It was 548 days ago, a hot summer day and I was ready to leave the house at 8 am. 

People kept asking me "Are you scared? Are you excited? Won't you miss home?" so now I decided to tell you more about the day when my life changed forever.

I arrived at the airport and my parents and I captured the moment taking some pictures. I checked-in before having breakfast because I was anxious and did not want to be late. As a result, I had everything done 2 hours earlier than expected. I tried to talk about anything but my departure with my parents since I did not want to make them sad. After hugging them for the last time in 2014, I walked towards the gate and turned right. The last thing they saw was my back. I was out of their sight now, and so they were out of mine. My dad sent me a text: "Wait up, if I enter this shop and you do too, we can see each other one more time before you go". I just got in line with my passport in my hand.

There, my mind started to travel. I looked around myself with a big smile. I was 16 years old and traveling out of the country by myself. I was ready to show who I really was. In Milan, I felt like things were holding me back but from that day on, the situation changed.

I landed in London and I saw thousands of people walking left and right, either hurrying or taking their time in coffee shops. It was so cool. I decided to drink my first Starbucks ever and then since they wouldn't release the gate number I also had a frozen yogurt. In the meantime, I kept thinking "What and who is waiting for me on the other side of the world? What if..?" I really asked myself tons of questions. But then I stopped because I wanted to enjoy every second of my exchange, and the flight was already part of it. I did not want to have any expectation. I tried to text my friends and family to let them know that I was okay and then used the restroom. Guess what? My gate was announced just when I entered it. On my way out I checked the screen and found out the gate was on the other side of the terminal. I landed in terminal 5 and I was departing from the same, but I guess that was just too perfect for me so I had at least run to reach the other side. Fun, or maybe not, but I reached it. I was looking at the big aircraft.

People told me to sleep on the plane, to watch movies or listen to music. I tried to sleep but I couldn't, I tried to watch a movie but I couldn't focus. I was too excited to land in the USA for the first time, and not for a vacation but because I was moving there, that even if I was tired I could not close my eyes. I repeatedly listened to the same song hundreds of times on board (Hopeless Wanderer, you should listen to it).

Even the clouds looked different through my eyes. I landed and after playing some hide and seek (not literally but yeah, we could not find one another), I met my American family. On my way home I kept looking out the window while my American parents were talking to me... I remember that day like it was yesterday. My host brother was fifteen and I remember him staring at me as if I was some kind of alien. You may think I was their first exchange student and this is why he wouldn't stop looking, but I was actually the 17th.

And you, do you remember your first day?

- Cris