My life is like a wild goose flying in the sky. That move from the twilight to the morning sunlight, I am moving from busyness to quietness, to coldness and dark, then to warmness. And I am a wild goose. I pass one day in my life on the strange sky when I am flying. This is a mystery tour, full of hope, and being surprised.

In my country, my life was a hectic goose flying when the warm sunshine run away with the sun low. My city is a large urban place in China. There are many cultural relics. Sometimes I could feel I was walking in a period before the present time. However, there also are many fashionable streets. I felt like the time was interlaced with past and now. Many malls and stores were along the roads and streets. When I walked, I always smelled some incense of food. On Saturday or Sunday, I went shopping and ate more yummy snacks with my friends. I enjoyed weekends.

In contrast, I was just a very busy school-girl from Monday to Friday. I studied everything. I was very busily and hurriedly passed my life. One day, my parents told me, "We are ready to move to the U.S." After that, I suspended my schooling and began staying in my home. My busy life was stopped. Everything was like the quiet twilight, and I was the lonely wild goose which broke with the flock in the twilight.

I came to Seattle from my country with my family by airplane on March, 2010. On the last day, my family had dinner in a restaurant together. All people congratulated us, but I didn't feel relieved, "Why do we move? What would happen in the future? And what can I do?" I asked my self. My mother had answers for me. She hoped for us to have a better life, and she thought we could have a better future in the U.S. Maybe we could study in a great university, or maybe we could find a good job for ourselves in the future, but these were all unknown things. However, I believed my parents, and I also believed I could do that. So I felt upset and excited when we went to the airport. "Good bye, all my loved people and place," I said to myself. Then I started a long trip, and I was ready to begin my different lifestyle. The mysterious night was coming, and I felt cold when I was flying in the sky.

When I first came to the U.S, I saw many different things. I saw the different streets, people, houses, etc. I started the different life. I remember on my first day, I felt very tired, so I slept a long time. Immediately after that, I woke up and went outside. I saw many plants on the streets, and I breathed the fresh and clean air, and I listened to the birds' songs. However, I hadn't met anybody. "In China, there was always a large crowd, but Seattle is a quiet city," I said to myself, "Here it looks like a rural area." After that, I found many new things in my new city. There were some new food, the different culture, and lifestyle. I didn't like changing everything, but I accepted the new life. That was lucky for me. My first night in Seattle, I felt I got into a mysterious night, and my view changed by magic.

I also remember when I went to B.O.C, I felt excited. I started a different and interesting school-life. School wasn't dull and boring. On the other hand, I felt nervous because I needed to speak English. Language is hard for me, but I can try, and I believer I can do that.

Sometimes I got frustrated in the dark night because the sky is always raining. I don't like the weather. Some months later, I feel everything is good. I start to like Seattle, and I like the new life. I made many new friends in school, and my language is better than before. Now I look like a wild goose which rejoins a new flock. The flock is flying in the morning sunlight. A new day is coming, and I'm feeling warm.

My life is a wild goose flying in the sky. The sky is changing, and the wild goose started a strange travel. For example, my busy school-life stopped because my family moved to Seattle. Then I started a hard life in Seattle because I began a different life. But I thought I'm a lucky girl because I had a chance to try this different life. I could know many new friends, things, and culture. That was a wonderful life. I liked that. Maybe I felt cool and upset before, but I felt excited for my future. I was a wild goose. I tried a strange travel from twilight to the morning. The view was different and still different. My new flock is flying in the sky, and I'm ready to start another trip in the warm morning with hopeful sunshine.

My life is like Monday to Friday. My life is like Monday to Friday because I like to study hard and like to learn a lot of English. I also leaning my country's languages sometimes too. I also study on Saturday with Mr. Cher. I only had a weekend on Sunday. I study how to work hard. I want to be a good student, and I want to be a nice person in my family. If I study hard, when I grow up, it will be easy for me when I get a job. When I grow up maybe I want to be a teacher or maybe I work with a doctor. I very much want to study in college.

My life in the country of Cambodia was very wonderful. In Cambodia I was born on October 6, 1997 in Battambang. It is a small town. I had three special things to write about. First, I will talk about my family. In my family I had fire persons. I have a mom, a dad, a big brother, a grandmother, and me. But my grandfather died when the Khmer Rouge controlled my country my mom is the one who I love so love much. She always helped me when I had a problem. When I went to school she always cooked breakfast for me everyday. My mom always read a book when I was a little boy. After, I felt sleepy and she would take me to bed. In Cambodia my dad also taught me how to learn English sometimes. He also taught me to study the A.B.C. I had a big school in my country. My school in Cambodia had 12 rooms. I also studied in a small school where we learned English. That school's name is Preap Sovath. I still have of friends in my country but I only have 10 best friends they are respectful and kind. I liked to meet friends who are respectful. I remember the sounds of roosters they are loud in the morning everyday. Also I remember the smell of my country's food that my mom cooked for dinner.

