Our First Day in Boston (L.B.)
On September 12th, our group of 18 students
gathered at Basel Bahnhof, carrying heavy luggage and a mix of many emotions.
Accompanied by our teachers, Mrs. Mac Farland and Mrs. Scherrer, we boarded the
train to Zurich Airport, where the remaining members of our group joined us.
After checking in and passing through
security, we waited at Gate 67 for our delayed flight. To pass the time, we
even rehearsed our seating arrangements in the hope of sitting together.
Eventually, we boarded the plane and began our eight-and-a-half-hour journey
across the Atlantic. Movies, video games, and attempts to sleep helped the
hours pass.
When we finally landed, our excitement was
so overwhelming that we burst into applause. After immigration and baggage
claim, we made our way to the arrivals hall, growing increasingly eager to meet
our exchange partners for the first time.
As the doors opened, we saw them waiting
with smiles, cheers, and signs bearing our names. Recognizing the faces we had
previously seen only in photographs made the moment truly unforgettable. It was
then that I realized these two weeks were going to be extraordinary. We were
all greeted with genuine warmth and kindness.
Our journey continued to Reading, a
welcoming suburban town about 25 kilometers north of Boston, where we are
staying for the next two weeks. Along the way, I admired the charming houses
and trees beginning to turn into autumn colors, capturing the beauty of early
New England fall.
I was welcomed into the family’s home and
met the rest of the family, who immediately made me feel at home. Their
friendliness and openness made the transition feel effortless, even though we
are far away from Basel.
Despite the six-hour time difference and my
growing fatigue, curiosity kept me going. Some of us stayed in for the evening,
while others already ventured out to explore food places and stores. I was
amazed by the variety of options, activities, and places to visit, as well as
the late closing hours here.
Exhausted but thrilled, I ended our first day with an early good night, already looking forward to the next day.
