I grew up in La Pobla de Farnals, in Valencia, Spain. The weather there is always warm. From the window of my bedroom, I could always see the beautiful mountainside and breathe the fresh scent of the mountain air. One thing wonderful about living in the country is the sound of silence. It always made me feel safe and secure.

Coming to New York City was a huge shock to me. The movies have always made it seem so glamorous, but there is actually a lot that is not shown in the movies. They say, “Everything is possible in New York City!”

When I first came to New York City, I was overwhelmed by the noise and the smell. The screeching of the trains, the horns of the vehicles, the sirens of all kinds, and the bustle of people. Did I mention the malodorous smell in New York? Much to my surprise, it is normal to put garbage on the street in this city. I am always wondering why. It smells so bad everywhere.

In this “everything is possible” city, fresh air and peaceful silence seem to be the only two “impossible” things.

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Judith Corrales was born in Colombia and raised in La Pobla de Farnals, Valencia, Spain. She speaks Spanish and English. She arrived in the United States in 2016 and now lives in Brooklyn with her family. Currently, she is a student at the International Center of Catholic Charities Community Services. Her teacher is Macy Fang Hsuan Chang, and Elaine Roberts is the program director.