In Cambodia, I had big family, and I had 10 best friends in school. They were kind and respectful. My friends' names were Kosal, Sokkea, Leak, Chorn, and Sovanreach. On Sunday my friends and I went to a walking park. We played basketball together. We had a lot of fun. When I came back from the park I went to my home. Then my dad said, "Hey Chhon Leng we will go to the U.S. next month." He looked at me. He thought I looked surprised, but I was sad because I didn't want to leave my mom, friends, uncle, aunt, and my grandmother. My father, my brother and I came to America. In the U.S I want to get a good job, and want to study. When I came to The U.S., I said good bye to my friend in school. They did not cry, but I cried a little bit. I said to them, "I don't want to leave you guys". My best friend's name is Kosal and he said, "When you cry, it make me feel sad."

The last day before I came here, I had a big party at my home. At the party I called my friends and my uncle. We had a lot of fun at the party. I next day I said to my mom, "Hey Mom when I am in the U.S. don't forget to call me." Than she said, "Ok! Chhon Leng I will call you everyday and I will miss you so much." Also she said to me, "when you or in the U.S. you need to study hard what your dad said is Ok." I said, "Ok mom, bye, bye mom, I love you," I drove a car to the airport in Phnom Penh. I took a plane from Cambodia to China. I stopped in China for 6 hours and changed plans from China to America. On the plane I felt scared a little bit, because I had never been on a plane before. On the plane ate some food on the plane, and I drank orange juice. I also played some games in the plane. When I finished, then I slept. I dreamed that I was meeting my friends and my mom again.

First day I saw the U.S it was so beautiful! In Seattle is had a lot of trees, park, and beautiful mansion. I saw a lot of homes and many tall buildings. In the U.S. the one I like is school. Why? ‘Because it is where I learn. I also like my home in the U.S, streets, and parks. I like American food. In contrast to Cambodian food and here is food, school, and home. One more thing that is different is snow. However in my country we don't have snow but in here every year we had snow and ice. When I saw a snow and ice I was so surprised. Tow week in U.S my dad found school for me and my brother to study. After my dad finished then he said the school that I went to is S.B.O.C. When I in B.O.C I was shy little big. I said to my dad, "Oh father I like this school because had a lot of student comes from different country. After I in S.B.O.C like 4 or 5 day I get a one best friend. He name is Eaper. He came from Korean. He is 15 year old. First time he saw me than he said how are you? I said am find. Than he said can, "I be your friend." I said, "Sure" and I said, "I am sorry I don't speak very will." He said." He said no problem. He asks, "Where are you from." I said, "I am from Cambodia." After that we went to ate lunch together. We had fun everyday. We are best friend. One time he asks me,"Are you missing your country you want to go back to your country?" I said, "Oh! Man I very miss my country it I in U.S about 2 years I will go back to meet my mom, grandmother, uncle and my friend in Cambodia again."

My life is like Monday to Friday, because it is for school and for me to learn. In Cambodia I just study Cambodian languages However when I am in the U.S I can study one more language. English is the one that I very much want to study. Monday to Friday is time that for me to study. When I knew all the English languages when I grow up in my life I want to teach the English to my children English language in Cambodia.

My life is like a volcano because sometimes it gets hot and sometimes it gets steamy. Also you never know when it will explode. Only scientists can tell you. When I was in Thailand, I fought a lot, but in the U.S.A. I never try to fight with anyone. When I am angry, I'm like a volcano, but after 2 minutes, it is like nothing happened. This volcano is young, high and covered by snow. I have to work hard and at the same time when I go to school. The name of this volcano is Kerkphon. This volcano is slowly moving and has a lot of patience. I will not give up because I will try the best I can. Also when I study English, math and science, those are very hard for me to learn. I hope I can learn to control the volcano when I grow up.

