I’m no stranger to changing neighborhoods and schools, having nine of each under my belt. The transition is always tough, but as an American girl, at least I know the words being shouted, whispered, lectured, and said around me. I can count on the familiar smell of hamburgers on the grills of cookouts. And, I can take in the simple architecture of the typical suburban sprawl and feel at home.
But when I look at my best friend from Germany, laugh with my classmate from Bosnia and Herzegovina, admire the fashion of the girl from France, and applaud the singing and dancing abilities of my teammate from Brazil, I admire their resiliency and connectivity.
These people have left their language, culture, and sometimes religion back in their home countries. The transition from state to state can be hard, but these people have changed from country to country. And… I see them fitting in, smiling, making memories.
Despite varying language barriers, my student swimmers from Hungary, Ecuador, Columbia, and North Macedonia still signed up for swim camp, got in the water, and tried their best to learn what I was teaching. Despite cultural differences, my classmates joined clubs and sports, unafraid of putting themselves out there. Due to their efforts, they found their group.
They found where they belong. And I promise, if you put yourself out there, you’ll find where you fit in, too.
New places and cultures can be scary. I feel that too - the unease around a slightly different accent, the sad realization when you can’t go to your favorite local restaurant on a Friday night, the struggle to navigate a new school. Yet, “new” can also be amazing.
If you moved over the summer, know that this new place has so much in store for you. Don’t let your time there go to waste.
❤