It was a very cold winter day when I first stepped onto the snow of America, nine years ago. I was only a kindergartener but set to a big, worrying task. I had to live in a whole different, new world where I couldn't speak or write the language. That was the start of my tremendously long and troublesome, but marvelously wonderful and beautiful, years in the U.S.

The first days in school were the worst and I cried every day. I knew no one and was scared at everyone who looked so different from me. I was horrified at the huge cafeteria, the yellow bus, and everything around me. I hated going to school.

But then, the kids in my class began talking and smiling at me kindly and slowly. They walked with me to the restroom and the cafeteria, showing me around. I felt a strong warmth and began mimicking what they were saying. I learned their names, and we became friends. That was when I decided to live strongly and enjoy my life here in this new, strange world, no matter how difficult it might be.

Years passed and I started to speak English freely. In the second grade, I was put into a special class for the gifted. I was very happy and loved my life in the U.S. I was able to learn English and have a glorious life with many good friends. After eight years, when it was time for me to go back to Japan, I was so sad and cried.

I promised myself I would never forget that fantastic time and would remember how to speak and write English. I do not want to waste my hard-earned skills, and in the future I would like to use them. And in Japan, there are English tests such as TOEFL, and I want to take them to challenge my English skills. For this, I would like to learn more and improve my English.

These are the reasons I want to make my English better.

Child Research Net would like to thank the Doshisha International Junior/Senior High School and Narumi Takahashi, student and author, for permitting reproduction of this article on the CRN web site.