Back to Venezuela

My dad works in a oil company so we're always moving everywhere. We have been lucky because we haven't moved outside of Latin America, even though we know it won't last much longer. Since I was a baby I've moved often. At age six we finally settled in Mexico. We lived there six entire years! That is very uncommon in my dad's company. We were very used to live in Villahermosa, Mexico. We all liked Villahermosa's affable environment and the people's kindness.

I remember the day when my dad told me that we were moving back to Venezuela. I didn't know how to react. Do I had to cry? Do I had to smile and hug my dad with joy? I didn't do either of them. I just stayed there looking at him siriously and perplexed. I started to ask him questions of Venezuela. Where are we moving? Is it nice? Where can we live? I kept on asking even the stupidest questions over and over. I sounded quite irascible. My dad was excited but kind of pissed up because of all my questions, but still he answered them. We were moving in June 30, 2006. I clearly remember that date. The day after my dad told me was kind of weird for me because I knew I wouldn't last longer in this school. I've been in the same school since I moved there.

The fact that I was leaving and that I couldn't tell anybody haunted me and made me feel that this week was interminable. Everything remainded me that I was leaving like the change in uniforms and the supplies list for next year. My teachers already knew it, but my friends didn't and I couldn't tell them until my dad would let me. We cannot tell anybody that we are leaving untill we know there's no way that we are staying, we have to be really sure. My teachers didn't give me all of new stuff for next year which made me feel like if I was a recluse...

At that time I was about nine I didn't hold secrets for a long time. I couldn't resist the urgence of telling someone that I was leaving until I opened my big mouth. The first person that I talked to about this was one of m friends, not my best friend but one of my good friends. pI felt profound peace when I told her; I calmed my urgency now. She said she already knew, but I wasn't sure about that. I know my mom talked a lot with her mom, but I didn't think that she will tell her that. I almost entreated her to don't tell anybody because no one was supposed to know that until the end of the school year or so. She agreed, but soon I knew she couldn't hold secrets long too.

Two days after I told her someone came to me and said,

"Are you leaving?"

I didn't know what to say

"Uhmm, yes but please don't tell anybody," I said.

Five seconds after I talked to that girl I knew I did the wrong thing...That thought reverbrated in my head the whole week. At the end everyone knew I was leaving. At the begining I tried to take my mom's sage advice, don't pay attention to everyone and just continue normally but everyone just pushed it so that could tell them everything. I didn't know that my best friend was so despondent because I was leaving until I sat with her one day at lunch. She didn't talk much and I asked her why.

"I'm just sad...You know, you are m best friend and you are leaving. What do I do now? I will be alone and you know I don't have a bunch of friends..."

I don't know what to say. She was so honest with me...I felt like if I could cry. Sometimes I abhor moving so much because I have to start all over again and it's very difficult to me.

"You know it is not as simple for me, I am the one that have to start all over. I have to make new friends, to get used to the country, to the people and all. I will miss you a lot. But at least we can talk by messenger," I said trying to make her feel a little better.

She didn't have a sad face anymore but not a happy face either. I knew she understood what I meant and that is one of the reasons she was my best friend, she understood me perfectly.

When I got home the same day I had to tell my mom that everyone knew that we were leaving... She didn't react badly. I thought she would make a tirade or something but I think she knew that I wouldn't resist long enough. She knows me perfectly.

The day came faster than what I thought, unfortunately. The day before I slept in my best friend's new house so she offered us to take us to the airport. My best friend's sad face impelled me to don't leave even though I knew that wasn't possible. We hugged each other for the last time. I was very sad becasue I was leaving but in the other and I was kind of excited because I was traveling to my home country. I didn't remember that I had to make new friends and that I was going to have new school and stuff, maybe that's why I wasn't so sad.

We finally arrived at Maturin, Venezuela. I thought it was going to be a fantastic place but it wasn't to be honest. It is a small city with also a small population. At that time I didn't care because where we were going to live was quite nice. We had to stay in a hotel until our stuff arrived from Villahermosa. I was happy in the Staunffer Hotel until mom told me that we, my brother Santiago and me, were going to start school soon. Everything happy ended there. My mom aldo told me that another girl , Katia, of my same age was coming too! Her dad works on the same company as my dad.

The worst day finally came. The first day of school was terrible for me...When my mom was took us to ISM, International School of Monagas, our new school I felt so nervous...I think my tremulous arms made Katia know that I was vey nervous and scared. I missed my old best friend a lot, even though I had my new friend. I thought she could help me to make new friends easier. Well, I finally settled there for two and a half years, but that's another story.