The Journey

The Journey.....

Her first trip on an airplane, yet no emotions stirred within. Her only thoughts were of leaving the family members she knew all of her 11.5 years. She was dressed in a navy blue polyester knitted sleeveless dress that touched her knee with a matching blue and white overcoat, her white socks pulled high up to her knee in a pair of black shiny shoes. All sent from the country that she was traveling to and courtesy of the mother she did not know, so that she would be identified on arrival in the foreign country.

The journey to the airport was unreal. Many, many times she had traveled this 3 hour journey with her grandmother to visit her grandmother’s youngest brother, but this was the first time that she was traveling all the way to the airport. Everyone was deep in thought but grandmother was always smiling, and she continued to smile. This time the journey seemed to take forever.

On arrival at the airport she was quickly and expertly checked in and handed over to the appropriate authorities who would accompany her to the airplane and also take care of her on the journey. Hugs and tears followed but she does not cry, she is indifferent as she is led to the airplane by the Caucasian air stewardess. On board the airplane are many students about her age all of whom are Caucasian but she is not introduced to them, and she does not know to introduce herself. She sits and was strapped in her seat unsure of what to make of this entire journey. She looks out the window but sees no-one, no grandma, brother or uncle.

The real journey began, she felt sick but did not throw up. She fell asleep but slept lightly because she was cold and she had no blanket. She did not know to ask for a blanket. She did not know a lot because this was new for her. She saw what she thought was a blanket and wondered if she should get it. She was hesitant because the airplane was moving and she was not sure if she should unbuckle the belt. She left it and observed the situation. The blanket stirred, it was not available.