Photo of daughter and father posing together

Finally Together
Sala didn’t meet her dad in person until she was 9. Now she gets to see him every day!

Joe Buglewicz/AP Images for Scholastic Inc. (Sala Mohamed Imran)

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My New Life with Dad

Can you imagine moving to a new country and meeting your father in the same day? It happened to Sala, 13. Read on for her incredible story.

October 2023

By Sala Mohamed Imran, as told to Anna Starecheski

“There he is!” my older sister shouted, pointing into the crowd.

We were in the airport in New York City. People rushed all around us.

I looked from face to face, but I couldn’t find my dad.

Then my sister ran ahead, right into a man’s open arms. My mom ran up to embrace him next.

When it was my turn for a hug, I hesitated. I stuck out my hand to shake instead.

I knew the person standing in front of me was my dad, but to me he was also a stranger. He looked different from how he had looked on a tiny phone screen.

I was 9 years old, and I was meeting my father in person for the very first time.

“There he is!” my sister yelled.

We were in the airport in New York City. People rushed all around us. I looked around, but I couldn’t find my dad.

My sister ran ahead. She rushed into a man’s open arms. My mom ran up to embrace him next.

When it was my turn for a hug, I hesitated. I stuck out my hand to shake instead.

I knew the person standing in front of me was my dad. But to me he was a stranger too. He looked different from how he had looked on a phone screen.

I was 9, and I was meeting my dad in person for the first time.

“There he is!” my older sister shouted, pointing into the crowd.

We were in a busy airport in New York City. People rushed all around us. I looked from face to face, but I didn’t recognize my father.

Then my sister raced ahead, straight into a man’s open arms. My mother hurried to embrace him next.

When it was my turn for a hug, I hesitated—and then I stuck out my hand to shake instead.

Although I understood that the man standing in front of me was my dad, in some ways he was also a stranger. He looked different from how he had looked on a tiny phone screen.

I was 9 years old, and I was meeting my father in person for the very first time.

Life Without Dad

Jim McMahon/Mapman ®

It might seem weird that I went nine whole years without meeting my dad. But it’s not that unusual in families of immigrants.

I grew up in Sri Lanka, a country in South Asia. Sri Lanka has had some problems. The country doesn’t have a lot of money. There isn’t always enough food. It’s hard to get jobs.

My parents wanted a better life for their family. So when my mom was pregnant with me, my dad moved to the United States. The plan was that he would work and save up money until we could join him.

As a kid, I loved life in my small town in Sri Lanka. I spent days at the park with my sister and cousins. I enjoyed watching dolphins at the beach. I was close with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

But every day I asked my mom when we would get to see my dad.

On my fifth birthday, I remember feeling extra sad. A few days before, I had been at my friend’s birthday party. After her dad cut the cake, he gave her a big kiss. Even with my family around me, something was missing. I felt alone without my dad.

It might seem weird that I went nine years without meeting my dad. But it’s not that strange in families of immigrants.

I grew up in Sri Lanka. That’s a country in South Asia. The country has had some problems. There isn’t much money. There isn’t always enough food. It’s hard to get jobs.

My parents wanted a better life for their family. So when my mom was pregnant with me, my dad moved to the United States. He planned to work and save money. Later, we would join him.

As a kid, I loved life in Sri Lanka. I went to the park with my sister and cousins. I watched dolphins at the beach. I was close with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. But every day I asked my mom when we would see my dad.

On my fifth birthday, I felt extra sad. A few days before, I had been at my friend’s birthday party. After her dad cut the cake, he gave her a kiss. Even with my family around me, something was missing. I felt alone without my dad.

It might seem weird that I went nine entire years without meeting my father, but it’s actually not that unusual for families of immigrants.

I grew up in Sri Lanka, a country in South Asia. The country has had some problems, and there hasn’t always been enough money, food, or work for everyone.

My parents wanted a better life for their family—so when my mother was pregnant with me, my father moved to the United States to work and save up money until we could join him.

As a kid, I loved life in my small town in Sri Lanka. I spent days at the park with my sister and cousins, and I enjoyed watching dolphins at the beach. I was close with our extended family: my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. But every day I asked my mom when we would get to see my dad.

I remember feeling especially sad on my fifth birthday. A few days earlier, at my friend’s birthday celebration, her father had given her a big kiss after he cut the cake. Even with my family around me, something was missing. I felt alone without my dad.

