The most beautiful place I have ever seen was western savannah in Somalia.
It was 1978. I had a holiday from my elementary school and we went to see to our uncle who lived in countryside. I was with my older brothers. It was Gu one of the raining season in Somalia. Near my uncle’s house there was little bit of bush. But rest of the area was wide open savannah, the grass was tall and green. There was pleanty of milk from the animals to drink and water lay every where. It was the most pleasant time I have ever remembered.
After I stayed a week, I asked my uncle if I could visited the goats and sheeps with him. It was about 4pm when we walked about one kilometer from home. We came to plain and open grazing area. I saw many different animals which I assumed it were domestic animal. But to my surprise, there were wild animals like Gazelles. Deer’s, antelopes, and.When we got close to them none of the animals were running. They were simply gave a away for us although I was afraid. I asked my uncle why these animal did not run, and he said because no one harmed or hunted them except lions and hyena.

Hard work is part of my tradition
07/16/07
Hard work is part of my tradition
I was born and raised in farmland in southern Somalia. The method of farming there is still primitive, and not only hard work, but it require waking up 6am and walking about three kilometers away from the village. I started working young, as I was six years old. Our tradition is formed by the seasons of rain, which takes place twice a year. These times we put the seeds into the ground. We grew sorghum, corn (maize), sesame. Near towns, we raise vegetables and fruits. After three months we began harvesting again. When the hard work is over we celebrate about a week. We the people in the southern part Somalia we are very settled, our lives depend on farming; we are individualist and hard working and the rest of Somalia are nomads who are continuously moving from place to place. Since my culture is based upon hard work. I am very proud of my culture and I love it.
WhenI came to the US I have never thought I would be out of work this long.But the life is cruel same times. I came here in 1997, I was without a job for a seven month; I relied on my friends for every thing. It was horrible and I was sick and very bored. Finally I got a job receiving and shipping in a night shift, and I start taking ESL classes. It was my turning points I was able to send money to my family, to go bars, buy good clothes, share the rent, and be able celebrate again with my family and friends through phone calls.