One Long Story about the Family “Reverse”

Some family stories are so dark that it takes more than one generation for them to come to light. I must have been about 25 years old when I first told this story to somebody outside my family. In fact, I didn’t think I could talk about it until I listened to my colleague’s story about her grandmother’s survival in the death camp. Then I decided that my family story should be told too.

At the beginning of the 20th century, my family peacefully lived in Poland. During WWI, their city was conquered by the Russian Empire. In 1925 my family was exiled to a labor camp in Siberia. The name of the camp was Krasnoturansk. You did not have to do something wrong in these times to be sent to a labor camp. It was a terrible time. My great-grandparents ought to have been paying more attention to politics, but they were good, hard-working people who didn’t think they needed to be afraid. My family should have run away to Paris or something, but they couldn’t organize it quickly with 12 kids.

All their property was taken away from them. They were called “Vrag Naroda” (the enemy of the nation). They were lucky not to be killed. After that, they were transported on farmer carts to Siberia. I don’t know exactly, but after my research, I suppose what happened next: When my family arrived at the camp, it was an uninhabited place with only a wild forest around. At first, my family might have slept on the ground. My great-grandfather, Mark, was supposed to build a house from the surrounding trees. Mark was tall (6’6”) and extremely strong. He was able to raise the trunk of a huge tree alone, put it on his shoulder, and go. Not everyone survived. They were in this hell for 25 long years.

After her release, my grandmother was banned from the possibility of learning in college and living in big cities, especially near Moscow. All of the babies of my grandmother died, except my mom. She grew up as a very vulnerable child and suffered from heart disease from her childhood. My mom spent her childhood nights listening to people being shot in Siberian city Abakan. It was very dangerous for her to have kids, but she believed that she should have a daughter. I was born in Siberia. My mom was an incredibly beautiful, intelligent, and talented person. She could have been a fashion designer or rocket scientist, but she died prematurely.

I am the first in my family who learned in college. I am the first who left Russia. I got my Ph.D. when I was 22 years old.  I gave birth to six kids. My kids don’t know the Russian language, but they know about the crimes against humanity that Russia has committed. It is my family’s “reverse:”  I reversed the destruction of my family. Now I am 46 years old. I am sitting and writing in English (that is hard and confusing) because I am not going to give up as my great-grandparents didn’t.

To My Beloved Father – by Dan Hu

I know my father is still here.
Always here, like the wind.
I can not see him, but I can feel him.
He is feeling what I feel, seeing what I see.
He knows I am missing him on this special day.
You see, the wind brings his message to me.

From my wise father, I learned that the most important thing in life is to cherish the time you can spend with the one you love. Someone once asked my father, “Why did you spoil your daughter, whose destiny is to marry and leave your family?” I clearly remember my father’s answer: “Because I cherish the days that I can spend with her, not the days she would go to college, not the days she would leave home to go to other places to chase her dream, not the days she would marry someone she loves. I just cherish the present day when she is beside me.

My father was my best friend. I could tell my father anything, unlike other teenage girls. I once told my father that someone expressed his love to me. His answer was “I am so sure there will be someone who likes you, loves you, because my daughter is so beautiful, so sweet, so wonderful. Remember you are always worthy to be loved.”

My father always tried his best to get what I wanted, what was good for me. My father always cooked the best food for us. The best food I ever had was on a dark, cold, and windy winter night. I was a teenager and I could eat a horse. Just because I wanted to eat more vegetables, he, like a superhero, ran to the garden at night to get some. Vegetables are still my favorite.

There were a few words he wrote before he left this world:
“My daughter, I had never wished for you to become someone who is defined by wealth. What I can only give you is your life. My wish for you is to be someone who’s simply happy.
You don’t need to try to become someone who is special, because you are already special.
You don’t need to try to do everything perfectly, because you are perfect the way you are.
You don’t need to try to impress anyone. Just be yourself, love yourself, respect yourself, be confident, be strong, and be happy.“

Yes, father. That’s who I am.