Dream Come True

In 2019, my mom got an exciting phone call. We were selected for an interview to come to the U.S.! My mom was nervous, but she passed the interview. Our family could move to be with my dad! We all screamed and jumped up and down when we got the news.

After that, everything happened fast. My dad got us plane tickets—we would leave in two weeks! I had mixed emotions. I was so excited to meet my dad and to start a new life with him in the U.S., but I was also scared to leave everyone I knew.

I remember the moment the plane took off. It was my first time flying. Just like the move itself, it was both terrifying and exciting!

When we arrived in New York City, everything felt unfamiliar. I barely knew any English. There were crowds all around us. The buildings were so tall. I had never seen anything like them.

But I was amazed by our new home in Connecticut. It was bigger than our house in Sri Lanka, and my dad had it all ready for us. I slowly warmed up to him.

One day, Dad took me shopping for new clothes. In the store, I realized: I’m shopping with my dad. I finally have him next to me.

I felt so lucky.

In 2019, my mom got an exciting phone call. We were chosen for an interview to come to the U.S.! My mom passed the interview. We could go and live with my dad! We all screamed and jumped up and down when we heard.

My dad got us plane tickets. We would leave in two weeks! I had mixed feelings. I was excited to start a new life with my dad. But I was scared too. I was leaving everyone I knew.

I remember the moment the plane took off. It was my first time flying. Just like the move itself, it was both scary and exciting!

We arrived in New York City. Everything felt unfamiliar. I barely knew any English. There were crowds all around us. The buildings were so tall. I had never seen anything like them.

Then we went to our new home in Connecticut. I was amazed. It was bigger than our house in Sri Lanka. My dad had it all ready for us. I began to warm up to him.

One day, Dad took me shopping for clothes. In the store, I realized: I’m shopping with my dad. I finally have him next to me.

I felt so lucky.

In 2019, my mother received an exciting phone call. We were selected for an interview to come to the U.S.! My mom was nervous, but she passed the interview—and our family could finally go and live with my dad! We all screamed and jumped up and down with excitement when we got the news.

After that, everything happened quickly. My dad got us plane tickets—we would leave in two weeks! I felt a complicated mix of emotions: excitement about meeting my dad and starting a new life with him in the U.S., but also fear and anxiety about leaving everyone I knew.

I remember the moment the plane took off. It was my first time flying—and just like the move itself, it was both terrifying and thrilling!

When we arrived in New York City, everything felt unfamiliar. I barely knew any English, we were surrounded by crowds, and I had never seen such tall buildings.

Our new home in Connecticut amazed me: It was larger than our house in Sri Lanka, and my father had it all ready for us. Gradually, I began warming up to him.

One day, while Dad and I were out shopping for clothes, I realized: I’m shopping with my dad. I finally have him next to me.

I felt incredibly lucky.

Making Memories

Joe Buglewicz/AP Images for Scholastic Inc.

Growing Together
Sala is happy to be with her family. Last year, her mom and dad had another baby!

A few months after we moved to the U.S., I turned 10. For the first time ever, I got to celebrate my birthday with my dad. We had a big lunch with family friends. Then we went bowling. It was the best day of my life.

It’s not easy moving to a new country. Everything is different, from the food to the people to my new school. But my dad helped us adjust to our new life. No matter what challenges I may face, it’s worth it. My family is finally together.

A few months after the big move, I turned 10. For the first time, my dad was there for my birthday. We had a big lunch with family friends. Then we went bowling. It was the best day of my life.

Moving to a new country is hard. Everything is different: the food, the people, and my new school. But my dad helped us adjust to life here. No matter what challenges I may face, it’s worth it. My family is finally together.

A few months after we arrived in the U.S., I turned 10—and for the first time ever, I was able to celebrate my birthday with my father. We had a big lunch with family friends, and then we went bowling. It was the greatest day of my life.

It isn’t easy moving to a new country and getting accustomed to different foods, unfamiliar people, and a new school—but my father helped us adjust to our new surroundings. Whatever challenges I may face, it’ll be worth it because my family is finally together.

ACTIVITY:
Cause and Effect

You’ve just read “My New Life With Dad.” Now it’s time to do this activity.

Tip: A cause is what makes something happen. An effect is what happens as a result.

What to do: Fill in the blanks below to help you understand how one cause can have many effects. Answer the questions using details from the article.