A Visit to Timor-Leste

By Elizabeth

Hello Forks, this is Elizabeth from Moldova, I have a huge story! I got a long winter break this year and I went to visit my biological family in Timor-Leste. It took three planes to get there and it was a very long trip and stressful, but we made it. Yay!! But we were very jetlagged and we arrived in the morning and we were really tired.

After lunch and getting settled, I decided to go up the mountain to visit my family. It was a two hour drive (it used to be five hours, but they paved the road while I was gone) but I met my uncle Amen on the way up. It was a nice drive up, but when we arrived it was really awkward because I did not recognize a lot of them. But I made it through with my cousin Niya who speaks English. She translated to Tetum for me so it was really easy to communicate, and I am glad I went. I got to really know them, so ya.

After my visit to my family was done and before I left, I visited the President, Jose Ramos-Horta. He is like the George Washington of Timor-Leste, he fought for 30 years for freedom for my people, and was in prison for many many years. He eventually won the Nobel Peace Prize for his struggle. We had a nice, long conversation and I asked a lot of questions and he personally gave me books and signed one and I was really happy. Until he said I should come to the UN in New York with him and the government would pay my ticket and he would introduce me to the Secretary General. I was so happy and excited but unfortunately, my meeting ended then, and that was my big vacation.

When Elizabeth isn’t traveling around the world she is a student at Forks.