My experience has a traveler

It has been approximately seven and a half years now since my family and I set out on a journey to come to what my mom called "Amereeka: Ile olora", which translates to "America: The land rich with endless opportunities". I remember this day like it was yesterday, my mom had just picked up our passports from the Immigration office, and she was filled with joy. "Omo mi"(My daughters) we are leaving, we're going to the place where your father resides. Far away from Nigeria, far away from Africa even." She said beaming at us with tears in her eyes. My sister and I stared at each other puzzled, because our mother never told us that our application for immigration has been approved. "Pack your bags.... We are leaving tomorrow" she said. Not really understanding what was happening, we ventured into our rooms and obediently did as we were told. The next day our distant relatives, and friends were present in our living room. All of whom where giving my mother clothes, jewelries, e.t.c. Some even went through the troubles of baking pastries and sweets for us to take with us as to not get hungry on the plane (though this proved to be unnecessary, because they ended being tossed into the trash due to airport regulations.). We left at exactly 6:00 pm in the evening, and boarded our flight at 10:00 pm at night. I got a seat right next to the window on the plane, and I remember touching the window screen as we flew up in the sky above the Lagos night. Even though the 10 year old me didn't really understand what was happening, I knew I wasn't going to see Nigeria for a very long time.After 2 stop overs, we finally arrived at the "Detroit Metropolitan Airport" at about 6:30 am in the morning, and we were welcomed by my father, my uncles, and aunts along with my cousins. Our lives changed tremendously from that point on. We had to get accustomed to the American accent, and we also had to learn how to pronounce certain words differently as to not be misunderstood. I started a new school, and soon began to make friends. My sister started University shorty after, and she had to live on her own for the first time in her life. My mother found a job at a school not too far from our house, and she got her first ever drivers license. We adopted and embraced the American life, while not forgetting our roots. We were happy, and soon enough we began to call "Amereeka (America)" our home. It's been almost 8 years now, I look back now and I am proud to call myself an "American".