My New Life with Dad

    “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.

    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.