Bounced By My Brother - S01 E27

3 years ago

Bounced By My Brother - S01 E27

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 27

Off to USA

I was online one evening surfing the internet when I met an advertisement of a job vacancy in USA, titled “ Physiotherapist wanted in USA.” I realized the pay was juicy. Surely, this was a perfect opportunity to leave the shores of Africa to sojourn in a foreign land and have a bit of adventure. I applied for the job online. In three days time,I saw an email in my inbox and Voila!! My job was approved. Getting a visa when you have a secured job is easy. I soon secured a USA visa and booked a flight for the United States.

●~~Kotoka International Airport~~●

“Ladies and Gentlemen, all passengers going to USA should come to the front desk for registration and check in,” an announcement came though the intercom . I moved towards the registration centre. My mother Doreen saw me off at the airport. I checked in at Delta airline . As required, and filled a form, My passport was checked and stamped and a boarding pass was given to me. I passed through Immigration and customs and waved goodbye to her. I boarded the plane looked for seat number 077. It was a window seat over the winged part of the Plane . I sat down for five minutes as the rest of the passengers boarded the plane.

Soon, we were airborne, a far away Journey across the vast lands and seas to a foreign land to work in the USA. I was very happy That Soon I will be in the USA, leaving all my sorrows in the garbage of history. I planned to visit some of the exquisite and magnificent tourist sites in the USA. I have read about them in a book and watched them on BBC channel. I would soon see them in reality with my own eyes.

For most part, I slept and missed the flight experience. After 8 hours in the air,the plane landed at Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport. As usual, I passed through a rather long and rigorous immigration before I finally entered the city.

One week later

. ~~In the USA~~

America is known as a melting pot of nationalities and cultures, and it has quickly become one of the most innovative nations to date. With driven natural-born citizens and immigrants, America is one of the largest and most diverse countries in the world. The United States boast an amazing amount of tourist destinations ranging from the skyscrapers of New York and Chicago, the natural wonders of Yellowstone and Alaska to the sunny beaches of California,Florida and Hawaii. I guessed most people who are native to the United States probably take their home country for granted, the reality is it’s a beautiful place to visit, especially if you’re just seeing it for the first time.

When I went to the USA for the first time I thought I was on a different planet. How could one part the world be well developed with good infrastructure and economy while another part of world languish in poverty and disease? That’s a debate for another day.

In the USA, there were always something amazing to see. Perhaps the most unmistakably American landmark is Mount Rushmore, a national memorial located in South Dakota constructed in the early 20th century. Mount Rushmore depicts the faces of four former American presidents, each of which is carved and blasted from the side of a rock face. I admire the larger-than-life faces of Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. The short Presidential Trail at the base of Mount Rushmore provides better views and an interesting perspective on the landmark.

When I visited Los Angeles, I went to Venice Beach. Its canals and beaches are spectacular, but the biggest hit is undeniably the Venice Beach Boardwalk. I Shopped for souvenirs and grabbed a refreshing drink. Feeling famished, I entered one of the famous restaurants called Kra Z Kai’s Laotian Barbeque. I entered the restaurant, bought a pizza and sat down to eat.

A well-dressed lady gazed at me with curious eyes. She gazed at me as if she had been hypnotized. I knew Racism is common in the USA but the way that white lady was gazing at me wasn’t one of disdain but admiration. She smiled seductively and walked towards me. Upon reaching my table she said, I’m Annabelle Wood,a nurse at ……….

I’m Martin, I said succinctly.

She continued, “I guess I like you and wanna be your friend if you don’t mind.”

Honestly, I don’t know what to say but eventually recovered from my temporal shock and said “Please have a sit, Annabelle.” She smiled with joy and sat down staring deep into my face. Then she asked me a question, are you from Ghana?”

My heart hammered furiously against my ribcage. I almost jumped out of my skin. Cold shivers ran down my spine as she looked at me with a smirk. I opened my mouth to say something but no word come out. Is this lady a CID or police. Am I under some kind of surveillance, but for which crime?

As if she read my mind, she said,”Stop worrying,Martin, I’m not a police. we have plenty of time to talk. For now let’s eat.”

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The moments of happiness we enjoy take us by surprise. It is not that we seize them, but that they seize us.-Ashley Montagu