When I stepped off the plane in Oklahoma City, it hit me. I had made the journey of
4000 miles, leaving behind the bustling city streets of London for a world of wide-open
skies, southern hospitality, and cultural contrasts I had never imagined. The move, from
one of Europe’s most cosmopolitan cities to the heart of America’s Midwest, marked a
significant change in my life, filled with both excitement and uncertainty.
Starting high school was one of the biggest adjustments. My British accent drew
curiosity, people kept asking me to “say something British,” which was funny at first but
also made me feel like a novelty. The US high school system feels more social and
sports-driven than the academically focused environment I knew in the UK. The
absence of uniforms, the emphasis on extracurriculars, and the looming presence of
college entrance exams like the SAT are all new terrain, and coming at me fast.
I knew things would be different, but I didn’t expect how much I would miss my home,
and surprisingly even the miserable weather that came with living in England.
Homesickness creeps up on you when you least expect it to, like when I’m facetiming
my best friend, Leah and she has to remind me she’s 6 hours ahead of me now, when
not long ago we lived 10 minutes away from each other. It’s a bittersweet feeling trying to
find that balance between keeping the connections from my former life and embracing
my new one.
I’m used to being driven everywhere, since I wasn’t old enough to drive in the UK. In
London, I took the Tube. Here, I need to learn to drive ASAP! Despite the hurdles, I am
embracing my new home, finding joy in Oklahoma sunsets, local diners, and the chance
to reinvent myself. I want my story to be one of resilience, adaptation, and of growing up
between two worlds. From London to the Heartland. Let the adventure begin.