My First Moments in America After Playing Professional Basketball

My First Moments in America After Playing Professional Basketball

When the wheels of the plane finally touched down in America, I exhaled a sigh of relief.  Walking through customs, the security guard checked out my passport and, in a no-nonsense tone, asked, “What was the reason for your visit?”

“I was playing professional basketball.”

His eyes lit up and he started asking me questions with genuine curiosity.  I told him I attended Rowan University and he knew a few people who went there.  We kept talking until he realized he was holding up the line and sent me on my way, wishing me well.  I smiled as I thought, What a great welcome back to America.

My mom was excited to see me and gave me a big hug.  The plan was to stay at her place for a while, figuring out if I wanted to move back to New York or try my hand at jobs in Pompano Beach.  Since I got some stats from the season, I’d work over the summer then try to get onto a different team when the season started in the fall.  Until then I’d try to stay in shape. 
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The drive to Pompano Beach from the Miami airport was peaceful.  Palm trees lined the road, similar to Argentina, and the air was a cool seventy degrees.  Her apartment was right at the edge of the ocean so I put on some sandals and walked to the beach.  I looked up at the stars, thankful to be back in America.  

These were My First Moments in America After Playing Professional Basketball.