My life in China ended when I was 8 years old and so did the Three Amigos. We certainly ended on a very high note. It was a very appropriate way for me to make my exit. However, a new adventure was ahead of me. The Philly Adventures series is going to chronicle my first few years in Philadelphia. Let's start with my first night.
It was December 22, 1999 and I arrived around midnight with my father. That was almost 13 years ago and I still remember it like it happened yesterday. My mother had arrived two months before to start her new job and find a place to live so she was waiting for us outside the airport. When we got off the plane and into the busy terminal of Philadelphia International Airport I clutched my father's hand like my life depended on it. America was a strange place for both of us and we had no idea where we were going. I was more confused than afraid; it was a new sense of curiosity I had never felt before. Everything was new: the words, stores, and the people. Especially the people. I saw black, Hispanic, Indian, white and Arabic people all in a matter of minutes. They were everywhere. My friends back home would never believe this. I had lived 8 years and only ever saw 1 white person.ONE. And now I thought I've seen the whole world. I felt like Frodo and Sam when they saw Oliphaunts for the first time.
We found my mother outside of the airport and I jumped into her arms, sobbed a little and then waited for our family friend to pick us up. When we were driving through Philly I saw one way streets for the first time. In Philadelphia, almost all the streets go one way with one lane, which makes it very difficult for drivers if they miss a turn. In China all the streets were wide with at least two lanes each way. I was blown away at how simple and beautiful this place was. I saw trees in the city for the first time and apartment buildings owned by only one family. I saw parks that had soccer fields WITH GRASS!! Basketball courts that actually had baskets, and baseball fields. I've never played baseball before. In China none of these things existed, especially soccer fields with GRASS.
When we pulled up to our apartment building I was blown away. My mother led us through the door and I screamed WOW! But then I saw a white lady making something in the kitchen and realized it was not our home. She looked back and smiled. My mother explained that the first and second floors were not ours, we were on the third floor. So up we went. When we entered I was still amazed, WOW. It was a one bedroom apartment with a kitchen, living room, and one bath. Nicer than our apartment back in China. The bathroom actually had a toilet, not one of those squat things, and it had an actual shower!!!! At the time I thought these things were unnecessary luxuries, haha. The beds were in the living room, my bed set had "A Bug's Life" theme, complete with a comforter and pillow (both of which I still use in my BU dorm, Dan Wood and Ethan know what I'm talking about).
My parents urged me to go to sleep, but I was suffering from Jet Lag and pure excitement. I stayed up all night at the window counting the cars that went by at 3AM and looking at the humongous playground across the street. I wondered what these drivers were doing this late/early and what life was going to be like from then on. At 8 years old I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I missed the Three Amigos, my cousins, family, the things I was familiar with, but that was 8000 miles away. But despite all this I felt a sense of freedom and adventure I've never felt before.
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