Short Story: A New Beginning, For The Third Time

The plane landed at San Francisco airport at 11AM.

I heard the flight attendant rambling on the intercom in a language I didn’t understand. I looked over at my mom, my dad, and my sister, and they were just as confused as I was. We assumed that she was saying something about getting off the plane, but who knows? The airplane was filled with rows and rows of people. For 14 long hours, we all had to endure a smell that was a combination of feet, burps, food, farts, and baby shit. There wasn’t an ounce of fresh air. Every time I looked in front of me and behind me, it felt like there were 1000s of people on our flight, and it was going to take 3 hours just to get off the plane.

Finally, we stepped foot on US soil. We were finally here.

From that day forward, we were starting a brand new life.

It was 1997, and our family arrived in the US with:

• 1 suitcase (for all 4 of us).
• $1000 in cash.
• No place to live. We lived with a friend.

It was the third time my parents were starting their life over.

Moving from Bosnia, a war-torn country, to Croatia, then to Germany, and finally landing in the US. We didn’t know what to expect; after all, we had only seen America in the movies.

As a 9-year-old, I didn’t understand how big of a life change this was for my parents. I struggled with the language barrier at school, and my mom and dad attended night classes to learn English. We made friends with other immigrant families in our neighborhood, bonding over shared experiences and our determination to make a life here.

My parents worked multiple jobs. I saw their resilience and determination firsthand as they navigated the challenges of finding work, learning a new language, and adapting to American culture.

As I got older, I realized how much my parents sacrificed to create an opportunity for themselves and their kids to live a better life.

This moment is engraved in my mind forever, and it’s my motivation 26 years later.

Over the years, we embraced American culture while maintaining our Bosnian roots.

Today, my parents are still working like it’s the first job they’ve ever had. Although they’ve been able to create an awesome life for themselves, put their kids through school, and set themselves up for retirement, they never let a bad day get in the way.

The challenges we faced, and the sacrifices my parents made have shaped my values and outlook on life. I’ve learned to be resilient, adaptable, and appreciative of the opportunities I’ve been given.

Our family’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, and it’s a story I’ll carry with me forever.