My beloved father left the world 18 years ago. I still remember his words, his smiles, his love. He has never left me.
There are a lot of things I want to do with my father, but maybe in another world.

Can I make some suggestions? On this father’s day:

Please:
-visit your father if he is reachable;
-draw him a card if he is able to see;
-read him a book if he is able to hear;
-hold his hand to go for a walk if he can make it;
-take some fancy pictures with him if he’d like;
-take him to dinner, or make one with him if he enjoys it;
-watch a movie with him, or take him to get a massage;
-buy him a pair of good shoes or some nice clothes;
-sing a song, do a dance together, and make him laugh like a kid;
-tell him you love him, not just in written messages, but in words;
-give him a kiss on his hand, forehead, or silver hair;
-give him a bear hug, and tell him “You are the best!”
-make today special to him, and make today the best memory for him, just like he did when you were little.

Let him have these memories, and then the days won’t be so hard when you are not around – when he misses you.

Persistence by Javid Entezar

  “A bundle of belongings is not the only thing a refugee brings to his new country” 

       Albert Einstein-

I am one of the million refugees in the United States. I was born and raised in Afghanistan,  attended high school in Kabul, and after passing the university entrance exam successfully, got a scholarship from the government of Pakistan to study at one of its prestigious and privileged universities. My bachelor’s is in computer science from the University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore, Pakistan (https://uet.edu.pk). As a new international student in Pakistan, I struggled with languages, subjects, and the new culture, but I eventually overcame my speech impediment by watching, reading, writing, and speaking in both languages.

In Pakistan, life had ups and downs. During my four years of university, I could not go back to Afghanistan to see my family because of the security situation. Thus, I had no choice other than to apply as an asylum seeker. I completed 12 interviews, and for every interview I had to travel from Lahore to Islamabad, sleep on the bus, and walk miles in cold weather. Sometimes I argued with police officers as they wanted money because I did not have a valid visa while I was a student, and I was busy with my immigration case. I waited five years, one month, and three days to get the U.S visa. It was a GREAT day for me; it was like a great dream come true.   

Long before reaching one of the great nations (the U.S.A), I lived in a small town where terrorism, crime, drugs, gang violence, and bomb explosions were on every corner. I am Hazara, and we have a long story of systematic persecution, facing violence at the hands of the Taliban, the Islamic State group (ISIS), and some other groups. For the last 15 years, I have lost my teachers and classmates right in front of my eyes, but I never gave up; I pursued my education with even more passion.  

I have been living, studying, and working away from my family, taking care of myself. I also have been self-financed in my education since high school until now, not troubling my family as they are not able to pay my education expenses, and it is what I intend to continue to do. Besides that, I contribute marginally to provide financial support to my family and a few other students whose parents are unable to provide their school and course expenses in Afghanistan. Additionally, even though there were always possibilities of attacks from the Taliban and ISIS, I voluntarily used to go from Kabul to my village during my summer vacation and winter break to teach English, math, and other subjects to students.

I plan to complete my higher education in one of the best universities in the United States, and I am working for it every waking hour. Let me say this: living in another country reminds you of how incredible life is. Besides all the ups and downs, you get used to a new routine and enjoy new comfort. It gives you an appreciation for everything, things that you would not usually  pay attention to or notice.

Amazing Things that I Have Seen in Texas

Amazing Things that I Have Seen in Texas.

For ten years, my family and I came to the U.S. one or two times a year to take vacations. We visited many states and cities in this country. However, I noticed many interesting things in Texas.
When I started to live in Texas there were many things that caught my attention. For example, Texans are people who really have a sense of identity and are proud of their state. You can see it in houses, cars ,clothing, and businesses; it is the flag of Texas, the lonestar or some symbol that shows their pride not only for their country but also especially for Texas. Another thing I noticed was the tea. I have tasted sweet tea in other places but in Texas, they really SWEET tea. I was also thinking that Texas was a desert, and I was nicely surprised when I noticed how much vegetation and rivers there were here in Austin and the surrounding cities. Another thing that surprised me was the chicken fried steak; it is not chicken!! OMG you can imagine my surprise when I ordered it and tasted beef!! I said, “ what!?” Why call it chicken if it doesn’t have chicken? Well, nobody has answered me yet. But, the BBQ is really “The BBQ.” It is one of the most delicious things that I have ever eaten in my life. It’s really good. However I have to say that I have one deception about Texas, I did not see authentic cowboys around. I was hoping to see some Clint Eastwood type cowboys (when he was 30-40 years of course). Well, I hope to stay here many years more to discover more interesting things about Texas and maybe some lucky day, I’ll find some handsome cowboy.

