Learning American history as the daughter of Hmong immigrants, of refugees, and as a part of the very first generation of Hmong in America, I can tell you now, I have zero memory of the first African slaves to dock on American soil, stolen from the country of Angola, in all of the history I … Continue reading American History and a Hmong Girl
Every writer plots a critical moment of decision for their characters, and I guess, though I knew I wouldn’t be plotting my own, I anticipated it, a critical moment of decision for myself in my own life. Enter: Coronavirus, COVID-19. “This is it. If not THE moment, A moment. So the decision I’m going to make … Continue reading Coronavirus: The Frustration.
I know I’m about to sound insane, but I’m fairly certain I contracted COVID-19 in mid February, and on February 18, 2020, started to show evident symptoms of the virus. How do I know? I documented it. With random one liners and short entries to myself about my body's state. Did I know then I … Continue reading Coronavirus: The Infection.
It’s almost silly the shift in my life from a night, to a day, to a week ago. Literally, a week ago, I was planning my next steps, my next location, my next transition. Poof. Gone. In a matter of minutes. Update after update. Numbers after numbers. CORONAVIRUS. SERIOUS. BRACE YOURSELVES. What? As the whispers of … Continue reading Coronavirus: The Escalation.
Instead of going home for Thanksgiving, I spent it on campus, working on projects for the science department. Somehow I managed to plant and nurture just the right relationships with peers and professors alike to become a trusted pupil of the department. Nathaniel and Ana were not thrilled about my campus break stay. Nathaniel: Wooooow … Continue reading BODIES: Chapter 5
Awake with festivities to finish the excruciatingly long month of October was the entire campus and all the blocks in between. I, on the other hand, laid in bed, scrolling news articles online and clicking in and out of sitcoms and documentaries. “Come out with me,” Margo tried for the hundredth time to persuade me … Continue reading BODIES: Chapter 4
The entire campus exhaled as the first of many weeks of doom passed and most of us managed to come out unscathed. I passed all three of my exams and my papers awaited grading. In reflection, I was actually grateful for the week. When I thought I was at the very end of my capacity, … Continue reading BODIES: Chapter 3
Jubilation and expectation for the college career before me was… short lived. After a week of the college life, I was appalled by my reality. “What’d you expect?” said my roommate, Margo. “This is college.” I stared at her, wide eyed. I don’t know? Human decency? Lingering consciences? But the more I experienced the humans … Continue reading BODIES: Chapter 2
One week. That’s all that was left of my youth, and the only thought on my mind as I opened the window of my room to breathe in the fresh morning air was my desire to capitalize on my last week of freedom. The warmth of the sun on my face brought a smile to … Continue reading BODIES: Chapter 1
You know the fascinating discovery I made about myself and my writer's block? It matters what medium I use to write. Who knew? Before the age of smartphones, I only ever had a clanking keyboard, large monitor, and the sound of dial up internet screeching in the modem beside me, then enormous laptop computers meant … Continue reading A cure to writer’s block?
