Chapter 1

Laila

As the captain announced we were about to land, I moved my eyes from the movie I was watching on the small screen and looked outside the window. There it was. The city where I will spend the next 6 months. I was excited. It was something new. I have never been here so there was a lot to explore. And I loved that. Traveling was my passion.

As we landed, I waited till most people exited the plane. I always stayed at the back because there was no point in rushing. The whole process was always slow. First, walking endlessly in the maze of an airport to the border patrol. Waiting in the long queue and waiting some more while the border patrol checked the documents. Then going through another maze to the luggage check out. Then waiting and waiting, and waiting for your luggage to arrive. There was no point in rushing. So, I did exactly that – I didn’t rush. I chuckled at myself. My English could be better, right? I have started to think in English since I entered the airport in my homeland. If I haven’t used English for a long time, I became slightly rusty.

As I was finally out of the airport, I called for a taxi. I told the driver the address of the place that I managed to rent online. I eagerly looked outside the window, seeing the roads and streets for the first time. Some spots caught my attention, and I made a mental note to explore them in my free time.

The landlord was waiting for me at the door as I managed to call him at the airport and said that I was coming. Harrald gave me the keys and we entered the place. He gave me a small tour. I’ve seen the place in pictures online. But as I was her now, I tried to get the vibe of the place. It was a small studio-type apartment with a separate small bedroom that only had a place for a double bed and a closet. The living room was combined with the kitchen on one side. It was decorated in white and gray tones like an IKEA-style home, which was fine for me. What I liked the most about the apartment were the wide windows facing south. With that, I would get all the sun in my apartment. And as a person coming from the dark north, I loved the sun. Though today it was gray and cloudy weather even here.

The landlord showed me where a washing machine, a dishwasher, and an oven were while instructing me how they worked and stuff. Then he showed me how the manual heater worked and how to change the temperature. Thank God it was simple enough. He gave me the Wi-fi password. Yes! One of the most important things for my world to run smoothly. "I'm addicted to you", I sang in my head and I smiled inwardly.

We had a small talk about my whereabouts, like where I came from, for how long I was going to stay in the states, etc. We did discuss it over emails before, but oh well… Harrald was a sweet gentleman in his 40s. He had 2 teenage daughters. Renting out apartments was his side income. He worked as an accountant.

As he left, I sat on the gray sofa and took in my new apartment. It had white walls and a gray boarded floor. There was a glass coffee table and a small, white table next to the sofa with a gray table lamp on it. The kitchen had white cupboards and a gray kitchen island. Next to it were two black plastic bar stools. I grimaced. That was the only ugly part of this apartment. Maybe I could get them changed. Yup! I put a mental note on my to-do list. Overall, the apartment felt good and light. This will be my home for the next 6 months. I just need to make it more personal and add some cozy vibe to truly feel at home.

Though I was tired after 2 flights and 8 hours of waiting in transfer, I wanted to settle in. I didn’t waste time and unpacked. I put my clothes in the white wooden closet. I found some cleaning sprays and started to clean the sandy-colored tiles and white cupboards in the bathroom. I scrubbed a small shower corner and the white sink. Afterward, I put all my toiletries and cosmetics in. I moved to the kitchen and cleaned the white wooden cupboards and the gray fridge. It all looked clean before. But whenever I move to a new place, I like to clean it all again to be sure I’m starting fresh.

The good thing is that the apartment was small. Though by the time I was done, I felt exhausted. But I still needed groceries. I took my purse, phone, and a printed map. I didn’t have a local sim card yet, so I had to use a map like in the good old days. I fished a pepper spray from my suitcase as well. I didn’t know what kind of neighborhood I lived in, so safety was first. I put on blue jeans and a gray t-shirt with a graphic wolf head printed on it. It was made by one of the local artists and I liked the style. I put on a loose white hoody that covered my butt. I didn’t want to attract any kind of attention. And oh boy, those American guys could be bluntly rude. I’ve seen and heard it all – whistling, comments on my appearance, and even straight-on offer to have sex. No, thank you. I didn’t want to experience that again. I put on a mustard yellow scarf and matching color beany, as it was chilly outside.

I found a small grocery shop 3 blocks from my building. It had most of the basics I needed. I even got a new sim card for my phone. After returning home, I took a shower at last. I washed away the fatigue that long flights always imposed on my body. And of course, I sweated while cleaning and organizing the house.

Afterward, I texted my mom, sister, some closest friends, and several colleagues to let them know that I had safely arrived and that this was my new phone number. After chatting with my mom and sister, I was done for today.

Finally, I crashed on my bed. I pulled out the white covers and snuggled under the blanket. The bed was softer than I liked but it would do. I was here just temporarily. I was happy that tomorrow was Sunday as I could get adjusted to local hours and rest properly before starting work on Monday. With a satisfied sigh, I let the sleep consume me.