By Candida Khan. I’ve had the most amazing and challenging experiences during the years 2003 to 2008. You may be wondering what I could be possibly speaking about. Well, my family and I moved from our home land to a foreign country, you could even say that it was on the other side of the planet. We moved to China.
Freezing cold in China
I was only 12 years old when we moved. My father was offered a job there and I was ready for a change. Completely excited to meet new people and see what the world had to offer, I approached the opportunity with an open mind and anxious spirit.
After many flights, we finally made it to China around the end of December 2003. Smiling from ear to ear with my heart racing with excitement, we landed on the ground of a foreign place.
My first thought was, “This place is freezing cold!” Shivering from head to toe, we ran to a car that took us to a shopping mall where we bought winter clothes! It was such a rush to be in a place where the sun did not warm the earth. The cold winter breeze was a completely new experience.
Only Trinbagonians in a school in China
My siblings and I started school there. My younger brother was in what was called year 5, I was in year 7 and my sister was in year 9. The system of a British International School was completely different.
We were the only Trinbagonians there and there were only 2 or 3 other brown skinned students in the whole school! It was a new school, but very promising. Unlike schools in Trinidad, we had very small classes in that my class held around 16 persons.
Missed Trinidad and Tobago
At first, it was difficult to make friends. After a while, however, I did make a really close friend who I still speak with up to this very day! She’s from Germany. We had such adventures in China. It really impacted my life in a positive way.
Now, I’m back home in Trinidad and Tobago currently pursuing a Diploma in Institutional and Community Dietetics and Nutrition. I have missed it here so much, my family, the beaches, the warmth; it feels like Spring all year round!
I am grateful for the many adventures I’ve had so far and I know that there’s more to come. Life has many ups and downs, twist and turns, but just hold on for the ride, there’s always an adventure ahead!
February 2015 – Issue 14 www.sweettntmagazine.com
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