I don't remember the exact date, but I know the year was 1987. I'd only been living in the United States for a couple of months, when I was thrown into a brand-new experience: junior high school in a new country, a new language and at a public school to boot! You see, up until that point, I had only gone to private all-girl schools with strict rules that included uniforms. So not only did I have to deal with having boys in my classroom, I also had to figure out what eighth-graders wore to go to school in Miami.
Sadly, I don't have fond memories of that time in my life. I didn't want to be here and I resented my parents for bringing me against my will.
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While I was unlike many of the other immigrants in my school because I already spoke English when I got to the U.S. since I had gone to a bilingual British school back home in Peru, I was never taught American idioms or the slang of American teens in the 1980s. And so there were many opportunities for misunderstandings and even more so for embarrassing moments.
Although it's been more than 25 years, I'll never forget one such moment that took place in my social studies class, which for some unknown reason was held in the school's auditorium. I clearly remember we had assigned seats and that I sat right behind Doug, one of the most popular boys in my grade. I never really got why he was so popular because I remember him being kind of cute, but he wasn't the brightest bulb in the room.
Anyhow, Doug–and by the way, I always had the hardest time pronouncing his name–and the guy that sat next to him liked to flirt with me all the time, except that I didn't really get it. One time, I came to class wearing a white mini-skirt and Doug said out loud: "Oooh, you're hot! " and I immediately responded by saying "No! I'm actually freezing! It's super cold in here!"
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He looked at his buddy and they burst out laughing. I, of course, had NO IDEA what was so funny. But as soon as the Colombian girl sitting next to me explained it, I quickly felt my face turning as red as lava and I just wanted to die.
It doesn't sound like a big deal now, but it is when you're in eight grade in a new country and all you want to do is fit in!
What funny memories do you have of your own first day of school? Share with us by leaving us a comment below.
Image courtesy Roxana A. Soto
