Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

I began to grow up that winter night when my parents and I were returning from my aunt's house, and my mother said that we might soon be leaving for America. We were on the bus then. I was crying, and some people on the bus were turning around to look at me. I remember that I could not bear the thought of never hearing again the radio program for school children to which I listened every morning.
I do not remember myself crying for this reason again. In fact, I think I cried very little when I was saying goodbye to my friends and relatives. When we were leaving I thought about all the places I was going to see-�the strange and magical places I had known only from books and pictures. The country I was leaving never to come back was hardly in my head then.
The four years that followed taught me the importance of optimism, but the idea did not come to me at once. For the first two years in New York I was really lost�having to study in three schools as a result of family moves. I did not quite know what I was or what I should be. Mother remarried, and things became even more complex for me. Some time passed before my stepfather and I got used to each other. I was often sad, and saw no end to "the hard times."
1.Upon leaving for America the author felt_______.
A. confused B. excited
C. worried D amazed

It seems that paragraph 1 tells us that the author is very sad at the thought of leaving.
BUT from the paragraph 2, the author seems to be excited about the coming trip.

HOW can I choose the correct answer since the author has a mixed feeling? OR what does this question exactly mean according to a native speaker?

Thanks

[dragn]