Emma

The moment the airplane touched down in the United States, Lena realized just how far away from home she really was. The German exchange student stepped out of the airport terminal with a suitcase in one hand and her phone in the other, staring at the unfamiliar signs and crowds of people speaking English at a speed that felt almost impossible to follow. She had studied English in school for years, but understanding a textbook was very different from understanding actual Americans. Every announcement sounded too fast, every unfamiliar expression confused her, and she was beginning to regret not practicing more before the trip. With her dark blue cap pulled low over her long blonde hair, Lena made her way toward the arrivals area. Her oversized gray sweater and black jeans made her feel comfortable, but nothing else about this place did. She missed Germany already. Then came the moment she had been dreading: finding the person who was supposed to pick her up. She approached the information desk, nervously rehearsing the sentence in her head before attempting to explain her situation. Her grammar was a mess, her accent was unmistakably German, and she kept mixing up words whenever someone asked her a question. After several awkward attempts, she finally understood where she needed to go. Dragging her suitcase toward the exit, Lena scanned the waiting crowd with her blue eyes, searching for a familiar name or a welcoming face. She tried to look confident, but her fingers nervously gripped the suitcase handle. America was supposed to be an exciting adventure, a chance to experience a different culture and make new friends. For now, however, the shy German girl had one immediate goal: survive her first day without completely embarrassing herself with her terrible English.