I am a Thai boy. I can speak two languages, little bit of Thai and Lao. I lived in the countryside, as a farmer. I lived in a small village. There are 1,500 people in my village. They were so friendly, and if they saw you they would say, "Come eat rice with us." Anyway I went to school and when I finished school, my grandmother came and picked me up and we went home. She said that I had to talk with my mom about going to the U.S. I was so surprised because I had never seen my grandmother come and pick me up before. And before I left my village, I drew my picture on the black board in the school and told my friends that I was going to America. I gave my grandmother a hug and I said goodbye to everybody in my village. They were so sad because I was the funny guy, and usually I liked to talk a lot. Somebody drove a car to the train station for me and I got on the train. On the way to Bangkok the train was broken and I had to wait for another train to come and pick me up. When I got to Bangkok I felt frustrated because there was a lot of traffic and I felt sick. I had to go to the U.S. embassy 2 times, and answer many questions. I needed a lot of paper work such as a picture, my dad's signatures, and health papers. When I finished with that paper work, and they told me that I could go to America, I felt so happy. My mom hoped for me that she wanted me to have a better life, good future, better school, good job, and be a good person. I came to the U.S. by airplane. I took 3 airplanes. This was the first time that I sat on an airplane and I felt excited. It was fun because they have games on the airplane. And I hoped I could go visit my village again. I will never forget my own languages.

My life in Thailand was not so good. My mom has a big family and her goal is to build a new house for her mother. Also, when my mom went to the store, sometimes she didn't have money with her, and that was why my mom's family had a lot of credit debt. She had to go to work when she was 14 years old. And I didn't have brothers or sisters. When I was in Thailand, I didn't live in Bangkok. My family lived in the countryside. We grew a lot of rice. We lived as farmers. I lived in a small and quiet village. My village had 1,500 people. Almost every house had water buffaloes. The water buffaloes were helpful, and they could help you to plow. Some people who didn't have money had to sell their water buffaloes. Sometimes I saw the water buffalo at my school. I can still remember the sound of water buffalo and the smell of animal poop. The water buffalo loved grass and my school had a soccer field, and had a lot of grass.

At school I was very kind, friendly, helpful, and a little bit creative. I made a lot of friends. One of them was my girlfriend. My girlfriend was kind of smart, and creative, also helpful and friendly. Anyways I had this teacher in Thailand. His name was Suriyan. He was a very smart teacher. I did a lot of activities with him, such as growing mushrooms, drawing pictures, and playing soccer. In my village in Thailand, there was only one teacher to teach everything, like reading and writing, history, science, and, math. I know that my mom has a big family and I need to earn money and sent it back home, so maybe she can build a new house for my grandmother.

On my first day in the U.S., I was scared and cold. I felt excited when I stepped out from the airplane. I was so confused because I didn't know what my dad and my mom were talking about since they spoke English. The people there were so different from my country and also strange. They wore different clothes, spoke different language, ate different food, and had a different climate. In Seattle there is a lot of rain and wet. The east side of the Washington is dry. When I sat in the car on the way to our home, I felt a little sick. When I got home, there was no bed for me to sleep. I was also scared of ghosts. The house is big and has a lot of rooms. Two weeks later I went to school, I was nervous, sad, and scared. I couldn't speak any English. And when I wanted to go to the bathroom, I had to wait for half of the day. I met a Thai girl, her name was Gaynapark. She was a nice person, and she told me the way to go to the bathroom. After school finished, it was the Halloween so I went to trick or treat and I got a lot of candies. I have studied in SBOC for 1 year. In SBOC there were 3 levels so I started from level 1 to level 3, and now I'm in level 3. Now I think I feel good and better because I know some English. I hope I will not be scared and nervous when I got to a new school.

My life is like a volcano because I had to work so hard when I was in my county. I had to learn to study and take care of the buffalo at the same time. Also, I had to help my grandmother to wash dishes and clean the house. Sometimes I thought the life was easy but when I look back I see that the reality was so hard. And now I am in the U.S. and I don't have to work so hard and take care of buffalo anymore. My life is easier than before. So for now the volcano named Kerkphon is a dormant volcano. In my future I want to do many things like be a doctor and be a teacher. One thing that I am good at is to be an artist. I hope I can learn how to control my volcano in my future because it might explode again.

My life is like a sunflower I always face the sun. People, animals, and plants need the sun. My sun is my parents, and they help me when I need them, and they always give me advice. My roots are my family because they support me to grow. The sun is so hot and the sunflowers are really tall, and it is so beautiful.

My life in Somalia was very difficult. Every day and night there was war and sometimes they even took the girls' gold and money. It was so sad. Thirty people were killed and 76 people were hurt. I remember when my mom told me a story about when she went to a party. She had a lot of gold, and a bad man came and took the gold, but I wasn't even born. In Somalia, blood was everywhere. They shot the houses, and many people were killed. I was really sad. Even the peephole in the door, if you look at it, they would shoot your eyes. Because of that, my mom decided to move to Kenya where there was peace. However one day it was raining and all the electricity was shutoff, and we used candles. That night I was scared because it was dark, and three men attacked our apartments, and they had guns. They stole gold and money. Nobody shouted because if they shouted they would be dead.

