote that in my Host Family Application. They told me that they cannot move me to the other family, and also they told me to feel happy that I live somewhere because some international students are still living in hotels till the school will find them their host family. In this moment I had no hope for a better life. I came to the country which is supposed to be a paradise, but everything looked like I was in hell. I thought the world has no sense because there is no place where perfect honesty is. Since that moment I was totally on my own; that guy did not care about me. I had no choice; I unpacked my suitcase and started regular life. In that moment I only knew how to make a sandwich and tea. When I was talking on the phone with my mom, I asked about some cooking recipes. She thought that I wanted to show my host family how we cook in Poland because I had told her that my host family is very nice. I lied, but I did not want her to worry about me. She thought that I lived with kids, wife, husband and they cook me very good food. My life started for real. My school started, I got a job on the college campus. In that time I was only allowed to work on campus. I made my first money in my life, and then I was able to buy m...