Lorena Guzman

The Life of College Students in Two Different Countries

How is the life of a college student in one country similar or different to other countries? Students from Venezuela feel fortunate to live in an incredible environment that is one of the 17 most biodiverse countries on the planet. That is something different from Bangladeshi students, who must take precautions at home due to the environmental degradation that the country is experiencing. Venezuelan and Bangladeshi college students may appear to have the same type of college life, but their experiences are different in aspects like living near the university, spending free-time, and having formal relationships with professors.

Studying at a university in Venezuela is a very important experience for students because they begin to live for themselves and fulfill their goals. Depending on where the students in Venezuela go to college, they either live at home or rent an apartment in the city with other students or rent a room in a family’s house near to the university. For example, when they rent a room in a family’s house, they are required to follow many rules like getting home early. It is uncommon that they can invite friends or classmates. In addition, parents are responsible for paying expenses, and it is unusual for students to work while studying. Venezuelan students know how to enjoy their free time.

They are almost on the beach every weekend. After classes they like to exercise in the park, go biking, or go hiking in the mountains with friends. Students also like to go to the mall or go to the cinema to enjoy watching movies that are in season with their friends or family. At universities, students have formal relationships with their professors. While students spend time on campus, they keep in close communication with their professors to discuss assignments or participate in programs that are conducted at the university under the supervision and motivation of the professors. Overall, Venezuelan students enjoy their colleges, accumulating experiences before beginning their professional life.

In contrast, universities in Bangladesh are an important opportunity for students in which they can achieve experiences and dreams. In Bangladesh, students move to the city for a better education.  They also live close to the university just like the students from Venezuela. While they study, the government pays for their accommodation or housing. Unlike Venezuelan students, Bangladeshi students and their families do not have to worry about rent. In addition, Bangladeshi students who receive government help are more focused on completing their education and do not need to work. Students normally spend their free time with friends. Because Bangladesh has a different environment compared to Venezuela’s, Bangladeshi students only do indoor activities like movies and gatherings. They also like to study together at the library after school due to the fact that there they are more focused on their education and because of their environmental limitations at home. The relationship between students and professors is very formal.  They only communicate with professors for class work and are not socially similar to Venezuelans. Bangladeshi students are more dominated by their teachers. Unlike Venezuelan teachers, they are strict but teach their students autonomy.

In conclusion, Venezuelans and Bangladeshis during their lives as students seem to have a similar university lifestyle, but when the environment is compared with the activities of the student’s daily life, everything changes regarding their interests in how they use their free time. Between where the students live and how they make relationships with professors, their day to day lives are very different. Although when you look at the details, they all have one thing in common. All of the students are trying to better themselves and get an education to succeed in a diverse world.

My First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a celebration unknown to people who live outside the United States; those living outside the USA have only heard about it or seen it in movies, but they do not think about the real meaning of this celebration. The first Thanksgiving celebration that I had was when my sister who lives in San Diego invited us to visit her for Thanksgiving. However, I felt strange celebrating something that I did not understand, and I only viewed it as an opportunity to share an early Christmas celebration with my sister and her family.

Nevertheless, 4 years after that experience, all is different in my life. Now I live in the United States far away from my family, my country and all my family traditions, which I miss a lot. We are immigrants, and now more than ever I’ve started to understand the meaning of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a day to be grateful for all the blessings that we have in our lives, and it is different from other celebrations like Christmas, Hanukkah, or anything else because this is a celebration for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re religious or not. It is a celebration to say thanks for everything that we have and we’ve received in this country where I am an immigrant and where I found amazing people who gave me their support and help when I needed it to make me feel home. Thanksgiving is not a commercial celebration. It is more like a friendship celebration because, despite being far away from home, Thanksgiving makes us feel at home.

