Seattle

My experience Abroad

Traveling to another country is an amazing experience that a lot people would like to have, however, not all the people have this amazing opportunity. Especially when we think about this hard process of living away from our country, because we normally feel scared about new things. I would like to tell my experience in Seattle in four different parts. Starting with my flight from Tegucigalpa to Miami which was both, exciting and tiring, when I took my fly from Tegucigalpa I really felt comfortable but at the same time insecure with myself, because I did not know what things would be like once I get there even if I got a few advices from North American citizens. 

                Firstly, when I arrived at the SEA- TAC (Seattle, Tacoma) airport, I met many people, including students from other NPH homes (It is an organization which helps children who are in social risk) people call it ORPHANAGE, however we are not, we really are a FAMILY. Once I got there I started taking many pictures at the airport, and I start looking at the big buildings as a Central American does. I was so happy but very tired. Before going to the house, I met my host family Judy and Roger Paulsen with whom I learned a lot of English. When I arrived at my house, my host family had already prepared my beautiful room.

Second stage, I found many surprising things in Seattle. The next day my host family showed me how to take the bus to school just like a kid, and it was a hard time because in Seattle the bus system is completely different than in Honduras. It was funny because when I took the first bus I hoped to find things like music, people talking to each other, or the person who takes the money from each passenger. I was surprised by many things because here in Honduras we have a very different bus system. Drivers in Seattle respect the rules of the road, and people here are not considerate to each other.

Third stage, my next week I was very busy learning about the University, and the NPH leadership program. I had fun activities, and worship experiences. I met some ex-volunteers that had already worked here in Honduras many years ago when I was 17 years old.

Fourth stage, I attended my first week of school. When I started classes I was thinking about many things, and I was nervous. I met my English teacher Emily, whom I still remember and my classmates from many countries such as, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Vietnam. It was so funny because when I talked to them, they all the time asked me to teach them the common words in Spanish, for example TE AMO, ERES LINDA, ME LLAMO……, Eres mi amigo, or another words that I cannot mention here, I also learned words in their languages for instance, “Habibi” WHICH MEANS MI AMOR in Spanish, ‘’shukran’’, or ‘’Marhaba’’ Similarly, while I was taking my English classes, I sometimes told them words in Spanish like ‘’No, no es asi ’’ they looked me a little funny because in others words I was the only Spanish speaker in my English class. On the other hand, when they talked to each other in Arabic, Chinese, or Vietnamese, I felt confused and I told them sorry but I don't understand you. Now I realized that this time that I had in Seattle has been helpful, because it helped me to learn a lot of about other cultures that I had never thought before. Also, I enjoyed school there and my studies a lot because mclassmates were very friendly even though they were different than me, even now I remember my friends Tareg, Mohammed, Aziz, Abod, Ibrahim, Eman and, also the Spanish girl Alicia with whom I shared many ideas.

In summary, my experience in Seattle was very tiring, but exciting. I felt like I was well prepared for my studies at Seattle Central College (SCC), and if I had this opportunity, I would like to go again.

By: Nelson Alvarez