I would like to thank Phipps Neighborhoods’ Pre-High School Equivalency Program for giving me a second chance at education later in life. I remember walking to their building on East Tremont in the Bronx five years ago, and let me tell you, I was very nervous. I took a deep breath and walked in. My …
Category: Volume 18
Learning to Succeed
I am telling you that when I arrived here I was in doubt. Now you can understand what I am talking about. Seeing your face makes me explain, the way of learning is not a game. Gladys says, “Commas come first, and periods come after.” David has a smile. I can’t explain. Gladys says, “It …
My Favorite Place
Yesterday, in my English class, the teacher asked each of the students what their favorite place was. That was a good question for me because my favorite place is a bit unusual. I knew that when I said it, everyone would laugh. The teacher asked each of my classmates first. I dreaded hearing my name …
My First Flight
I was born in 1975 in the village of Gulmazor (translated as Flower Village from my native language, Tajik), in Tajikistan. I want to tell you about one interesting day of my life: After graduating from university, I went through interviews to become a flight attendant. I took special courses for more than two months, …
My Lost Pearl Bracelet
I have always thought of pearls as an icon of style, simplicity, and perfection. I’ve always loved pearl necklaces and bracelets. When I was picking out material for my wedding dress, I chose the material with pearl decorations. The pearls made me glow on that cold December day in New York. What made my bracelet …
When I Lost My Wedding Ring
I came home from work one day in March 2017. It was about 7:00 p.m., and I went into the kitchen to prepare dinner for my wife. As I started, I realized that I had not removed my wedding ring. I went to the bedroom, put my ring on the bedside table, and returned to …
My Coffee Makes Me Sad
Dear Coffee, You know how good I feel when I wake up in the morning, brush my teeth, and have my shower, knowing after that, just before I step out the door, I will be having a nice cup of you on the table, waiting for me. But for some reason or other, this morning …
A Tale About the Ghost of Bamboo
My family moved to the east of Taiwan-Hua Lie when I was a third-grade student. I spent 15 minutes each day walking along the lane to school. Halfway to school, there was a farmhouse surrounded by a bamboo forest and a harvested vegetable field. One late autumn morning, which was cloudy and windy, a classmate …
Ghosting: The Night Before Halloween
In the year 2000, I was working with a family of four. Susan and Mitchell loved taking their kids, Sarah and Jordon, to have fun on Halloween. Seventy-five percent of people celebrate Halloween. Well, I, for one, did not know anything about Halloween; this was my first time celebrating. I am also a Roman Catholic, …
Superstitions
It can be fun to compare superstitions from different countries. Here are some interesting superstitions from Korea: First, shoes are not a good idea as a gift for your partner. He may use them to run away! When I was young, I would not buy shoes for my boyfriend because I was worried that he …
Win a Million
One day, I called my cousin Najla. We spoke in Arabic. I changed my voice and my accent from Yemeni to Saudi Arabian. I told her, “Congratulations, you won a million.” She didn’t believe me, so I spoke to her and convinced her. I said, “I’m working with MBC channel.” She knew the channel. “We …
A Journey I Want to Forget
In Yemen, the civil war had broken out. Houthi rebels were in the streets, and our neighboring countries sent airstrikes. Schools were closed. Gasoline was hard to find. Water reserves were bombed, which caused the largest cholera outbreak in world history. My mother decided we must move back to America, where I was born. Since …
Mirror
A mirror is an ordinary thing,/ but not for me./ When I look at it, it is time for me to face myself./ I talk to my other self behind the cold surface,/ to my best friend whose life I share.
Face the Past
While walking through Washington Square Park, I ran into Bill today. My heart jumped, for it was quite a surprise to see him again after all those years. It was amazing to see how good he looked. We stood looking at each other, and my heart began to beat so fast, while all the memories …
Finding Myself
The night before the parent-teacher meeting, my daughter asked, “Mom, what are you going to wear for the meeting tomorrow?” I said, “Just gray sportswear.” My daughter said, “Can’t you wear a skirt, makeup, or something?” After listening to her, I felt speechless in my heart. I used to spend two hours every day putting …