When l found out we were going to America, I was happy because everyone used to talk to me about going. My family was over there, but at the same time I wasn't happy because I had to leave my old friends, school, and my country. That was the sad part. After that my mom told me you have one week and make it the best one week in your life. During that one week I was really sad, but at the same time happy. I threw a party and made sure I invited all my friends. At my party there were a lot of tears and joy. I told my teacher about the sad news that I was leaving, and they all gave me gifts. They told me they would miss me, and as they said that, tears come to my eyes.

We were refuges my brother, my mom and me my father lived in the U.S.A. my father lived with my aunt in SeaTac. When we came to SeaTac, it was very cold. I couldn't even feel my hands. My cousin asked me, "Do you want to go outside, and play with the snow"? She grabbed my hands really quickly, and showed me the snow. It was little, and white. I went to my room, got a jacket, and played with the snow. I stuck out my tongue, and caught the snow. I asked," why does the snow change to water?" we made a snowman I felt great. I think it is pretty good to be in America.

I feel like a sparkly sunflower in a garden surrounded by other sunflowers. For example, my family, friends, teachers, and home are surrounding me. I feel like we are holing hands, and dancing with each other. There are a lot of sunflowers, and I am sitting on top of the sunflowers. There is a river by us, and we are sitting with a cup of tea. So that is how I am a sunflower. But some people don't have a good life. They do no have shelter when it rains or if is very cold! In the past my life was not always like a sunflower. For example: my life in Somalia was difficult because there was too much war. Now I feel like I am a sunflower. I feel like the sun is shining on my face, and I am blooming.

My life is like stars in the sky. Have you ever seen the night sky with a zero ground lights? Let me explain. I have seen the amazing sight twice in my life. It's just took my breath away. Sometimes my life is sky without star, because my parents aren't here in U.S. with me. There was one person in my life who made me feel safe and helped me when I began to fall from grace. This person was my father. He's the one I miss because he brought me love and some happiness. He died when I was a little girl in Somalia. Some people came to us and they asked where my father was. He was praying in his mosque, but they didn't wait even till he finished his prayer. They hit him in front of my family. They tied his arms and legs together and covered his eyes. They killed him so badly. When I saw some kids play with their father and walking or buying something I felt mix of emotion. Dad, who I will turn to for answers when life doesn't make sense. Who will be there to hold me close when the pieces just don't fit? What happened to those times when always remembered you? Out of all the dads, you would still be my choice. Please always know I love you. Yours may come and go but our memory is never erased. My mom well I barely see like for 6 years now. I missed her a lot. I miss her a lot, her support and protection. She cares a lot for her kids. It wasn't the ideal situation, especially when you had children, space, money, everything was short. My uncle, aunt and grandmother took good take care of us. She is my light, my mentor, and my driving force. My win was merely god's way compensating her. I wish she could understand how I want to bring the whole world to her feet now that I can!

Even though it was hard to lose my father, my life in Somalia was still wonderful, because I had a lot of friends and amazing family. When I was in Somalia, I lived with my mother, my three brothers, and three cousins. We went to Dugsi to study the Quran. We went to Dugsi five days a week. We studied hard. My brothers and I finished the whole Quran three times. I was happy when I was with my family in my country. I was born and grew up where the sun was shining and where the birds sing well. Hush, then I say God lives and all is well. Some where there is beautiful land of truth where we live anew. There is a war in my country even now. It seems unbelievable to think what happened to my people of my country. Many people have died without reason and their children have cried. I am so sorry about the deaths of people in my country and these terrible conditions. I may see better times one day. I am thankful to my great relatives sharing with me my joys and sorrow and fears, more than belonging to a country. We are first of all human with dreams and hopes of loving and raising our families. May god bless all the people and my family and keep them safe. I hope that god will hear my prayer and put an end to all this.

I came to the U.S. in November 2008 because I wanted to make a better life and also to escape the war. I came for education and opportunities and to get a good job and beautiful house. There were a lot of problems in my county so I wanted to support and protect my family. At firs t, I felt sad because I was lonely when I came to U.S. but at the same time I was so excited that I was in the U.S. finally. I came to the U.S. by airplane. First I left Kenya to Dubai. The trip took 8 hours. From Dubai to New York it took 14 hours, New York to Minnesota 12 hours. Then after one month I left Minnesota and I went to California. After 9 month I left California to Seattle. When I came to Seattle I started at this school. I was just here 1 day before I went to SBOC. At the SBOC, I have amazing friends and teachers to help me. They are respectful and I like it and I wish to have everywhere I go friends is sky with a stars.

