My trip to America

Since I was about 8 years old, I started to play soccer with my brother, who was a big fan of the game. We had been big fans of Manchester United football club from an early age, along with the rest of our family. When I joined high school, I wanted to get more involved in the game, and joined the school soccer teams as a hobby after school, and improve my game. I carried on to play the sport throughout high school, and when I was 14, my soccer coach/school P.E teacher suggested that I should progress with my game, and be involved in a soccer exchange student. He had been across to America often to coach at soccer camps, and had known a soccer student from New Jersey, next to the state New York, for a number of years. From here, he organised a trip for her to come over to England to improve her soccer, and also visit the country, as well as stay with us. I had had great fun hosting her, taking her to a number of different places, and had made a great friend too.

When my exchange returned back home, she had started to organise my trip for me to come and stay with her family, as well as playing in soccer games with her local teams in New Jersey. The thought of this made me have mixed emotions about the idea. I felt scared about travelling on my own and playing with a foreign soccer team, as well as being so excited about not only visiting America again, but seeing my American family. So, my flights were booked from the end of August to the beginning of September 2001, so I would be out there for two weeks.

Whilst travelling, the first sight I saw from the aeroplane windows was of New York and those fantastic World Trade Centres (how I will never forget that picture of New York). I met up with my soccer exchange, and her dad at the airport, and settled in that night to sit around an American dinner table eating enormous burgers and hot dogs. Over the two weeks we visited the south coast and beaches of New Jersey, the borders of Pennsylvania, and of course, New York. We spent time at a number of different shopping malls and eating outlets, as well as theme parks and cinemas. But most of all, we also fitted time in our busy schedule to play a few soccer games, and watch local tournaments. One of the highlights of the trip was going to see the American soccer heroes, The Metrostars soccer team in the New York Giants stadium, and believe me; I lost my voice at the end of that day!! The thing that I shall never forget from the whole experience is New York itself. My American family had planned to take us on a boat tour of the New York harbour, where we could get the best site seeing and photographs. We sailed from the Empire State building, to the World Trade Centres, to the Statue of Liberty and finally Manhattan Bridge.

Looking back now, I feel so fortunate to have experienced such a fantastic place before its devastating affects, and as well as having the privilege to know such a wonderful American family. We now always keep in touch, and hopefully there shall be plenty more trips for both of us in the near future!

Is there an exchange family in another country that you keep in touch with and see? Or have you ever visited the states or would like to? Please contact me with your thoughts!

Charlotte Bradley

Bishop Heber High School

Charliebrown0711@hotmail.com