Shadow

 

Santiago Ulloa 

ESL-100 CE

From comfort zone to new life

Living in the United States has been one of my favorite periods of my life. When I was ten years old, I used to talk with my mother about this country because she lived here around six years. When she was in the United States, she used to show me the streets of Chicago always that we were in videocalls, the big and beautiful buildings downtown, and I remember she always told me that I was going to be here in The United States one day. Since I was in school in Acacias, my hometown in Colombia, I remember some classmates asked me questions about my future and where I was going to study. I always said to my friends and classmates that I was going to go to Chicago because I wanted to study there. Three years ago, when the idea of coming to Chicago became real, I did not even know how to say a sentence in English. When I finished high school, I decided to go to an English academic for some months.  As a result, moving to the United States changed my life a lot because it helped me grow as a person and as a adult, become independent and push myself outside of my comfort zone.

One year ago, when I put my body in an airplane to come to the United States, I was so excited. Before that day, I was in my bed thinking about how my life would be over there in Chicago. I had many dreams and goals in my mind, but I was very nervous about this challenge in my life because I was in my comfort zone and I had to leave everything. I just came with a suitcase of my clothes and my head full of dreams. When I was on the plane, I talked with myself for a long time and I said, “you are going to achieve your dreams, just be focused and work hard always.” After some days that I got here, I visited some friends and family, and they always told me that they liked my attitude and my energy or vibes. I brought my Colombian culture, my Colombian expressions, my Colombian vibes. There is a stereotype about Colombians that we are always taking the best for every situation that we are even if it is not good. I realized that this way of thinking positive was the best for all the moments. The first weeks were so hard for me, I was missing to be able to go outside with my friends or to go to the river on weekends, those are simple plans that I used to do but I felt very happy doing them, that is why I missed them very much. But I don’t care too much about missing some plans from my home country because I know that If I keep working hard, I will enjoy later more than before.

Another change is that I feel proud of myself because I learned how to be independent, how to do everything by myself, I also feel happy because I got use to live in The United States. I like the life here. It could be because I am doing what I wanted and it Is to study at first and to be able to get a job. This change of my life was the most important for me because I learned and I am still learning about how to be an adult. When I was living with my parents, I did not have any responsibilities, and that is the big difference compared with now.

Leaving my comfort zone in Colombia was the best decision for good because this how I will improve myself. One month ago, I went to Colombia. My parents, my uncles, most of my family asked me like could I change my way of thinking in only one year. I did not know how to answer to those questions. Now that I came back from Colombia, and I think a little bit more about the difference between Colombia and the United States because I wanted to know if the comments that I heard when I was in my hometown were real or not. After some days thinking and talking with my mother, I can see clearly how living in the United States has changed my life in only one year. Since I arrived, I have not stopped learning new personal skills, like studying independently, and outside skills, like understanding a new culture. I feel proud of how much I have grown and how I have learned to face challenges on my own. I know my life will continue changing because this is a country where I learn something new every day. Leaving my comfort zone was not easy, but it taught me that working hard, staying positive, and following my dreams can make big changes in life. I am excited for the future because I know that every experience here will help me become a better person and reach my goals.