Andrainjato Kiririoka, MADAGASCAR – When I stepped onto the airplane and left everything that was familiar to me, I felt free from my worries.
On my way to Youth Journalism International’s Global Conference in Cape Town, I saw things I had never seen before.
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When I left Madagascar, I expected that life in other countries would be very different from my country. Yes, it’s true that South Africa is far more developed than my country.
When I first entered the plane, I sat down and kept pinching myself because I couldn’t believe it. Then, after everyone had taken their seats, the plane began to take off.
I was a little scared because it was the first time I had traveled by plane.
A pretty woman who worked for the airline served us food. She caught my interest because when I was little, I had dreamed of becoming a flight attendant.
Then, I arrived at the Johannesburg airport with my sister, Vanessa. My heart was full of joy because I was amazed by what I saw, particularly the people from so many different countries. I didn’t hear anyone speaking my language.
Everything was confusing for me because I didn’t know anything. I just followed what my sister was doing.
I was interested to see so many people lining up to enter our second airplane. I could tell they had done it many times before.
We boarded the plane headed to Cape Town and found our seats. This time, because it was my second time flying, I wasn’t scared. High in the sky, we saw the lights of Cape Town.
Then, we arrived at the airport.
Everything was new to me.
After leaving the plane, a man met my sister and I and brought us to his car. We got in the car, and he brought us to the house where all of our young friends were staying.
When we arrived, some of my fellow students and the conference leaders welcomed us. They were really happy to see us. We started to get to know each other, and then we headed to our rooms.
The next day, we relaxed and talked with each other. I was really happy because I got to connect with young people from around the world.
Tahiry Andrianotahiana is a Junior Reporter with Youth Journalism International from Madagascar.
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