Living in A Poor Refugee Camp

Eh Htoo 5 December 2018

Living in a poor refugee camp produces difficulties, and it is hard to develop a good community. People have little knowledge to share with each other. I lived in a Thailand refugee camp from 1999 until 2016, but I did not see the living condition change much. However, there can be great and fun times in the refugee camp even though people have to go through problems. People who live in refugee camps have little education, the risk of fire, and the risk of fatal illnesses.

First, in a refugee camp, it is rare to know people who have completed education in my community. As a result, they have to work harder than people who have an ability to read and write. For example, my neighbor who lived close to me had a big family, but only two people had studied because the rest of the family had to work for living. As a result, a big family has more difficulties than a small family. Also, in the camp there were only a few teachers who had enough experience to teach at school because most of them only finished the twelfth grade. Because the few teachers there had little experience, sometimes students got little knowledge from them. My neighbor said that it was not common to see people teach because they got low income support. For example, most teachers who teach in the refugee camp received only 1200 baht in Thai currency, which is $40 a month. The difficulties of the refugee people are hard to believe for some people.

Next, living in a poor building in the refugee camp will cause a risk of fires that some people have not experienced before. In the Thai refugee camp, the buildings are made of wood, bamboo, and dry leaves. Therefore, people have to be aware of fire because refugees cook with dry wood and charcoal. I remember that when I was studying in grade eleven or twelve between 2010 and 2013, the refugees had to face a huge fire in the camp. I believe that around 150 houses caught on fire. When the houses caught on fire, students who had been taking an exam had to run home to help fight the big fire, and the teachers also ran to stop the fire. Furthermore, I remember that some students took water bags, sand bags, and long bamboo sticks to fight the fire. It was hard to call firefighters because the refugee camp was far from town. However, I saw a firefighter who came after the fire had calmed down because he had to drive at least one hour and 45 minutes to arrive in the camp. Later, I heard from my teachers said that a group of donors from a grouped named the UNHRC (United Nations Human Rights Council) came to help households that had difficulties for living. However, some neighbors from houses that did not burn and I helped people with some food as much as we could. Actually, we did not have a lot of food, but we cooked some rice and pumpkin with egg curry to share with them. This is such a sad story in the refugee camp.

Most importantly, living in a refugee camp will have some problems like some diseases that make people sick until some people die in the community. At first, because of few jobs, most people go outside of the camp to work, so they can make some extra income for living. Most refugees worked on the Thailand and Burma border, which had a lot of land for farmers’ crops. When people went to work outside and came back to the camp, they brought different kinds of diseases. For example, some diseases like malaria, diarrhea, and HIV were common illnesses that refugee people brought into the camp. Some diseases like diarrhea and malaria can be cured, but HIV is hard to cure. Even though malaria and diarrhea can be cured by a doctor, sometimes these illnesses can kill sick people who do not receive the doctor’s help or medicine on time.
I got malaria one time when I was seventeen years old because I went to the Thailand-Burma border where my parents used to work on a farm. As I learned in a health science class in high school, if mosquitos bite people, and people drink dirty water from a mosquito’s birth place, people can contract malaria. When I had the sickness, I had a headache, and my body was so feverish until my lips were dry. As a result, I had to take medicine for one week, and I am lucky that I did not go through a more terrible condition. However, my cousin who works at the hospital said that many people had died because of malaria and diarrhea.
In conclusion, less education, risk of fire, and some illnesses kill many people in refugee camps. When I remember the place where I grew up with difficulties, it is sometimes hard to talk about it out loud, and it is hard to share with other people. The difficulties will not only happen in my refugee community; in other countries they will have same problem like we do. If some people have never been to a refugee camp before, they should visit that poor place and gain a new experience in new place. Especially, some people who study history should go visit many refugee camps, and they should make some interesting notes to show in the future.