You can be a foreigner in many ways.
You don’t need to cross the Atlantic Ocean to become an outsider.
In my personal experience I was a stranger many time. Sometime it has happened in my country too.
The first time I moved from my small village to Rome. The second time I transferred from Italy to the United Kingdom. And now I have arrived in a new continent.
What these experiences have in common is an initial feeling of loneliness and the desire to become part of the local community. Then I realized that there was a place where I can always feel welcome, like at home: the church.
During my first month in Rome I accidentally met a priest that invited me to join a group of university students at his parish. And then in the course of the year I met many people, but only the people that I met in that church made me feel like I was part of a family. After many years they are still my best friends.
Something quite similar happened in the United Kingdom. The bigger hindrance was the language. It was hard to make friends without a good fluency. Luckily I found a church where they organize free English classes and special events for foreigners. It was amazing. They became our new family. They organized special trips for us and welcomed us in their home on Sunday. I still keep in touch with them after all these years.
Now we are have arrived in the United States and precisely this morning we met the community of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. We were more than welcome, all the people in the building were excited to have three Italian girls at their function. Everyone wanted to hug us and make an introduction. They said, “we are blessed because you are here,” and they filled my heart with joy. None of us expected so much positive energy.
I hope to become part of the local community and have many new friends. 😀