Razan Alaqeel's

One month, two weeks, two days, and twenty-two hours since I left my country.  That's a long way to walk alone, yet this journey was destined for me, and basically living every moment of it alone is mandatory, but as a human, a young adult, and a teenager in this world: I have all authority to make this year one of my best to live.  I remember people asking me from my very first day whether I was homesick or not. At that point of my journey I had full contact with my parents and siblings, and in fact, I was talking to them every two hours, they knew everything, and I felt safe that way despite the fact that they were 13,000 miles away from me. As days went by, I realized that talking to them wasn't helping, and I started to run away from anything that reminded me of home.  I saw my city's farms in the nature of Marion. I felt the cold weather of Saudi in the beginning of Marion's fall, which basically proved that I'll be freezing by the time of the winter season. I ...

Thirteen years ago, on Sep. 11th, a huge change happened to my life personally, and to many lives and souls all around the world.  We were expecting a baby, my mother was scheduled to have my younger brother on September 11th, 2001.  I was going to have a baby after me, which meant that the amount of the love that I had as a last child was on the risk of decreasing gradually after he opens his eyes to the lights of the world.  I believe that I was either four, or five years old, yet memories of that day are still stuck in my mind.  I woke up in the early morning to go to the Kindergarten, while my mother was in the hospital. I went back home to see the color blue decorating our guests' room, and then I realized that I have a baby brother named after my grandfather: Fahad.  I was really happy indeed, I wanted to see this little and new member of the family, and most importantly, I wanted to see my mom.  As my father had told me when I got older: after the...

August kicked itself off with a one night trip to Qatar, which was basically called: Razan's Farewell Trip. It was an amazing Staycation, we stayed at the hotel and didn't leave it, because the weather was too hot, and because we were able to tan in fifteen quick minutes.   I was planning to order a huge plate of shrimps from the midnight menu that was placed right beside my bed, but after eating some good Lebanese food, I strongly believed that my stomach was satisfied with Humus, stuffed grape leaves, and a huge plate of fruits just for me.  I was with my family all day long, and I simply had lots of fun and enjoyed my time. I felt happy despite the fact that I was going to travel in exactly nine days, and knew absolutely nothing about a city called: Marion, or an organization named FLAG. All I remember about that trip is that I tanned, went to the spa twice, and ate a lot. Then we had to return and I myself had a bag to pack, and some relatives t...

I finished my AP Environmental Science class and walked to McDowell High Media Center for my Media class.  I didn't exactly know what I was going to do today, maybe learn something new about books?  Or perhaps read a new nonfiction book?  My spirit was really happy, and I walked through the doors smiling after knowing in AP Environmental Science that if everyone lived like me, we would have needed six more planets of Earth...  That wasn't something to smile about, but it seemed funny to me, for I had no idea about the number of miles that I travel, drive, bike, or walk every year, so I simply typed long numbers which had three zeroes in front of them.  Were my numbers right?  God knows, but, things seemed funny.  I don't drive, I'm from a farms area in Saudi, my mom is a recycling-aholic, and my host family in the US composes vegetables and never throws them away to replant them later.  Six Earths sounded a lot for a sixteen-year-old, th...