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 …
refugee
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 gift for you
So many of my Rohingya friends have stories of what has been taken from them: Home, Country, Family, Friends, Dignity, Humanity. I once was told by Rohingya man who had recently arrived in the …
A Voice for the First Time
I held it in my hands today with an almost holy wonder. “What is that?” he asked me. Keeping back tears, I told him, “This, sir, is your voter registration card.” There was a reverent …