sweetisu

19 years ago tonight, after what seemed like a never ending flight (more than 20 some hours), 8 of us landed in Chicago O’Hare Airport. Jet-lagged, hungry, cold, shivering, and shocked to the core from culture-shock, we headed to our relatives house to stay for the night before going to Iowa and reunite with my grandparents.

Dragging along 16 bags of our life-belongings (two per person, containing mostly clothes), my aunts family of 4 and our family of 4 were like deers in the headlight. We had no idea where to go or what to do. We followed my great-uncle closely, fearing he might lose us in the massive sea of people.

I was 12. Bewildered by the scenes and people that we passed by, I was speechless. I couldn’t even cry.

All I wanted was to go home, where everything was familiar and not scary and where I knew practically everyone in my surroundings.

Tonight, 19 years later, I can’t imagine any other place I would rather be but right here. Right here in Iowa with my husband and two kids.