Rafika and I sat on a mat in her shelter in the refugee camp, drinking 3-in-1 instant coffee. I watched her rock her little daughter to sleep, wondering to myself how her daughter might fare growing …
The Power of Stories
One evening, I felt like I needed to visit one of my good Rohingya friends. As I left my apartment, I took a small packet of English stories with me. This English story packet contained several short …
An End to the Pattern
“There was another fire early this morning. It was their apartment complex.” I felt sick. Not again. This was not the kind of message I expected to receive, especially on a holiday. I searched the …
I Wish My Son Had That
My husband and I recently welcomed our first child, a son. Since several Rohingya women in our neighborhood were also expecting their first child, it was special to share the pregnancy and …
The Bleeding Woman
After several Eid visits as I was walking home, a Rohingya man began to follow me and try to get my attention. At first I did not realize he was calling out to me so I ignored him, but after it was …
A Perilous Journey
Mimi is 12 years old and lived with her siblings and parents in the refugee camp in Bangladesh. Not long ago she got her first period. Her mother was worried that Mimi is no longer safe from being …