Today is my first day at a new school, in an entirely different country, and in an entirely different continent. Even worse than that, it’s my freshman year of high school. I live, or used to live rather, in Los Angeles, California, where I belong; where all my friends and family are. But since my dad got a new job offer all the way in Australia, I’m stuck moving across the entire world… Sure, the voice of my mom saying ‘honey, we’re moving to Australia,’ rung in my ears as amazing. The thought of Australia was excellent, but the moving part was not.
For a whole month I had trouble accepting the fact that I was going to move so far, and leave my whole life behind. All my dearest friends I’ve known since elementary school, all the adventures I made on the sandy west coast and at Disneyland would be no more. All I’d have now were pictures and memories; things that never did justice to the hot, humid air, the endless hours of traffic, and Hollywood’s finest attractions; all things I loved so much about home. I just couldn’t let go.
But as many tears I shed, tantrums I threw, or arguments I caused, we still moved. So, one week ago I packed all my things and had them shipped off. I didn’t care anymore and felt like I should just throw it all away. A part of me was furious with my parents for making me move somewhere that I didn’t want to go. My dad made a lame excuse that it'd be a “good experience” for me to meet new people with different “backgrounds and cultures”. I just rolled my eyes like any other teen would have and slammed my bedroom door, sending a few picture frames down the wall, like my happiness.
When we first settled in Australia my mindset was still the same. I itched for the smell of my California, the warm comfort of my old house. We went out for dinner and while my parents ate cooked kangaroo meat (they said it was healthy to try new things even as strange as they seemed), I settled with a plain salad with no freaking dressing. I sat across from them at the restaurant's picnic table and watched the native birds fly above me. I wished I could be one of them; free to go wherever I wished. To soar in the warm sky and to never be seen again.
I had trouble sleeping the night before school started. I felt lonely in my new room and empty. I didn’t have anyone to look forward to seeing the next day. All I had was a print out of my schedule and the map of campus. I didn’t know anyone, or anything about Sydney for that matter. After laying in aching silence and sadness for hours; I finally rolled over to my left side and fell asleep.
“You ready?” Mom said after she pulled up in the school’s parking lot. She took off her black sunglasses that hid half her face, and pushed her dark brown curls behind her ears. She sighed when I didn’t answer immediately, and placed a small hand on my thigh. “I know it looks intimidating, but it’ll be fun, hun.”
I rolled my eyes slightly and looked out the window. People were everywhere, like they were engulfing the whole campus. It did look intimidating, that’s for sure, but how would it be fun? I was the odd one out with the American accent and lighter skin. Finally, I turned to look at my mom in her round, creamy brown eyes.
“Do I have to? Why can’t you homeschool me?” I begged, while biting the sides of my thumbs, like I always did when nervous, and sighed. I knew that couldn’t happen, either. I was in a desperate situation. 
“No, now go.” She said while handing me my packed lunch. I hesitantly grabbed it and feared that kangaroo meat would be inside. I opened the door and stood awkwardly by the car. “You’ll be fine,” She said reassuringly.
“But what if I won’t?” I whispered to myself. It would either go great or horribly wrong; there was no in between for a first day at a new school. After I leaned back into the car to kiss Mom’s cheek, the fear came over me like a tsunami wave. I knew this was goodbye for the day, and I’d really have to face my challenges.
I slowly shut the car door and took a deep breath. I examined everyone out before me, they all wore uniforms similar to my own. At least I’d be able to hide in the swarm of people. I neatly pressed my red skirt down and tucked in my white polo. Maybe people wouldn’t notice I was new. Maybe they’d just walk on by and say ‘oh hey, look it’s a girl who looks exactly like us.’

I was right. The day was going by awfully. Everyone -and I mean everyone- knew that I was not from ‘down under’. All the teachers made me stand up in class and say who I was, where I was from, and why I moved. Almost every time I thought I couldn’t manage a word, but somehow I did.
It was lunch now and I sat alone at a circular table, eating the lunch Mom packed me. Sure enough, there was kangaroo meat. But there was no way I was eating that nasty stuff, so I ate the fruit she packed with it instead. As I ate, I tried hiding my face from anyone that walked by. Nobody stopped to say hello or welcome me, which upset me and made me feel relieved at the same time.
That was until one girl, someone I recognized from my science class, walked up and put her lunch across from me. She had her dark brown hair pulled up at the back of her head and she smiled enthusiastically. I looked up at her and gave a small smile back.
“Hello, so you’re the new girl?” She asked while untwisting the lid off her water bottle and taking a long sip. After, she wiped her mouth with her arm and raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, yeah….” I answered while chewing a grape. “Moved here from Los Angeles, California.”
“Right, well, welcome to Sydney. I’m Jordy by the way.” She stated while sticking out her hand for a shake. I took it and shook firmly.
I felt a little better now that someone had introduced me. But I was still sad and missing home. I still missed my old friends and my old city and my old highschool that I should’ve been attending. Still, I had to admit this place was better than I figured. It was exotic, warm, and pretty. The vegetation here was colorful and all the people were full of life.
“So, if you’d like, I could show you around? Maybe take you to the mall, or the beach, or someplace cool.” she offered while keeping her bright smile. “Or if you don’t want t-”
“No, no, that’d be cool. Thanks.” I said while opening the container of kangaroo meat. It looked gross and slimey, even though it was cooked. I picked up the knife Mom packed me and tried to cut it, but when it wouldn’t budge, I sighed in defeat and closed the lid on the container.
“Kangaroo meat… Yeah, it’s a bit gross,” Jordy chuckled. “What’s your name again?”
It just occurred to me that I hadn’t told her my own name yet. She stared at me patiently and waited for my response. I cleared my throat, “Elena.”
“Nice to meet you, Elena. It’s my pleasure to be your first acquaintance in the wonderful Sydney, Australia.” Jordy declared while cleaning up her lunch. I was done too, so I followed in her footsteps.
For once in this new place I felt like I might be able to settle decently. I now had a friend that wanted to take me all around. I felt a bit of hope, for once in this whole moving process, that I might not be in the bad position I thought I was in. Maybe the move is a good experience for me; a fresh start.