Author’s note: The names of the others involved with this experience have been changed out of respect.   A random customer stormed up to me while I stood by the register at work. “I’ve reported you to your leader on duty,” he spat. What was he talking about? What did I do wrong just by standing here? “You shouldn’t ...

I step outside for the first time this year,And I’m greeted by a different set of eyes.I exchange pleasantries in a new language,Because I’m not in the land of birth-I’m here in the land of surprises and hope.And so, with every new step I take, I dare to explore, and I dare to communeWith the first ...

Every year, my parents brought us to the local street fair. The event allowed us to spend time together, interact with others in the community, and have fun as a family. We played games and walked up and down the streets looking at the items for sale. I found myself uninterested in most of what ...

It’s surreal to catch yourself in a dream while you are conscious of the fact that you’re dreaming. Picking at your brain and thinking when forming a sentence in a foreign language is even more interesting. Put the two together, and you’ve got a powerful moment where you’ve reached the turning point in your learning. ...

It’s the simple things, like the scent of a crayon, that take me back to what I used to know– the mourning dove’s echoing in my bedroom, the sun’s rays shining through my curtains as I wake to the scent of freshly cut grass. It’s the simple things, like the scent of a barbecue, that ...

My worst year was undisputedly 2020. Being stuck in the house, working and dwelling in the same space day in and day out, I found myself at a new deep low. Between the news, the stress of being away from family and friends, and a constant fear for our health, I was spiraling. Anxiety was ...