I got into the taxi the officer had chosen for me.
He gave me a paper and said,
“Give this to the driver.”
I was happy.
I had finally escaped the airport.
I thought my nightmare was over.
I was wrong.
A Ride Full of Fear
While riding, I discovered the driver was Israeli.
My heart froze.
For two hours, I sat in silence,
not knowing where I was going.
My life depended on a paper I couldn’t understand.
When we arrived, he said:
“Eighty-five dollars.”
I tried to negotiate.
Suddenly, he got out of the car.
He was big and scary.
I panicked.
I gave him $100 and ran.
No Place to Sleep
At the institute, a Jordanian employee asked me:
“Where have you been for three days?”
I told him everything.
He helped me find a hotel.
But Motel 6 rejected me.
I was too young.
Because of calendar differences, I was still 20.
I had no choice.
I paid $900 for eight days at another hotel.
I just needed rest.
Small Lessons in Survival
After days of fear, I finally slept.
I washed my clothes for the first time.
I even made mistakes, like freezing my bananas by accident.
But I learned.
I laughed.
I survived.
Finding My Host Family
With help from the institute,
we finally found my host family.
When I met them,
all my fear disappeared.
They were worried.
I was relieved.
My real life in America had finally begun.
What I Learned
This journey taught me:
Being lost is sometimes the beginning.
Patience makes you strong.
And God never leaves you alone.
