*

I arrived in America 11 months ago.

The fact that I had no return ticket in my pocket made me feel lost and uncertain.

I do not know now, one year later, where I got the strength to take that first step.

My hands were shaking when I booked a one-way flight

But here I am, finally.

A new life was ahead of me.

I had a plan.

I knew my next month’s schedule.

I had filled out my first application for a Social Security number.

I even knew a route to get to the office for applying.

Looking back, I can see the reasons to be proud of myself.

I found a school to improve my language skills.

I found it without any help.

I went there and explained my purposes.

After that, I found an ESOL class in a library.

I managed to register everywhere and fill out numerous forms in a foreign language that was not familiar to me.

I forced myself to stop speaking in and listening to my original language.

I coped.

I lost a couple of kilograms but finally started speaking.

*
*

Andrey Tyulyakov was born in Moscow, the capital of what was then the Soviet Union. To avoid serving in the Soviet Army, which had invaded Afghanistan, he attended university, from which he went on to graduate. He credits his mother for encouraging him to learn and supporting his emigration. He now studies at the Queens Public Library’s Peninsula Adult Learning Center. His teacher is Ebru Yenal.