MY FIRST SCHOOL DAY

My first school day in a new school, in a new town, in a new country! I was in Italy at last.

So far from Bulgaria ,from my loves, my friends.

Lots of  boys and girls were gathering outside the school main door in   a wave of colours , sounds and  hands. Everyone looked happy, I could hear their cheerful voices but I couldn’t understand what they were saying. Panic!

I went straight into the school hall and rushed to my classroom. It was still empty so I sat in a desk on the first row, near the teacher’s desk. When the bell rang my new school mates got into the classroom but the desk next to mine was left empty. I felt miserable.

The teacher got into the classroom , said good morning to everyone and gave me a glance.

 Luckly for me she was our teacher of English!

With a friendly smile she said: “ Let’s welcome  Styliana, a  new classmate from Bulgaria. ”

Someone started whispering and laughing. Then a boy said aloud “ That’s why there is a heavy smell of onions in the classroom!” .

 Everyone laughed  but ,deep inside,  I was hurt.

I didn’t turn to see the boy and stood still in my place, staring at an empty space in front of me.

It was the "normal and acceptable" way to react to such an incident. It was the way I had been unconsciously trained to react. Some tears were rolling down on my face.

The teacher smiled again and  simply said : “ I like onions, they are a main ingredient in most Italian dishes. Let’s have a brain storming lesson about typical dishes from Italy and Bulgaria.”

I felt that it was fine. The teacher had chosen  a  peaceful and positive way of reacting.

Suddenly Federica , a nice girl with black eyes and long black hair, stood up and asked the teacher if she could sit next to me. I had found a new mate.

Soon after everyone started asking me questions about my country and little by little, I became more comfortable.

At the end of the lesson  Renato, the boy of the incident, came close to me and said: “ I’m very sorry Styliana . I'm sure that you have understood I was   joking with friends, only to tease them with a statement that made everyone laugh”.

 The teacher reminded him that humor, if expressed at someone else's expense, wasn't humor but hurtful. “ In the end, you can be just as funny, though not at anyone's expense.” she added.

I will never forget that school day : everyone had learned that peace and harmony among people coming from different countries is something which comes from sensibility , knowledge and respect, we have just to follow our heart without prejudices or stereotypes.

STYLIANA PETKOVA , class 2b State Vocational High school “ F.S. CABRINI” Taranto- Italy