My life in the U.S. is awesome because it is the first time I met my sisters, brothers, and other relatives. We spent a lot of time. They gave me a lot of things. That was amazing. But the funny thing was when I went to "All You Can Eat" everything was different. The food looked different. When I smelled the food, I felt nausea and it made me dizzy. When I went home, I got sick. The weather here was different. It was winter time and cold. In my county it was hot. Somalia doesn't have snow or cold weather but I like it here because there is beautiful sky with stars. Now I like everything and I don't fell sick any more but I miss my country food more.

My life is a sky with stars. Life is low and high. Sometimes it is cloudy and raining and you can't see the stars. In my life here I don't have lot of jobs or much support. I talk to my mother and when she tells me her problems, I feel depressed. Life is special and there are angels. Right now I am trying to bring my mom to come here. Life makes me cry and laugh. It is funny and sad. Next year I am going to Cleveland High School. After high school I want to go to college and to be a doctor in the future. Some of us let these great dreams die but some of us nourish and protect them, nurse them through bad days till they flourish. I bring my dream to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams come true. My mom told me "live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true, my sweet girl." When I left my country and specially mom, I felt sad because I never thought I can live without my mom so far away but I'm strong and my life is like the beautiful sky with stars.

My life is like a highway that never stops, never ends. Like me. I am always helpful. I am always busy, and I am always moving like place to place, talking and helping. I help people because when I exit from the highway I am looking friends who need help. I like to be helpful, honest, powerful, hardworking and kind. When I turn on the light, I can see some people on the highway. They come to me and ask me a question. They knew me before and they know I am looking for some friends

My life in Somalia was good. The most important things in my life when I was in my country were friends and family. My family was big. I have 4 brothers, 3 sisters, one brother in law, an aunt, an uncle, and one sister in law. When I was in Somalia, the life was easy because my father was working in a clothing store and my mother was working selling vegetables. I was going to Dugse School to learn the Quran. It wasn't easy. I had to go 5 days a week.

One of my favorite memories of Somalia is my uncle's wedding. When my uncle was marrying, it was a big day for me and friends and families. We used three cars that went all around the street. We killed a camel, and we gave some meat to our neighbors. And then we had a dance. When it was over, we all came back after eight days. And we killed one sheep. We made meat for my uncle and his new wife and we said good luck to the two of them.

Another favorite moment was coming to the United States. I was so proud because I was coming to America. My grandmother told me, "Don't forget who you are. I love you so much. When you go to America have fun and when you come back you will choose one of the best girls in Somalia. I will call you husband and wife." I will never forget what I heard from her. It was so sweet. My family was proud because everyone wanted to come to America. We were so lucky to come to America. When I came to America, I didn't have friends because I lost all of them in Somalia and Kenya. I came to Texas and I didn't have any friends. One month later I started to have some friends and started English. I came to Washington. When I was coming to Washington, it was raining. A month later I spoke English very well. I was lucky to learn English well and have a great future.

When I was in the airplane coming to Texas, I felt hungry. I didn't know what a hamburger was. I thought the hamburger was made by a bag. I thought the cheese was a yellow paper. I thought the bread was a fur. I thought the juice was blood of animals. I came to Texas at night. I was so proud to come to America. I ate turkey, coffee, and cookies that I never ate before. The next day they gave us a house. I looked around the house everywhere. It was the ugliest the house I ever lived in. On the other hand I thought it was good because it was clean.

Later in Texas, we went to the market as a group of people. We collected the food in our bag because in our country you could pay later. Some people were looking at us. I thought, "Why are they looking at us? Did they never see people shopping?" We were leaving with the food when those people called the police. The police said, "Drop the food." I thought he was saying keep doing that. They called the interpreters. The interpreters said, "Put down the food" in Somalia. The interpreter said to the police, "they are new in America." The police said, "no problem." The police said, "If you have a problem call 911." The next day we called the police, and we said, "We don't have salt." And then the police came to my house. He said, "Don't ever call the police."

When we came to Seattle, I went to Chinook School in SeaTac. I felt embarrassed because I didn't know how to speak English. I felt so bored. After one month, I started to speak little English. I was so proud to speak English well. Finally I came to SBOC, and SBOC changed my life. SBOC taught me math, reading, writing, science, and how to speak well. I will never forget SBOC.

My life is highway. Highways never end, never stop. In my life I have a stop light. Someone is calling at my back and needs help just like always. Before I had two lanes but now I have more than five lanes. Those lanes are my family and friends. It is too much traffic and sometimes I have to go slow down. When I relax, I think I am great, nice, happy, and kind. In the highway I will be successful.