Where I’m from The state motto is: “Maine: the way life should be” With its rocky coastline and its Appalachian mountains With its thick green forest, its crystal clear spring water, And its many beaches, lakes, and rivers Where I’m from We’re known for our lobster, chowders, steamed clams, And any kind of seafood you …
Category: Volume 21
I’m From Morocco
I’m from the oldest city in Morocco I’m from the largest old city in Africa I’m from the city that looks like a museum I’m from the city that is 1,200 years old I’m from the city that has 9,500 small streets I’m from the city where all of the buildings and architecture still look …
The River Near Me
The river near me was called the Caura River, a place I remember for all its beautiful natural environment. The river was a stone’s throw away from where I lived. In my late teens, my friends and I would meet up at John’s shop. We would buy the stuff we needed for our outings. Setting …
Ramadan
When I was in Egypt, the month of Ramadan (the month when Muslims fast every year) was one of the most beautiful months of the year for me. Our day used to start at eleven in the morning. I know it seems late to get up then, but you’ll find out why later. After we …
Anna’s Home
I grew up in Guyana and came from a beautiful family of nine, with five loving, protective, and ambitious boys and four beautiful, quiet girls. If the girls ever got into a quarrel, the boys would fight for us. I am the sixth child in the family out of the nine. We used to live …
Family: Good and Bad
I grew up in a remote area of Guyana called Hogg Island. It is only accessible by boat. We lived on a farm in a bush camp that was built from the trees my father cut down while clearing the area to plant our crops. The place where we slept was the only place in …
My Neighbor
I had many neighbors in Ethiopia. But I had a close neighbor. Her name was Misku. My neighbor and I spent our days off helping each other. For example, we went shopping and studied. I gave her things she didn’t have. And she did the same thing for me. Mabuba Abafita, age thirty-eight, is from …
To Be a Fish Out of Water
I was back in the Dominican Republic after a few months of living in the United States, and one of my friends from high school invited me to hang out with some mutual friends from school. I wasn’t expecting it and didn’t want to go because I felt anxious about seeing if our friendship had …
Discrimination
Nepal was a Hindu country in the past. Now it is a secular country, where more than one hundred languages are spoken and different ethnic groups reside. Yet, there is still discrimination among different castes and inhumane treatment of some groups. For example, the goldsmiths and ironsmiths belong to a skilled group good at making …
Don’t Do That Again
I fasted one day last summer. I wanted to clean my system out; it is a healthy thing to do. I used to do it when I was younger. I was a lot healthier then. I was trying to get back to it, to being healthy. I had not eaten anything since the day before, …
Where I Am From
I am from Qingdao, the land of beer Where even our seas get drunk Our scallions grow taller than the Empire State Building and land on each and every table I am from the land of dogs Tobi, the loyal guardian who stands firm by my side Coco, the little princess who likes to kiss …
New York State of Mind
“Next station: Forty-Second Street–Times Square,” a voice announced over the subway’s loudspeaker. That is probably my last auditory memory before I entered a complete state of awe. Or, as Billy Joel would say, a New York state of mind. Almost carried away by a crowd of people, I got off the train, and I already …
Poetry
Monday morning. The day is young. Yesterday, I saw my first magnolia flower. I love spring here. Dogs. Coffee cups. Sneakers. All are around. Love is in the air. Hi, Flatiron. Wave to the Empire State Building. Wink to the Chrysler. And go right toward Central Park. Easy days and a light heart. Ah, spring, …
Morning Coffee for My New Job in the USA
I open my eyes at 4:40 a.m. I need to wake up earlier than other people because I’m a barista at a coffee shop. When I’m on my way to work, I think about the bus driver: He needs to wake up even earlier than me. Every morning from the bus window, I see the …
Unexpected Event
Early 2020: Humanity forcibly welcomed one of the biggest challenges in the modern era, Covid-19, the newest pandemic that nature invented to test our survival. Many people were too scared to leave their homes due to fear of the disease. Some people were not and thought of it as just a new kind of flu. …