Foreign Exchange- Daniel Seavey

1

"Flight 216 boarding now." 

I made my way to luggage claim, barely able to stay awake. I barely had the energy to even take in the breath taking moment of landing in America for the first time. I wish I could go back and re-live it when I was fully awake. But, this is the real world and I cannot do that.  I quickly shoved my way through the people when I saw my, not so white, white luggage come by on the belt. I grabbed it all and walked over to the vending machines to get a snack. I was starving, I had slept on the plane when they were taking orders for food and drinks. 

I was meant to meet the family I was staying with by the luggage so I was going to linger in the area. I got myself a water and protein bar from the vending machine. As I turned away from it I bumped into somebody in an attempt to avoiding bumping into another man that was passing by. 

"Oh ma parole." I mumbled. The boy looked at me confused at what I said and apologized, offering half a smile, obviously in a rush. He continued walking. 

I found a seat by a large set of doors and waited. The family must be running late, I thought. 

"Eliana?" I looked up as I heard somebody say my name. The woman stood smiling. 

"Hi! I'm so sorry I'm late. I'm Myta Herron! My husband couldn't come with me to pick you up because my daughter is sick so he stayed with him and my youngest son. I will introduce you to them when we get back, as well as my oldest son." She says with a kind smile. 

"Okay wonderful, it is nice to meet you Mrs. Herron." I say,standing from my seat. 

"Oh please, call me Myta. It's nice to meet you too." I smile at this. 

"How was your flight? Isn't the weather here lovely? Everybody loves the good ole Los Angeles weather." She says. 

"It was good, I am just exhausted. It really is beautiful here." I tell her with a smile as I glance through the glass doors.

"Right! You're exhausted you've been on a plane for hours. Well lets get you home, I'll give you a tour and introduce you and you can rest." She says with a smile, giving me a side hug. 

I follow her out to her car as I took in the area, it was gorgeous and she was so kind. I know I'll love it here. 

I stared out the window in awe the whole car ride, Myta noticed this. 

"You aren't used to the city are you?" She asks me. 

"No." I say with a shake of my head. 

"I lived in a small village in France, much different." I said.

Soon enough we arrived at her house. It was gorgeous. A beautiful, large home. Myta helped me unload my luggage and bring it inside. As she opened the door and let me in I'm dropped my things and stared.

"Oh my, Myta... Your home is beautiful." I tell her. She offers a kind smile.

"Thank you Eliana, but this is your home now too. You are welcome to everything in the fridge. If there are any specific groceries you like that I don't have just let me know and I'll pick them up when I go grocery shopping tomorrow. House rules are, shoes off at the door, no drinking or drugs of course, no boys in your room alone that I don't know, door stays open when there are boys over, no violence, and of course show respect to everyone just as we will show you." She explains. 

"Okay, no problem at all. You really do have a lovely home. Are their any chores I should know of?" I ask. 

"I'll ask that you keep your room reasonably clean, if you make a mess please clean up, make sure your clothes are in your hamper because I'll just grab it out of your room when I do laundry. And as my other kids do chores I suppose it would be fair if you helped clean up after meals and do dishes." She says kindly.